非线性声参量成像及其在医学诊断中应用

本文介绍了我们对于反射模式非线性参量B／A的成像技术的研究结果，包括：(1)基于二次谐波的非线性参量层析成像(2)基于参量阵差频波的非线性参量层析成像(3)非线性参量的等深度C-扫成像。利用这三种成像方法对多种生物组织，特别对正常和病变的生物组织进行非线性参量成像。结果表明，非线性声参量成像可以比线性声参量更容易地判别生物组织的病理状态，从而展示了它在医学超声诊断中的应用前景。     

Determination of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter in biological media using FAIS and ITD methods

Two methods for determination of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A in biological media are presented. One is the finite amplitude insert-substitution method (FAIS), considering the influence of both the sound attenuation of samples and the diffraction of the transducer on the experimental measurement. The other is the improved thermodynamic method (ITD), based on the measurement of phase shifts in the acoustic wave due to the change of ambient pressure. The nonlinearity parameter B/A has been measured for various biological solutions and soft tissues using these two methods. Some results of dependence of B/A values on the concentration and temperature are also presented here.     

Acoustic nonlinearity parameter tomography for biological tissues via parametric array from a circular piston source--theoretical analysis and computer simulations

The acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A describes the nonlinear features of a medium and may become a novel parameter for ultrasonic tissue characterization. This paper presents a theoretical analysis for acoustic nonlinear parameter tomography via a parametric array. As two primary waves of different frequencies are radiated simultaneously from a circular piston source, a secondary wave at the difference frequency is generated due to the nonlinear interaction of the primary waves. The axial and radial distributions of sound pressure amplitude for the generated difference frequency wave in the near field are calculated by a superposition of Gaussian beams. The calculated results indicated that the difference frequency component of the parametric array grows linearly with distance from the piston source. It therefore provides a better source to do the acoustic nonlinearity parameter tomography because the fundamental and second harmonic signals both have a near field that goes through many oscillations due to diffraction. By using a finite-amplitude insert substitution method and a filtered convolution algorithm, a computer simulation for B/A tomography from the calculated sound pressure of the difference frequency wave is studied. For biological tissues, the sound attenuation is considered and compensated in the image reconstruction. Nonlinear parameter computed tomography (CT) images for several biological sample models are obtained with quite good quality in this study.     

Computer simulation of acoustic nonlinear parameter tomography

I.IntroductionUltrasonicimaginghasbcenwide1yusedinthcfie1dofclinicaldiagnosis,becauseitcanvisualizethetissuetharacterizationandinternalstructureofbiologicalobjectsbyacousticwave.Usingconventionalultrasonicimagingtechnique,theimagesofacousticlinearparameterssuchassoundve1ocity,acousticimpedenccandattenuationcoefficientmaybeobtained.Thesehavebecometheeffectivemethodsofu1trasonicdiagnosis.How-ever,inordertoobscrvctheearlystageofcanccr,weintendtoobtainmoreaccurateandmorecompleteinformationaboutth…     

Photoacoustic method for the measurement of the nonlinearity parameter of liquids

I.IntroductionThenonlinearityparameterB/Aisanimportantacousticalparameteroffluids.Hitherto,manytheoreticalandexperimentalstudiesforthedeterminahonofthenon1inearityparamctersof1iquidshavebeenrcported.ThemcthodsfordetCrminationofthenonlinearityparamenterofthe1iquidcanbeseparatedintotwocategories:thermodynamicmethod[llandfinite-amp1itudeacousticwavcmethod.The1attercancseparatedfurtherintoharmonicwavemcthodt2]andpulsemethod.Karabutovetal.[31andBozkhovetaI.[4lusedthepulsedlasertogencratetheplane…     

Envelope solitons in acoustically dispersive vitreous silica

Acoustic radiation-induced static strains, displacements, and stresses are manifested as rectified or 'dc' waveforms linked to the energy density of an acoustic wave or vibrational mode via the mode nonlinearity parameter of the material. An analytical model is developed for acoustically dispersive media that predicts the evolution of the energy density of an initial waveform into a series of energy solitons that generates a corresponding series of radiation-induced static strains (envelope solitons). The evolutionary characteristics of the envelope solitons are confirmed experimentally in Suprasil W1 vitreous silica. The value (- 11.9 ± 1.43) for the nonlinearity parameter, determined from displacement measurements of the envelope solitons via a capacitive transducer, is in good agreement with the value (- 11.6 ± 1.16) obtained independently from acoustic harmonic generation measurements. The agreement provides strong, quantitative evidence for the validity of the model.     

非线性电磁超声对铝合金拉伸变形评价研究

非线性系数是描述材料中微纳尺度损伤的特征参量,非线性系数常通过接触式压电超声进行检测,但耦合剂引起的非线性一般是未知的,针对这一问题,提出了一种非接触式电磁超声非线性纵波检测方法。该方法基于洛伦兹力机理在试件表面产生的振动弹性波,利用不同拉伸载荷下所制备的损伤试件,分别利用压电超声、电磁超声进行非线性超声系数测量。实验结果表明:利用两种非线性超声检测的相对非线性系数与铝合金的拉伸形变呈单调关系,同时也论证了电磁超声纵波基于非线性理论对塑性变形评估的可行性。      

Measurement of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A in human tissues by a thermodynamic method

A thermodynamic method for measuring the acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A in tissues is presented. It is based on the measurement of change in phase velocity as a function of time as the hydrostatic pressure of the sample is quickly reduced from a known value. This technique circumvents the effect of the attenuation in the medium and does not require a prior knowledge of the thermodynamic parameters of the tissues. The method is used to estimate nonlinearity parameters for normal and malignant tissues in the temperature range 20 degrees to 37 degrees C. The values and the temperature dependence of these parameters are found to vary with the nature of the tissues.     

Automatic measurement of the nonlinearity parameter B/A in liquid media

Using a 19-MHz focused Gaussian beam generated by a LiNbO(3) plate with an inverted polarization layer coupled to an acoustic lens, a method to automatically measure the nonlinearity parameter B/A in liquid media is presented. A liquid sample is poured into a cylindrical cell set with a glass tube on the lens surface. The focusing source emits burst waves. A tungsten rod immersed in the sample so that the top surface is normal to the beam axis behaves as a perfect reflector. The position of the reflector to maximize the amplitude receiving the returned wave determines the sound speed c of the sample. The amplitude measurement for the waves returned from the lens-sample interface and the reflector surface leads to the determination of the density rho and attenuation coefficient alpha, respectively. Then the B/A is finally derived by summarizing the measured result of the 38-MHz second harmonic amplitude contained in the sound returned back from the reflector, together with rho, c and alpha. All these are automatically processed in a short time less than 2 min with the performance of computer controlled instruments.     

Influences of structural factors of biological media on the acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A

The influence of structural factors of biological media on the acoustic nonlinearity parameter B/A have been studied at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels, using the thermodynamic and finite amplitude methods. B/A was determined as the structural factors of the media were altered physically and biochemically, while chemical composition was maintained unchanged. Significant structural dependencies of B/A were observed at all three levels; 26% of the dry weight contribution to the total B/A (the B/A value with water contribution subtracted) is due to the cell-cell adhesive force in liver tissue, 20% is due to the hepatocyte cellular structure, and 15% is due to secondary and tertiary protein structure.     

Modeling nonlinearities of ultrasonic waves for fatigue damage characterization: Theory,simulation, and experimental validation

A dedicated modeling technique for comprehending nonlinear characteristics of ultrasonic waves traversing in a fatigued medium was developed, based on a retrofitted constitutive relation of the medium by considering the nonlinearities originated from material, fatigue damage, as well as the “breathing” motion of fatigue cracks. Piezoelectric wafers, for exciting and acquiring ultrasonic waves, were integrated in the model. The extracted nonlinearities were calibrated by virtue of an acoustic nonlinearity parameter. The modeling technique was validated experimentally, and the results showed satisfactory consistency in between, both revealing: the developed modeling approach is able to faithfully simulate fatigue crack-incurred nonlinearities manifested in ultrasonic waves; a cumulative growth of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter with increasing wave propagation distance exists; such a parameter acquired via a sensing path is nonlinearly related to the offset distance from the fatigue crack to that sensing path; and neither the incidence angle of the probing wave nor the length of the sensing path impacts on the parameter significantly. This study has yielded a quantitative characterization strategy for fatigue cracks using embeddable piezoelectric sensor networks, facilitating deployment of structural health monitoring which is capable of identifying small-scale damage at an embryo stage and surveilling its growth continuously.     

浅海环境下数据同化声层析方法研究

讨论了适用于浅海的基于声速局部测量模型、声传播模型及声压场局部测量模型的声学数据同化方法,并给出了具体的执行算法。该算法根据最优化准则把局部声速和声压场的先验测量信息,以及声传播模型进行了有效地融合,提高了海洋环境参数估计的精度,为浅海声层析提供了新思路。同时,利用实验浅海声速测量数据,通过经验正交函数对实际海洋声速剖面进行了估计,并分析了各类噪声对水体声速场及海底声学参数估计精度的影响,验证了该执行算法的有效性。      

牛奶变质的超声非线性定征

本文利用有限振幅声波插入取代法实验研究了牛奶变质过程中非线性参量B／A的变化。变质初始阶段,非线性声参量B／A的值显著增加。结合物理化学性质(PH值和粘度)对实验结果进行了讨论。与线性声参量相比,非线性声参量对牛奶的变质更为敏感,可应用于乳品质量检验及质量控制。     

随钻单极子声波测井模式优化及远探测

针对非均匀性地层地质力学评价和地质导向钻井的需要,研究了随钻单极子声波的方位特性和反射声场特征,并研制了随钻声波测量装置.建立了不同方向速度模型井和反射声场模型,数值模拟了两个模型的单极子声波传播特征,使用单极子声源发射和偏极子接收器接收的测量模式,分别获得了波速周向变化图和反射波的方位特征.模拟结果表明,纵波对地层方...     

Characterization of inner layer thickness change of a composite circular tube using nonlinear circumferential guided wave:A feasibility study

The feasibility of using the nonlinear effect of primary circumferential guided wave (CGW) propagation for characterizing the change of inner layer thickness of a composite circular tube (CCT) has been investigated. An appropriate mode pair of the fundamental and double-frequency CGWs (DFCGWs) has been selected to enable the second harmonics of primary wave mode in the given CCT to accumulate along the circumferential direction. When changes in the inner layer thickness (described as the equivalent inner layer thickness) take place, the corresponding nonlinear CGW measurements are conducted. It is found that there is a direct correlation between change of equivalent inner layer thickness of the CCT and the relative acoustic nonlinearity parameter (Δβ) measured with CGWs propagating through one full circumference, and that the effect of second-harmonic generation (SHG) is very sensitive to change in the inner layer thickness. The experimental result obtained demonstrates the feasibility for quantitatively assessing the change of equivalent inner layer thickness in CCTs using the effect of SHG by primary CGW propagation.     

Measuring scanning acoustic microscope with a harmonic sounding signal

A concept of a scanning acoustic microscope with a harmonic sounding signal for measuring the parameters of local homogeneous regions of flat samples is proposed. The distinctive feature of the device is the utilization of the Doppler effect that occurs in the sounding wave reflected from the sample surface when the sample is uniformly moved relative to the focusing ultrasonic transducer of the microscope. It is theoretically demonstrated that the spectrum of the received signal is determined by the product of the reflection coefficient and the transfer function of the transducer. The errors of the measurement technique are considered, and the sources of signal distortions are analyzed. High sensitivity of the measurement results to the errors of the scanning system is demonstrated. The developed measuring microscope is described, in which an acoustic interferometer is used to provide the necessary precision of the scanning coordinate measurement. The microscope transfer function is measured for the frequency of the sounding signal 65 MHz, and the values of density and bulk wave velocities are determined for a homogeneous sample by the measured phase of the reflection coefficient using the technique of nonlinear estimation of parameters. With fused quartz used as an example, it is shown that the measurement error is 7.2% for density and 2.3 and 0.7% for the velocities of longitudinal and transverse waves, respectively. In addition, the velocity of a leaky surface wave (SAW) is determined by two methods. One method is based on measuring the position of the inflexion point for the experimental phase of the reflection coefficient, and the other is based on calculating the SAW velocity corresponding to the measured values of density and bulk wave velocities. The errors of these methods are found to be equal to 0.42 and 0.17%, respectively.     

A Unique Method to Describe the Bonding Strength in a Bonded Solid-S-olid Interface by Contact Acoustic Nonlinearity

We present a unique method to describe the bonding strength at a bonded solid-solid interface in a multilayered composite material by contact acoustic nonlinearity （CAN） parameter. A CAN model on the bonded solid-solid interface is depicted. It can be seen from the model that CAN parameter is very sensitive to the bonding strength at the interface. When an incident focusing acoustic longitudinal wave scans the interface in two dimensions, the transmitted wave can be used to extract CAN parameter. The contour of the bonding strength for a sample is obtained by CAN parameter. The results show that the region with weak bonding strength can be easily distinguished from the contour.     

Full wave-field reflection coefficient inversion

This paper develops a Bayesian inversion for recovering multilayer geoacoustic (velocity, density, attenuation) profiles from a full wave-field (spherical-wave) seabed reflection response. The reflection data originate from acoustic time series windowed for a single bottom interaction, which are processed to yield reflection coefficient data as a function of frequency and angle. Replica data for inversion are computed using a wave number-integration model to calculate the full complex acoustic pressure field, which is processed to produce a commensurate seabed response function. To address the high computational cost of calculating short range acoustic fields, the inversion algorithms are parallelized and frequency averaging is replaced by range averaging in the forward model. The posterior probability density is interpreted in terms of optimal parameter estimates, marginal distributions, and credibility intervals. Inversion results for the full wave-field seabed response are compared to those obtained using plane-wave reflection coefficients. A realistic synthetic study indicates that the plane-wave assumption can fail, producing erroneous results with misleading uncertainty bounds, whereas excellent results are obtained with the full-wave reflection inversion.     

The comparison study of diagnostics of light filaments in air

Long plasma channels in air induced by femtosecond laser pulses are investigated using three different methods, including the cross-section imaging, resistivity measuring and acoustic diagnostics. These methods are based on different properties of the light filaments. A comparison of the three diagnostics shows that the imaging method is the most precise one in studying the filaments distribution and evolution, that the sonographic method is the most convenient approach to detecting long plasma channels by detecting the acoustic wave generation, and that the resistivity measurement can only be applied for giving a rough estimate. The diagnostics of filaments allow us to choose appropriate detecting methods and provide further insight into the dynamic evolution of the light filaments in air.     

Harmonic generation of an obliquely incident ultrasonic wave in solid-solid contact interfaces

The conventional acoustic nonlinear technique to evaluate the contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN) at solid-solid contact interfaces (e.g., closed cracks), which uses the through-transmission of normally incident bulk waves, is limited in that access to both the inner and outer surfaces of structures for attaching pulsing and receiving transducers is difficult. The angle beam incidence and reflection technique, where both the pulsing and receiving transducers are located on the same side of the target, may allow the above problem to be overcome. However, in the angle incidence technique, mode-conversion at the contact interfaces as well as the normal and tangential interface stiffness should be taken into account. Based on the linear and nonlinear contact stiffness, we propose a theoretical model for the reflection of an ultrasonic wave angularly incident on contact interfaces. In addition, the magnitude of the CAN-induced second harmonic wave in the reflected ultrasonic wave is predicted. Experimental results obtained for the contact interfaces of A16061-T6 alloy specimens at various loading pressures showed good agreement with theoretical predictions. Such agreement proves the validity of the suggested oblique incidence model.