In vivo measurement of attenuation

We propose a new technique for the in vivo measurement of attenuation. The method is conceptually simple and can also be easily implemented on a real-time ultrasound unit. The technique is suggested by an analysis of the propagation of a Gaussian pulse in a medium which has frequency-dependent attenuation as well as dispersion (frequency-dependent velocity). If the medium has a loss factor which can be described by H(f) = exp(-eta[f]pX), where f is the frequency and O less than or equal to p less than or equal to 2 (valid for tissues and other objects of interest), then the pulse retains its Gaussian shape, shifting only its centre frequency and bandwidth. This suggests that by measuring the mean frequency of the reflected rf waveform in a window which is moved in depth we can obtain an estimate of the attenuation. Here we describe a particular hardware implementation of this technique which we have completed (based on measurement of zero-crossings) and present some preliminary in vivo measurements.     

The dependence of time-domain speed-of-sound measurements on center frequency, bandwidth, and transit-time marker in human calcaneus in vitro

Time-domain speed-of-sound (SOS) measurements in calcaneus are effective predictors of osteoporotic fracture risk. High attenuation and dispersion in bone, however, produce severe distortion of transmitted pulses that leads to ambiguity of time-domain SOS measurements. An equation to predict the effects of system parameters (center frequency and bandwidth), algorithm parameters (pulse arrival-time marker), and bone properties (attenuation coefficient and thickness) on time-domain SOS estimates is derived for media with attenuation that varies linearly with frequency. The equation is validated using data from a bone-mimicking phantom and from 30 human calcaneus samples in vitro. The data suggest that the effects of dispersion are small compared with the effects of frequency-dependent attenuation. The equation can be used to retroactively compensate data. System-related variations in SOS are shown to decrease as the pulse-arrival-time marker is moved toward the pulse center. Therefore, compared with other time-domain measures of SOS, group velocity exhibits the minimum system dependence.     

Elastic wave propagation in a randomly stratified solid medium

The mean-field method is used to analyse longitudinal and transverse (both SV- and SH-type) wave propagation in an unbounded randomly stratified solid medium. It is assumed that elastic moduli of the medium are constant while a density is a random function of the cartesian coordinate z. For a case of small density fluctuations, expressions are obtained for z-components of effective propagation vectors of P-, SV- and SH-waves for arbitrary relations between wavelengths and a correlation length of the random inhomogeneities. It is shown, that when the correlation length is small in comparison with the wavelengths, the mean-field attenuation coefficients are proportional to the frequency squared. In this case P- and SV-waves convert into each other. When the correlation length is large in comparison with the wavelengths, the mean-field attenuation coefficients are also proportional to the frequency squared, but in this case P- and SV-waves propagate independently.     

Impact of local attenuation approximations when estimating correlation length from backscattered ultrasound echoes

Estimating the characteristic correlation length of tissue microstructure from the backscattered power spectrum could improve the diagnostic capability of medical ultrasound. Previously, size estimates were obtained after compensating for source focusing, the frequency-dependent attenuation along the propagation path (total attenuation), and the frequency-dependent attenuation in the scattering region (local attenuation). In this study, the impact of approximations of the local attenuation on the scatterer size estimate was determined using computer simulations and theoretical analysis. The simulations used Gaussian impedance distributions with an effective radius of 25 microm randomly positioned in a homogeneous half-space sonified by a spherically focused source (f/1 to f/4). The approximations of the local attenuation that were assessed neglected local attenuation (i.e., assume 0 dB/cm-MHz) neglected frequency dependence of the local attenuation, and assumed a finite frequency dependence (i.e., 0.5 dB/cm-MHz) independent of the true attenuation of the medium. Errors in the scatterer size estimate due to the local attenuation approximations increased with increasing window length, increasing true local attenuation and increasing f number. The most robust estimates were obtained when the local attenuation was approximated by a tissue-independent attenuation value that was greater than 70% of the largest attenuation expected in the tissue region of interest.     

Isoplanicity measurements for calibration of speckle holography amplitudes

We show how the technique of astronomical speckle holography is dependent upon the degree of isoplanicity between the object and the discrete point source. A well calibrated measurement of the degree of correlation between two quasi-instantaneous simultaneous point source speckle patterns (separation = 2.6″) are presented to illustrate this non-isoplanatic effect as a function of the spatial frequency. This two-dimensional measurement is in qualitative agreement with previously computed models and shows a high degree of correlation at seeing dominated frequencies with a severe attenuation (but not total loss of correlation) for frequencies approaching the diffraction limit. We show how such measurements may be used to reweight (calibrate) the Fourier amplitude of a speckle holographic image observed under similar seeing conditions in order to compensate for the non-isoplanatic degradation at high spatial frequencies.     

Defining optimal axial and lateral resolution for estimating scatterer properties from volumes using ultrasound backscatter

The rf signals used to construct conventional ultrasound B-mode images contain frequency-dependent information that can be examined through the backscattered power spectrum. Typically, the backscattered power spectrum is calculated from a region of interest (ROI) within some larger volume. The dimensions of the ROI are defined axially by the spatial length corresponding to the time gate and laterally by the number of scan lines included in the ROI. Averaging the backscattered power spectra from several independent scan lines can reduce the presence of noise caused by electronics and by the random scatterer spacings, but also decreases the lateral resolution of the interrogation region. Furthermore, larger axial gate lengths can be used to reduce the effects of noise and improve the precision and accuracy of scatterer property estimates but also decreases the axial resolution. A trade-off exists between the size of the ROI (the number of scan lines used, the separation distance between each scan line, the axial gate length) and the accuracy and precision of scatterer property estimates. A series of simulations and measurements from physical phantoms were employed to examine these trade-offs. The simulations and phantom measurements indicated the optimal lateral and axial sizes of the ROI, where estimate accuracy and precision were better than 10% and 5%, respectively, occurred at 4 to 5 beamwidths laterally and 15 to 20 spatial pulse lengths axially.     

Describing small-scale structure in random media using pulse-echo ultrasound

A method for estimating structural properties of random media is described. The size, number density, and scattering strength of particles are estimated from an analysis of the radio frequency (rf) echo signal power spectrum. Simple correlation functions and the accurate scattering theory of Faran [J.J. Faran, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 23, 405-418 (1951)], which includes the effects of shear waves, were used separately to model backscatter from spherical particles and thereby describe the structures of the medium. These methods were tested using both glass sphere-in-agar and polystyrene sphere-in-agar scattering media. With the appropriate correlation function, it was possible to measure glass sphere diameters with an accuracy of 20%. It was not possible to accurately estimate the size of polystyrene spheres with the simple spherical and Gaussian correlation models examined because of a significant shear wave contribution. Using the Faran scattering theory for spheres, however, the accuracy for estimating diameters was improved to 10% for both glass and polystyrene scattering media. It was possible to estimate the product of the average scattering particle number density and the average scattering strength per particle, but with lower accuracy than the size estimates. The dependence of the measurement accuracy on the inclusion of shear waves, the wavelength of sound, and medium attenuation are considered, and the implications for describing the structure of biological soft tissues are discussed.     

Elastic wave propagation in a randomly stratified solid medium

Abstract

The mean-field method is used to analyse longitudinal and transverse (both SV- and SH-type) wave propagation in an unbounded randomly stratified solid medium. It is assumed that elastic moduli of the medium are constant while a density is a random function of the cartesian coordinate z. For a case of small density fluctuations, expressions are obtained for z-components of effective propagation vectors of P-, SV- and SH-waves for arbitrary relations between wavelengths and a correlation length of the random inhomogeneities. It is shown, that when the correlation length is small in comparison with the wavelengths, the mean-field attenuation coefficients are proportional to the frequency squared. In this case P- and SV-waves convert into each other. When the correlation length is large in comparison with the wavelengths, the mean-field attenuation coefficients are also proportional to the frequency squared, but in this case P- and SV-waves propagate independently.     

相关时延及频谱不对称对声学多普勒测速偏差影响

研究了复协方差频移估计测速下相关时延及接收信号频谱幅值不对称对声学多普勒测速偏差的影响.不考虑测速公式简化误差,复协方差频移估计测速偏差可以简化为多普勒频移测量偏差.经推导,不考虑发射信号波束开角的窄带测频无偏、宽带测频有偏;考虑波束开角的窄带测频和宽带测频均有偏.相关时延不准确且频谱不对称是该偏差的重要来源.仿真分析...     

Improved scatterer property estimates from ultrasound backscatter for small gate lengths using a gate-edge correction factor

Backscattered rf signals used to construct conventional ultrasound B-mode images contain frequency-dependent information that can be examined through the backscattered power spectrum. The backscattered power spectrum is found by taking the magnitude squared of the Fourier transform of a gated time segment corresponding to a region in the scattering volume. When a time segment is gated, the edges of the gated regions change the frequency content of the backscattered power spectrum due to truncating of the waveform. Tapered windows, like the Hanning window, and longer gate lengths reduce the relative contribution of the gate-edge effects. A new gate-edge correction factor was developed that partially accounted for the edge effects. The gate-edge correction factor gave more accurate estimates of scatterer properties at small gate lengths compared to conventional windowing functions. The gate-edge correction factor gave estimates of scatterer properties within 5% of actual values at very small gate lengths (less than 5 spatial pulse lengths) in both simulations and from measurements on glass-bead phantoms. While the gate-edge correction factor gave higher accuracy of estimates at smaller gate lengths, the precision of estimates was not improved at small gate lengths over conventional windowing functions.     

The experimental characterization of wave propagation systems: II. Continuous systems and the effects of dispersion

This paper forms the second part of a study of the wave propagation approach and its application to the experimental characterization of structural/acoustic systems. It is shown that the measurement of time delays and attenuation factors by correlation techniques offers a useful complement to the measurement of frequency response in system characterization. Transient excitation is used and although the rapid frequency sweep is suitable for measurements in continuous systems, it is shown that the dispersion encountered in flexural wave propagation increases the difficulty in the interpretation of correlation data. To overcome this problem, another transient excitation signal is developed which has essentially single frequency content but which yields clear correlation functions, permitting the accurate measurement of group velocities at a single frequency.     

The influence of correlation delay and spectral asymmetry on acoustic Doppler velocimetry bias

The influence of correlation delay and spectral amplitude asymmetry of the received signal on acoustic Doppler velocimetry bias with the complex covariance approach are studied.Neglecting the simplifying error of the velocimetry formula,the velocimetry bias is simplified to the Doppler shift measurement bias.It is deduced that if not considering the beam angle,the narrowband frequency measurement is unbiased while the broadband frequency measurement is biased;and if considering the beam angle,th...     

Radio-frequency association of molecules: an assisted Feshbach resonance

We develop a theoretical model to describe the radio-frequency (rf) induced coupling of a pair of colliding atoms to a Feshbach molecule when a magnetic field arbitrarily far from the Feshbach resonance is modulated in time. We use the dressed atom picture, and show that the coupling strength in presence of rf is equal to the Feshbach coupling strength multiplied by the square of a Bessel function. The argument of this function is equal to the ratio of the atomic rf Rabi frequency to the rf frequency. We experimentally demonstrate this law by measuring the rate of rf-association of molecules using a Feshbach resonance in d wave collisions between ultra-cold chromium atoms.     

Free-field attenuation of earmuffs and earplugs both singly and in combination

I.IntroductionExposuretoenvironmcnta1noisc1cadstoannoyanceande1evationofhearingthrcsho1d.Itisnotpracticetoiso1atesuchthcsenoiscsbyengineeringmethods.Analternativecommonlypractica1andinexpcnsivemethodforhcaringprotectionisthcuseofhcaringprotcctivedcvicespePDs)suchasearplugsandearmuffe.AsdcfinedbyBcrgcr['lthatthenoisereductionpro-videdbyHPDispopu1ar1yrefcrredtoasitsattenuation.InfaCtoricsandindustrialplaceswhcretheworkersareexposedtohazardousnoisc,thcattcnuationofsing1ehearingprotectordevice…     

Three wave mixing test of hyperelasticity in highly nonlinear solids: sedimentary rocks

Measurements of three-wave mixing amplitudes on solids whose third order elastic constants have also been measured by means of the elasto-acoustic effect are reported. Because attenuation and diffraction are important aspects of the measurement technique results are analyzed using a frequency domain version of the KZK equation, modified to accommodate an arbitrary frequency dependence to the attenuation. It is found that the value of beta so deduced for poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) agrees quite well with that predicted from the stress-dependent sound speed measurements, establishing that PMMA may be considered a hyperelastic solid, in this context. The beta values of sedimentary rocks, though they are typically two orders of magnitude larger than, e.g., PMMA's, are still a factor of 3-10 less than those predicted from the elasto-acoustic effect. Moreover, these samples exhibit significant heterogeneity on a centimeter scale, which heterogeneity is not apparent from a measurement of the position dependent sound speed.     

Transport of microparticles in weakly ionized gas-discharge plasmas under microgravity conditions

Measurements of effective structural (pair correlation function) and transport (diffusion constant) characteristics of the system of microparticles in dc and rf gas-discharge plasmas under microgravity conditions are reported. The comparison between these measurements and numerical simulations is used for complex plasma diagnostics.     

Extensions of the scattering-object function and the pulser-receiver impulse response in the field II formalism

The pulse-echo impulse-response format in the Field II formalism is generalized to separately located transmitter and receiver. To first order in sound velocity and density perturbations, identical results for the scattering-object function are obtained for the Morse-Ingard and the Chernov formulation in both the temporal and frequency domains: f(s)=-[2Delta(c/c)+(Delta(rho/rho))(1-cos(theta))] where for ultrasonic pulse-echo or transmission modality, cos(theta) approximately -1 or +1, respectively.     

A novel low-E field coil to minimize heating of biological samples in solid-state multinuclear NMR experiments

A novel coil, called Z coil, is presented. Its function is to reduce the strong thermal effects produced by rf heating at high frequencies. The results obtained at 500MHz in a 50 microl sample prove that the Z coil can cope with salt concentrations that are one order of magnitude higher than in traditional solenoidal coils. The evaluation of the rf field is performed by numerical analysis based on first principles and by carrying out rf field measurements. Reduction of rf heating is probed with a DMPC/DHPC membrane prepared in buffers of increasing salt concentrations. The intricate correlation that exists between the magnetic and electric field is presented. It is demonstrated that, in a multiply tuned traditional MAS coil, the rf electric field E(1) cannot be reduced without altering the rf magnetic field. Since the detailed distribution differs when changing the coil geometry, a comparison involving the following three distinct designs is discussed: (1) a regular coil of 5.5 turns, (2) a variable pitch coil with the same number of turns, (3) the new Z coil structure. For each of these coils loaded with samples of different salt concentrations, the nutation fields obtained at a certain power level provide a basis to discuss the impact of the dielectric and conductive losses on the rf efficiency.     

Assessment of broadband ultrasonic attenuation measurements in inhomogeneous media

In this paper, we address the problem of evaluating the acoustic attenuation of "difficult" media, i.e. highly attenuating and scattering media. In a broadband, through transmission setup, the signals acquired from such media are characterized by a poor signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, an accurate estimate of attenuation cannot be obtained from a single measurement, but multiple measurements must be combined. Two methods are considered to yield a single estimate of attenuation from multiple measurements. The first one, the "average attenuation" (AA) method, consists in a simple average of individual attenuation estimates. The second one, the "cross spectrum" (CS) method, is based on a system identification approach. In order to evaluate the estimation errors for these methods, ultrasonic signals transmitted through a material of known attenuation were simulated and mixed with both coherent and incoherent noise. In all tests performed, the "CS" method was found to yield the most accurate estimate. This method, combined time delay compensation, is then applied to real signals measured from a concrete slab. A valid frequency band for the attenuation estimate can be defined based on the coherence function. Results from this research are being applied to characterize the degradation of concrete structures using high-frequency ultrasound.     

Segregation at CuAu alloy surfaces

Experimental results for Auger measurements on clean evaporated CuAu alloy films having (111)-orientation are presented. Signals from Auger transitions at 72 eV, 239 eV, and 2024 eV from Au in the alloys were normalized to signals from pure Au references. The experimental data were converted to atomic layer compositions using a model which allowed the first two atomic layers to differ in composition from the bulk and using estimates of the energy dependence of the electron attenuation length derived from published results. Significant enrichment of the first layer with Au was found over the entire range of composition studied.