Streaming velocity depends on intensity and absorption of ultrasound in the media. In some cases, such as ultrasound scattered on blood cells at high frequencies, or the presence of ultrasound contrast agents, scattering affects the streaming speed. The velocities of acoustic streaming in a blood-mimicking starch suspension in water and Bracco BR14 contrast agent were measured. The source of the streaming was a plane 20MHz ultrasonic transducer. Velocity was estimated from the averaged Doppler spectrum. The single particle driving force was calculated as the integral of the momentum density tensor components. For different starch concentrations, the streaming velocity increased from 8.9 to 12.5mm/s. This corresponds to a constant 14% velocity increase for a 1 g/l increase in starch concentration. For BR14, the streaming velocity remained constant at 7.2mm/s and was independent of the microbubbles concentration. The velocity was less than in reference, within 0.5mm/s measurement error. Theoretical calculations showed a 16% increase in streaming velocity for 1 g/l starch concentration rise, very similar to the experimental results. The theory has also shown the ability to reduce the streaming velocity by low-density scatterers, as was experimentally proved using the BR14 contrast agent.
The aim of this work was to use the streaming phenomena to assist clot dissolution in blood vessel. Such treatment is called sonothrombolysis. Acoustic streaming is a steady flow in a fluid driven by the acoustic wave propagating in a lossy medium. It is a non-linear effect and it depends on ultrasound intensity, and sound absorption in the media. The source of ultrasound was a flat piezoceramic disc generating long pulses at 1 MHz frequency and 0.2 W/cm2 ITA acoustical intensity. The streaming was generated in a vessel simulating free space, and next repeated in a multi-well cell culture plate, and in the limited space inside the 8 mm diameter silicone tube positioned perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam. The tube was filled with a mixture of water, glycerol, and starch, so with acoustic properties similar to blood. The streaming velocity was recorded either by the Siemens Acuson Antares ultrasonic scanner operating in the color Doppler mode at 8.9 MHz, or by the custom built 20 MHz pulsed Doppler flowmeter. The results obtained using both systems were very similar. The recorded streaming velocities were 3.2 cm/s, 6.1 cm/s and 0.3 cm/s, respectively. They were an order of magnitude smaller than that calculated theoretically. However, the results obtained confirm existence of streaming, even very close to the source, in the limited space. This effect will be explored in in-vitro experiments of blood clot dissolution within the tube simulating a blood vessel.
Background: There is a growing interest in the application of non-invasive clinical tools allowing one to assess the endothelial function, preceding atherosclerosis. The precision in estimating of the artery Flow Mediated Vasodilation (FMD) using standard 10-12 MHz linear array probes does not exceed 0.2 mm, far beyond that required. Methods: We have introduced a wide-band, high frequency 25-30 MHz, Golay encoded wobbling type imaging to measure dilation of the radial artery instead of the brachial one. 18 young volunteers, and 4 volunteers with cardiac events history, were examined. In the second approach 20 MHz linear scanning combined with 20 MHz pulsed Doppler attached to the linear array was used. The radial artery FMD was normalized using shear rate at the radial artery wall. Results and Conclusions: For the “healthy” group, the FMD resulting from reactive hyperemia response was over 20%; while in the “atherosclerotic” group, the FMD was at least twice as small, not exceeding 10%. The shear rate (SR) normalized FMDSR was in the range from 7.8 to 9.9 in arbitrary units, while in patients with minor cardiac history FMDSR was clearly lower, 6.8 to 7.6. The normalized FMDSR of radial artery RARR can be an alternative to the brachial FMD where the precision of measurements is lower and the diameter dilation does not exceed 7-10%.
Therapeutic and surgical applications of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) require monitoring of local temperature rises induced inside tissues. It is needed to appropriately target the focal plane, and hence the whole focal volume inside the tumor tissue, prior to thermo-ablative treatment, and the beginning of tissue necrosis. In this study we present an ultrasound method, which calculates the variations of the speed of sound in the locally heated tissue. Changes in velocity correspond to temperature change. The method calculates a 2D distribution of changes in the sound velocity, by estimation of the local phase shifts of RF echo-signals backscattered from the heated tissue volume (the focal volume of the HIFU beam), and received by an ultrasound scanner (23). The technique enabled temperature imaging of the heated tissue volume from the very inception of heating. The results indicated that the contrast sensitivity for imaging of relative changes in the sound speed was on the order of 0.06%; corresponding to an increase in the tissue temperature by about 2 °C.
Sonodynamic therapy is the ultrasound dependent enhancement of the cytotoxic activities of certain drugs called sonosensitizers. The study of therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound is always preceded by in-vitro tests. In this work, two in-vitro sonication procedures were compared. One with the transducer positioned bellow the cell colony, radiating upward, with standing wave reflected from the water-air surface, the second, in the free field conditions. Efficiency of the cancer cells necrosis caused by ultrasound was compared with acoustical field intensity ISPTA measured by a hydrophone. The standing wave conditions effectively increased the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at the level of cells. To achieve 50% of cell viability, the intensity ISATA, decreased from 5.8 W/cm2 to 0.3 W/cm2. In summary, sonication in the standing wave conditions can effectively and reproducibly destroy cells by ensuring the sterility and without the risk of overheating.
Therapeutic and surgical applications of focused ultrasound require monitoring of local temperature rises induced inside tissues. From an economic and practical point of view ultrasonic imaging techniques seem to be the most suitable for the temperature control. This paper presents an implementation of the ultrasonic echoes displacement estimation technique for monitoring of local temperature rise in tissue during its heating by focused ultrasound The results of the estimation were compared to the temperature measured with thermocouple. The obtained results enable to evaluate the temperature fields induced in tissues by pulsed focused ultrasonic beams using non-invasive imaging ultrasound technique.
Many therapeutic applications of pulsed focused ultrasound are based on heating of detected lesions which may be localized in tissues at different depths under the skin. In order to concentrate the acoustic energy inside tissues at desired depths a new approach using a planar multi-element annular array transducer with an electronically adjusted time-delay of excitation of its elements, was proposed. The 7-elements annular array transducer with 2.4 MHz center operating frequency and 20 mm outer diameter was produced. All its elements (central disc and 6 rings) had the same radiating area. The main purpose of this study was to investigate thermal fields induced in bovine liver in vitro by pulsed focused ultrasonic beams with various acoustic properties and electronically steered focal plane generated from the annular array transducer used. The measurements were performed for the radiating beams with the 20 mm focal depth. In order to maximize nonlinear effects introducing the important local temperature rise, the measurements have been performed in two-layer media comprising of a water layer, whose thickness was specific for the transducer used and equal to 13 mm, and the second layer of a bovine liver with a thickness of 20 mm. The thickness of the water layer was determined numerically as the axial distance where the amplitude of the second harmonics started to increase rapidly. The measurements of the temperature rise versus time were performed using a thermocouple placed inside the liver at the focus of the beam. The temperature rise induced in the bovine liver in vitro by beams with the average acoustic power of 1W, 2Wand 3Wand duty cycle of 1/5, 1/15 and 1/30, respectively, have been measured. For each beam used the exposure time needed for the local tissue heating to the temperature of 43.C (used in therapies based on ultrasonic enhancement of drug delivery or in therapies involving stimulation of immune system by enhancement of the heat shock proteins expression) and to the temperature of 56.C (used in HIFU therapies) was determined. Two sets of measurements were done for each beam considered. First, the thermocouple measurement of the temperature rise was done and next, the real-time monitoring of dynamics of growth of the necrosis area by using ultrasonic imaging technique, while the sample was exposed to the same acoustic beam. It was found that the necrosis area becomes visible in the ultrasonic image only for beams with the average acoustic power of 3 W, although after cutting the sample the thermo ablated area was visible with the naked eye even for the beams with lower acoustic power. The quantitative analysis of the obtained results allowed to determine the exposure time needed to get the necrosis area visible in the ultrasonic image.
The use of therapeutic ultrasound continues to grow. A focused ultrasonic wave can increase the tissue temperature locally for the non-invasive cancer treatment or other medical applications. The authors have designed a seven-element annular array transducer operating at 2.4 MHz. Each element was excited by sine burst supplied by a linear amplifier and FPGA control circuits. The acoustic field, generated by a transducer was initially numerically simulated in a computer and next compared to water tank hydrophone measurements performed at 20, 40 and 60 mm focal depth. The results showed good agreement of the measurements with theory and the possibility to focus the ultrasound in the preselected area. The total acoustic power radiated by the annular array was equal to 2.4 W.
The gas filled polymer spheres are used either as an ultrasonic contrast agents or controlled drug delivery microcapsules. The power spectrum of the ultrasonic backscattered signal was calculated from the resonance scattering theory for the gas bubbles surrounded by elastic shield. The size distribution of the measured microspheres was included in the calculations. In experiment, the backscattered power spectrum of measured sample was recorded by Siemens Antares ultrasonic scanner. Radio frequency (RF) data was recorded for 2.5 - 6.7 MHz transmitted ultrasonic frequencies. The backscattered spectra were calculated by Matlab software and subtracted from the transmitter spectrum, recorded as an echo from the perfect reflector. The particle size in measured sample was 12 µm mean š 8 µm sd. The resonance frequency, measured under the microscope, was 0.60 MHz for 45 µm diameter microsphere which corresponds to 2.25 MHz for 12 µm sphere. The sample volume was 10cm? and the mean quantity of scatterers was 6ź103/cm?. In conclusion, measured spectra matched those calculated from theory. The use of ultrasonic scanner with RF data output and the high sensitivity, wide bandwidth ultrasonic transducer allows to measure backscattered signal from the very small quantity of resonance scatterers with satisfactory results at 40 dB signal to noise ratio.
An influence effect of fractional bandwidth of ultrasound imaging transducer on the gain of compressed echo signal being the complementary Golay sequences (CGS) with different spectral widths is studied in this paper. Also, a new composing transmission method of CGS is discussed together with compression technique applied in order to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and penetration. The CGS with two different bit lengths, one-cycle and two-cycles are investigated. Two transducers with fractional bandwidth of 25% and 80% at centre frequency 6 MHz are used. The experimental results are presented, clearly proofing that increasing of the code length leads to compressed echo amplitude enhancement. The smaller the bandwidth is the larger is this effect; the pulse-echo sensitivity of the echo amplitude increases by 1.88 for 25% fractional bandwidth and 1.47 for 80% while preserving time resolution. The presented results of double transmission of short codes show the penetration and SNR improvement while maintaining dead zone.
A new method that utilizes nonlinear properties of tissue (or another media) to improve ultrasound image resolution is presented. In our novel method the acoustic source is activated with two tones burst (2.2 and 4.4 MHz) with specially designed polarization of the individual tone burst. This new approach is called multi tone nonlinear coding MNC because the choice of polarization of the both tones (and their amplitudes) allowing optimization of the receiving properties depends on the nonlinear properties of tissue. The calculations were done for two tones bursts propagating in the tissue-like lossy medium with absorption of 7 Np/mźMHz. The concept of the Virtual Fields was introduced to explain abilities and properties of pulse inversion and MNC method and to compare both. Comparison of the spatial field distribution obtained using MNC and conventional harmonic imaging approach, in which the first harmonic is used to reconstruct the image are presented.
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This study investigates a new composing method of double transmission of short coded sequences based on well-known Golay complementary codes, which allow to obtain the higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and increase penetration depth. The proposed method can potentially find application in small parts ultrasonography and play important role in examination of superficial structures, e.g. in dermatology, ophthalmology, etc., where using longer coded sequences leads to increase of a dead zone and single pulse transmission of short sequences does not assure sufficient SNR. This paper discusses the comparison of results obtained during the examination of four different lengths pairs of Golay coded sequences excited at 3.7 MHz: the single 64-bits pair of Golay sequences and combined sequences consisting of two 8-, 16-, and 32-bits Golay codes separated in time. The experimental results have shown that using the double pulse transmission allows to suppress considerably the noise level, the SNR increases by 5.7 dB in comparison with the single pulse transmission of Golay sequences of the same length. The results of this work indicate that double pulse transmission enhances SNR while maintaining the dead zone short.
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Objective: The goal of this work was to develop a clinically applicable method for non-invasive acoustic determination of hematocrit m VIVO. Methods: The value of hematocrit (HCT) was determined initially in vitro from the pulse-echo measurements of acoustic attenuation. The testing was carried out using a laboratory setup with ultrasound transducer operating at 20 MHz and employing human blood samples at the temperature of 37°C. The attenuation coefficient measurements in blood in vitro and in vivo were implemented using multi-gated (128-gates), 20 MHz pulse Doppler flow meter. The Doppler signal was recorded in the brachial artery. Both in vitro and in vivo HCT data were compared with those obtained using widely accepted, conventional centrifuge method. Results: The attenuation coefficient in vitro was determined from the measurements of 168 samples with hematocrit varying between 23.9 and 51.6%. Those experiments indicated that the coefficient increased linearly with hematocrit. The HCT value was obtained from the 20 MHz data using regression analysis. The attenuation (0 was determined as a 42.14 + 1.02 . HCT (Np/m). The corresponding standard deviation (SD), and the correlation coefficient were calculated as SD = 2.4 Np/m, and R = 0.9, (p < 0.001 ), respectively The absolute accuracy of in vivo measurements in the brachial artery was determined to be within +-5% HCT. Conclusions: The method proposed appears to be promising for in vivo determination of hematocrit as 5% error is adequate to monitor changes in patients in shock or during dialysis. It was found that the multigate system largely simplified the placement of an ultrasonic probing beam in the center of the blood vessel. Current work focuses on enhancing the method's applicability to arbitrary selected vessels and reducing the HCT measurement error to well below 5%.
The issue of maximizing penetration depth with concurrent retaining or enhancement of image resolution constitutes one of the time invariant challenges in ultrasound imaging. Concerns about potential and undesirable side effects set limits on the possibility of overcoming the frequency dependent attenuation effects by increasing peak acoustic amplitudes of the waves probing the tissue. To overcome this limitation a pulse compression technique employing 16 bits Complementary Golay Code (CGS) was implemented at 4 MHz. In comparison with other, earlier proposed, coded excitation schemes, such as chirp, pseudo-random chirp and Barker codes, the CGS allowed virtually side lobe free operation. Computer simulation results for CGS pulse compression are presented. Next three different methods and algorithms used to calculate the pairs of Golay sequences of the different length are described. Experimental results are presented in the form, which in clear way illustrates the resolution, signal penetration and contrast dynamics of ultrasonic images obtained by using Golay coded excitation.
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The issue of maximizng penetration depth with concurrent retaining or enhancement of image resolution constitutes one of the time in variant challenges in ultrasound imaging. Concerns about potential and undesirable side effects set limits on the possibility of overcoming the frequency depended attuenuation effects by increasing peak acoustic amplitudes of the waves probing the tissue. To overcome this limitation a pulse compression technique employing 16 bits Complementary Golay Sequences (CGS) Code was implemented at 4 MHz. In comparison with other, erlier proposed excitation schemes, such as chirp, pseudo-random chirp and Barker codes, the CGS allowed virtually side lobe free operation. Experimental data indicate that the quality - resolution, signal penetration and contrast dynamics - of CGS images is better then the one obtain standard ultrasonography using short burst excitation.
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In this paper three different methods and algorithms used to calculate the pairs of Golay sequences of the different length are described. The program for simulating the pairs of the Golay sequences of different length is given. This program (using Matlab™ routines) is based on the basic properties of complementary series and is simple and computationally effective. Experimental results are presented in the form, which in a clear way illustrates the resolution, depth penetration and contrast dynamics of ultrasonic images obtained using the Golay coded excitation.
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The issue of maximizing penetration depth with concurrent retaining or enhancement of image resolution constitutes one of the time invariant challenges in ultrasound imaging. Concerns about potential and undesirable side effects set limits on the possibility of overcoming the frequency dependent attenuation effects by increasing peak acoustic amplitudes of the waves probing the tissue. To overcome this limitation a pulse compression technique employing 8 bits Complementary Golay Code (CGS) was implemented at 4 MHz. In comparison with other, earlier proposed, coded excitation schemes, such as chirp, pseudo-random chirp and Barker codes, the CGS allowed virtually side lobe free operation. Computer simulation results for CGS pulse compression are presented. Next, the images of RMI tissue phantom generated by those two excitations schemes are presented. Identical peak power conditions in the experimental setup were implemented with the earlier mentioned 8 bits CGC and 2 periods tone burst. Experimental data indicate that the quality of CGS images is comparable to that acquired using conventional pulse imaging. CGS exhibited signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain of 9.6 dB with the axial resolution being virtually the same for both transmitting schemes.
The attenuation coefficient and the speed of 16 and 20 MHz ultrasound were determined in human blood at 37°C by the pulse - echo technique. Blood samples with haematocrit range 23.9 - 51.6 % and samples of plasma were measured. The mean attenuation coefficient increased linearly with haematocrit (HCT). The least squares regression function being ? = 2.64 + 0.081 HCT (dB/cm) for 16 MHz and ? = 3.61 + 0.087 HCT (dB/cm) for 20 MHz. The standard errors of estimate were 0.386 and 0.210 respectively. The speed of sound increased with haematocrit c = 1546 + 0.9 HCT (m/s) for 16 MHz and 20 MHz. The standard error of estimate was 2.8. The attenuation value varied from patient to patient. The authors conclude that in vivo a measurement of the haematocrit is possible with š3.5 HCT value accuracy, as a result of that variation.
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Nonlinear effects, caused by propagation of ultrasonic pulses with finite amplitudes, were computed and measured in water in the case of pulses with pressures up to 1.5MPapp used in diagnostic devices. An electronic transmitter generated high (280Vpp) and low (47Vpp) voltages, applied to a plane PZT transducer causing in this way nonlinear and linear propagation effects. The carrier frequency of the pulse was 2MHz, while its time duration was 2.5\,ms. The measurements were carried out by means of a typical calibrated PVDF membrane hydrophone and by an electromagnetic (EM) hydrophone, prepared for this study. The pulse measurements by means of the PVDF hydrophone showed a higher number of spectral components than those by means of the EM hydrophone. This effect was explained by sensitivity characteristics that increased in the PVDF and decreased in the EM hydrophone as a function of frequency. Previously, it was shown that the effective frequency band used in measurements by means of the PVDF hydrophone is situated below the resonance, on the increasing slope of the resonanse curve. The properties of the EM hydrophone were analysed on the basis of the plane wave assumption. A procedure was developed to correct distortions of the pulse spectrum and its pressure measured by PVDF and EM hydrophones. In the first case the maximum peak-to-peak pulse pressure should be decreased by 27%, while in the second case it should be increased by only 0.7%, and by 3% if an additional amplifier was used. The sensitivities of PVDF and EM hydrohones were very different and equal for the frequency of 2MHz to 28mV/MPa and 0.10mV/MPa, respectively. The calibration of the EM hydrophone was carried out by means of only two simple: electrical and magnetic independent measurements, although in the EM hydrophone there occured external interferring signals. For the theoretic-numerical detemination of the acoustic fields and their spectra generated in the case of nonlinear and linear propagation the numerical procedure called the WJ Code was applied. It was developed recently by the last-named author of this paper. In calculations absorption in water was taken into account. The critical distance, where distortions caused by nonlinear propagation in water were maximum, was determined by a number of computations of the ultrasonic field as a function of the distance from the transducer. A good agreement between computed results and those measured by two different methods, showing the pulse pressure distribution along the whole beam axis, was confirmed. In this case it was shown that the ?/4 matching layer covering the transducer surface influenced the edge wave radiated by the transducer.
An approximate solution for the streaming velocity generated by flat and weakly focused transducers was derived by directly solving the Dirichlet boundary conditions for the Poisson equation. The theoretical calculations were verified using a purpose-designed 32 MHz pulsed Doppler unit. The applied average acoustic power was changed from l µW to 6 mW. The experiments were done on 4 mm diameter flat and focused transducers. The streaming velocity was measured along the ultrasonic beam from 0 to 20 mm. Streaming was induced in a solution of water and com starch. The experimental results showed that for a given acoustic power the streaming velocity was independent of the starch density in water changed from 0.3 grams to 40 grams of starch in 1 litre of distilled water. For applied acoustic powers, the streaming velocity changed Iinearly from 0.2 to 40 mm/s. Both, the theoretical solutions for pIane and focused waves, and the experimental results were in good agreement.
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