Microscopical and chemical surface characterization of CAD/CAM zircona abutments after different cleaning procedures. A qualitative analysis

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

PURPOSE To describe and characterize the surface topography and cleanliness of CAD/CAM manufactured zirconia abutments after steaming and ultrasonic cleaning. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 12 ceramic CAD/CAM implant abutments of various manufacturers were produced and randomly divided into two groups of six samples each (control and test group). Four two-piece hybrid abutments and two one-piece abutments made of zirconium-dioxide were assessed per each group. In the control group, cleaning by steam was performed. The test group underwent an ultrasonic cleaning procedure with acetone, ethyl alcohol and antibacterial solution. Groups were subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to verify and characterize contaminant chemical characterization non-quantitatively. RESULTS All zirconia CAD/CAM abutments in the present study displayed production-induced wear particles, debris as well as organic and inorganic contaminants. The abutments of the test group showed reduction of surface contamination after undergoing an ultrasonic cleaning procedure. However, an absolute removal of pollutants could not be achieved. CONCLUSION The presence of debris on the transmucosal surface of CAD/CAM zirconia abutments of various manufacturers was confirmed. Within the limits of the study design, the results suggest that a defined ultrasonic cleaning process can be advantageously employed to reduce such debris, thus, supposedly enhancing soft tissue healing. Although the adverse long-term influence of abutment contamination on the biological stability of peri-implant tissues has been evidenced, a standardized and validated polishing and cleaning protocol still has to be implemented. PMID:25932314

Robust diffraction correction method for high-frequency ultrasonic tissue characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raju, Balasundar

2004-05-01

The computation of quantitative ultrasonic parameters such as the attenuation or backscatter coefficient requires compensation for diffraction effects. In this work a simple and accurate diffraction correction method for skin characterization requiring only a single focal zone is developed. The advantage of this method is that the transducer need not be mechanically repositioned to collect data from several focal zones, thereby reducing the time of imaging and preventing motion artifacts. Data were first collected under controlled conditions from skin of volunteers using a high-frequency system (center frequency=33 MHz, BW=28 MHz) at 19 focal zones through axial translation. Using these data, mean backscatter power spectra were computed as a function of the distance between the transducer and the tissue, which then served as empirical diffraction correction curves for subsequent data. The method was demonstrated on patients patch-tested for contact dermatitis. The computed attenuation coefficient slope was significantly (p<0.05) lower at the affected site (0.13+/-0.02 dB/mm/MHz) compared to nearby normal skin (0.2+/-0.05 dB/mm/MHz). The mean backscatter level was also significantly lower at the affected site (6.7+/-2.1 in arbitrary units) compared to normal skin (11.3+/-3.2). These results show diffraction corrected ultrasonic parameters can differentiate normal from affected skin tissues.

Effect of echo artifacts on characterization of pulsatile tissues in neonatal cranial ultrasonic movies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuzawa, Masayuki; Takahashi, Kazuki; Tabata, Yuki; Kitsunezuka, Yoshiki

2016-04-01

Effect of echo artifacts on characterization of pulsatile tissues has been examined in neonatal cranial ultrasonic movies by characterizing pulsatile intensities with different regions of interest (ROIs). The pulsatile tissue, which is a key point in pediatric diagnosis of brain tissue, was detected from a heartbeat-frequency component in Fourier transform of a time-variation of 64 samples of echo intensity at each pixel in a movie fragment. The averages of pulsatile intensity and power were evaluated in two ROIs: common fan-shape and individual cranial-shape. The area of pulsatile region was also evaluated as the number of pixels where the pulsatile intensity exceeds a proper threshold. The extracranial pulsatile region was found mainly in the sections where mirror image was dominant echo artifact. There was significant difference of pulsatile area between two ROIs especially in the specific sections where mirror image was included, suggesting the suitability of cranial-shape ROI for statistical study on pulsatile tissues in brain. The normalized average of pulsatile power in the cranial-shape ROI exhibited most similar tendency to the normalized pulsatile area which was treated as a conventional measure in spite of its requirement of thresholding. It suggests the potential of pulsatile power as an alternative measure for pulsatile area in further statistical study of pulsatile tissues because it was neither affected by echo artifacts nor threshold.

Enhancement of ultraweak photon emission with 3 MHz ultrasonic irradiation on transplanted tumor tissues of mice.

PubMed

Kim, Hongbae; Ahn, Saeyoung; Kim, Jungdae; Soh, Kwang-Sup

2008-07-01

We investigated photon emissions of various bio-samples which were induced by ultrasonic stimulation. It has been reported that ultrasonic stimulations induced the thermal excitation of the bio-tissues. After ultrasonic stimulation, any measurement of photon radiation in the visible spectral range has not been carried out yet. The instruments consisted of electronic devices for an ultrasonic generator of the frequency 3 MHz and a photomultiplier tube (PMT) system counting photons from bio-tissues. The transplanted tumor tissues of mice were prepared for the experiments and their liver and spleen tissues were also used for the controls. It was found that the continuous ultrasonic stimulations with the electrical power 2300 mW induced ultraweak photon emissions from the tumor tissues. The number of induced photon was dependent of the type of the tissues and the stimulation time intervals. The level of photon emission was increased from the mouse tumor exposed to the ultrasonic stimulations, and the changes were discriminated from those of the spleens and livers.

The Laparosound{trade mark, serif}-an ultrasonic morcellator for use in laparoscopic surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinowski, Igor; Łobodzinski, Suave S.; Paśniczek, Roman

2012-05-01

The laparoscopic surgery has gained presence in the operating room in cases where it is feasible to spare patient trauma and minimize the hospital stay. One unique challenge in laparoscopic/endoscopic surgery is operating and removing tissue volume through keyhole - trocar. The removal of tissues by fragmentation is generally termed morcellation. We proposed a new method for soft tissue morcellation using laparoscopy. A unique ultrasonic laparoscopic surgical device, termed Laparosound{trade mark, serif}, utilizing laparoscopic high amplitude ultrasonic waveguides, operating in edge mode, has been developed that uses the principle of ultrasonic cavitation phenomenon for excision and morcellation of a variety of tissue types. The local ultrasonic acoustic intensity at the distal waveguide tip is sufficiently high that the liquefaction of moist tissue occurs. The mechanism of tissue morcellation is deemed to be cavitation based, therefore is dependant on water content in tissue, and thus its effectiveness depends on tissue type. This results in ultrasound being efficient in moist tissue and sparing dry, collagen rich blood vessels and thus minimizes bleeding. The applications of such device in particular, commonly encountered, could lay in general and ob/gyn laparoscopic surgery, whereas other applications could emerge. The design of power ultrasonic instruments for mass clinical applications poses however unique challenges, such as ability to design and build ultrasonic resonators that last in conditions of ultrasonic fatigue. These highly non-linear devices, whose behavior is hard to predict, have become the challenge of the author of the present paper. The object of work is to design and build an operating device capable of ultrasonic soft tissue morcellation in laparoscopic surgery. This includes heavy computational ultrasonics verified by testing and manufacturing feasibility using titanium biomedical alloys. The prototype Laparosound{trade mark, serif} device has been built and tested. Some of the challenges in design and development of Laparosound{trade mark, serif} ultrasonic laparoscopic morcellator have been presented.

Development of a dual-modal tissue diagnostic system combining time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy.

PubMed

Sun, Yang; Park, Jesung; Stephens, Douglas N; Jo, Javier A; Sun, Lei; Cannata, Jonathan M; Saroufeem, Ramez M G; Shung, K Kirk; Marcu, Laura

2009-06-01

We report a tissue diagnostic system which combines two complementary techniques of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy (UBM). TR-LIFS evaluates the biochemical composition of tissue, while UBM provides tissue microanatomy and enables localization of the region of diagnostic interest. The TR-LIFS component consists of an optical fiber-based time-domain apparatus including a spectrometer, gated multichannel plate photomultiplier, and fast digitizer. It records the fluorescence with high sensitivity (nM concentration range) and time resolution as low as 300 ps. The UBM system consists of a transducer, pulser, receiving circuit, and positioning stage. The transducer used here is 45 MHz, unfocused, with axial and lateral resolutions 38 and 200 microm. Validation of the hybrid system and ultrasonic and spectroscopic data coregistration were conducted both in vitro (tissue phantom) and ex vivo (atherosclerotic tissue specimens of human aorta). Standard histopathological analysis of tissue samples was used to validate the UBM-TRLIFS data. Current results have demonstrated that spatially correlated UBM and TR-LIFS data provide complementary characterization of both morphology (necrotic core and calcium deposits) and biochemistry (collagen, elastin, and lipid features) of the atherosclerotic plaques at the same location. Thus, a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy with ultrasound imaging would allow for better identification of features associated with tissue pathologies. Current design and performance of the hybrid system suggests potential applications in clinical diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque.

Development of a dual-modal tissue diagnostic system combining time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy

PubMed Central

Sun, Yang; Park, Jesung; Stephens, Douglas N.; Jo, Javier A.; Sun, Lei; Cannata, Jonathan M.; Saroufeem, Ramez M. G.; Shung, K. Kirk; Marcu, Laura

2009-01-01

We report a tissue diagnostic system which combines two complementary techniques of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy (UBM). TR-LIFS evaluates the biochemical composition of tissue, while UBM provides tissue microanatomy and enables localization of the region of diagnostic interest. The TR-LIFS component consists of an optical fiber-based time-domain apparatus including a spectrometer, gated multichannel plate photomultiplier, and fast digitizer. It records the fluorescence with high sensitivity (nM concentration range) and time resolution as low as 300 ps. The UBM system consists of a transducer, pulser, receiving circuit, and positioning stage. The transducer used here is 45 MHz, unfocused, with axial and lateral resolutions 38 and 200 μm. Validation of the hybrid system and ultrasonic and spectroscopic data coregistration were conducted both in vitro (tissue phantom) and ex vivo (atherosclerotic tissue specimens of human aorta). Standard histopathological analysis of tissue samples was used to validate the UBM-TRLIFS data. Current results have demonstrated that spatially correlated UBM and TR-LIFS data provide complementary characterization of both morphology (necrotic core and calcium deposits) and biochemistry (collagen, elastin, and lipid features) of the atherosclerotic plaques at the same location. Thus, a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy with ultrasound imaging would allow for better identification of features associated with tissue pathologies. Current design and performance of the hybrid system suggests potential applications in clinical diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque. PMID:19566223

Development of a dual-modal tissue diagnostic system combining time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yang; Park, Jesung; Stephens, Douglas N.; Jo, Javier A.; Sun, Lei; Cannata, Jonathan M.; Saroufeem, Ramez M. G.; Shung, K. Kirk; Marcu, Laura

2009-06-01

We report a tissue diagnostic system which combines two complementary techniques of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) and ultrasonic backscatter microscopy (UBM). TR-LIFS evaluates the biochemical composition of tissue, while UBM provides tissue microanatomy and enables localization of the region of diagnostic interest. The TR-LIFS component consists of an optical fiber-based time-domain apparatus including a spectrometer, gated multichannel plate photomultiplier, and fast digitizer. It records the fluorescence with high sensitivity (nM concentration range) and time resolution as low as 300 ps. The UBM system consists of a transducer, pulser, receiving circuit, and positioning stage. The transducer used here is 45 MHz, unfocused, with axial and lateral resolutions 38 and 200 μm. Validation of the hybrid system and ultrasonic and spectroscopic data coregistration were conducted both in vitro (tissue phantom) and ex vivo (atherosclerotic tissue specimens of human aorta). Standard histopathological analysis of tissue samples was used to validate the UBM-TRLIFS data. Current results have demonstrated that spatially correlated UBM and TR-LIFS data provide complementary characterization of both morphology (necrotic core and calcium deposits) and biochemistry (collagen, elastin, and lipid features) of the atherosclerotic plaques at the same location. Thus, a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy with ultrasound imaging would allow for better identification of features associated with tissue pathologies. Current design and performance of the hybrid system suggests potential applications in clinical diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque.

Real time analysis of brain tissue by direct combination of ultrasonic surgical aspiration and sonic spray mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Schäfer, Karl-Christian; Balog, Júlia; Szaniszló, Tamás; Szalay, Dániel; Mezey, Géza; Dénes, Júlia; Bognár, László; Oertel, Matthias; Takáts, Zoltán

2011-10-15

Direct combination of cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) and sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry is presented. A commercially available ultrasonic surgical device was coupled to a Venturi easy ambient sonic-spray ionization (V-EASI) source by directly introducing liquified tissue debris into the Venturi air jet pump. The Venturi air jet pump was found to efficiently nebulize the suspended tissue material for gas phase ion production. The ionization mechanism involving solely pneumatic spraying was associated with that of sonic spray ionization. Positive and negative ionization spectra were obtained from brain and liver samples reflecting the primary application areas of the surgical device. Mass spectra were found to feature predominantly complex lipid-type constituents of tissues in both ion polarity modes. Multiply charged peptide anions were also detected. The influence of instrumental settings was characterized in detail. Venturi pump geometry and flow parameters were found to be critically important in ionization efficiency. Standard solutions of phospholipids and peptides were analyzed in order to test the dynamic range, sensitivity, and suppression effects. The spectra of the intact tissue specimens were found to be highly specific to the histological tissue type. The principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based data analysis method was developed for real-time tissue identification in a surgical environment. The method has been successfully tested on post-mortem and ex vivo human samples including astrocytomas, meningeomas, metastatic brain tumors, and healthy brain tissue. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Effect of aerosol particles generated by ultrasonic humidifiers on the lung in mouse.

PubMed

Umezawa, Masakazu; Sekita, Keisuke; Suzuki, Ken-Ichiro; Kubo-Irie, Miyoko; Niki, Rikio; Ihara, Tomomi; Sugamata, Masao; Takeda, Ken

2013-12-21

Ultrasonic humidifiers silently generate water droplets as a cool fog and produce most of the dissolved minerals in the fog in the form of an aerosolized "white dust." However, the health effect of these airborne particles is largely unknown. This study aimed to characterize the aerosol particles generated by ultrasonic humidifiers and to investigate their effect on the lung tissue of mice. An ultrasonic humidifier was operated with tap water, high-silica water, ultrapure water, or other water types. In a chamber (0.765 m3, ventilation ratio 11.5 m3/hr), male ICR mice (10-week-old) were exposed by inhalation to an aerosol-containing vapor generated by the humidifier. After exposure for 7 or 14 days, lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected from each mouse and examined by microarray, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and light and electron microscopy. Particles generated from the humidifier operated with tap water had a mass concentration of 0.46 ± 0.03 mg/m3, number concentration of (5.0 ± 1.1) × 10(4)/cm3, and peak size distribution of 183 nm. The particles were phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages in the lung of mice. Inhalation of particles caused dysregulation of genes related to mitosis, cell adhesion molecules, MHC molecules and endocytosis, but did not induce any signs of inflammation or tissue injury in the lung. These results indicate that aerosol particles released from ultrasonic humidifiers operated with tap water initiated a cellular response but did not cause severe acute inflammation in pulmonary tissue. Additionally, high mineral content tap water is not recommended and de-mineralized water should be recommended in order to exclude any adverse effects.

Understanding nonlinear vibration behaviours in high-power ultrasonic surgical devices

PubMed Central

Mathieson, Andrew; Cardoni, Andrea; Cerisola, Niccolò; Lucas, Margaret

2015-01-01

Ultrasonic surgical devices are increasingly used in oral, craniofacial and maxillofacial surgery to cut mineralized tissue, offering the surgeon high accuracy with minimal risk to nerve and vessel tissue. Power ultrasonic devices operate in resonance, requiring their length to be a half-wavelength or multiple-half-wavelength. For bone surgery, devices based on a half-wavelength have seen considerable success, but longer multiple-half-wavelength endoscopic devices have recently been proposed to widen the range of surgeries. To provide context for these developments, some examples of surgical procedures and the associated designs of ultrasonic cutting tips are presented. However, multiple-half-wavelength components, typical of endoscopic devices, have greater potential to exhibit nonlinear dynamic behaviours that have a highly detrimental effect on device performance. Through experimental characterization of the dynamic behaviour of endoscopic devices, it is demonstrated how geometrical features influence nonlinear dynamic responses. Period doubling, a known route to chaotic behaviour, is shown to be significantly influenced by the cutting tip shape, whereas the cutting tip has only a limited effect on Duffing-like responses, particularly the shape of the hysteresis curve, which is important for device stability. These findings underpin design, aiming to pave the way for a new generation of ultrasonic endoscopic surgical devices. PMID:27547081

Use of focused ultrasonication in activity-based profiling of deubiquitinating enzymes in tissue.

PubMed

Nanduri, Bindu; Shack, Leslie A; Rai, Aswathy N; Epperson, William B; Baumgartner, Wes; Schmidt, Ty B; Edelmann, Mariola J

2016-12-15

To develop a reproducible tissue lysis method that retains enzyme function for activity-based protein profiling, we compared four different methods to obtain protein extracts from bovine lung tissue: focused ultrasonication, standard sonication, mortar & pestle method, and homogenization combined with standard sonication. Focused ultrasonication and mortar & pestle methods were sufficiently effective for activity-based profiling of deubiquitinases in tissue, and focused ultrasonication also had the fastest processing time. We used focused-ultrasonicator for subsequent activity-based proteomic analysis of deubiquitinases to test the compatibility of this method in sample preparation for activity-based chemical proteomics. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Glioma tissue obtained by modern ultrasonic aspiration with a simple sterile suction trap for primary cell culture and pathological evaluation.

PubMed

Schroeteler, Juliane; Reeker, Ralf; Suero Molina, Eric; Brokinkel, Benjamin; Holling, Markus; Grauer, Oliver M; Senner, Volker; Stummer, Walter; Ewelt, Christian

2014-01-01

Ultrasonic aspiration is widely used in the resection of brain tumors. Nevertheless, tumor tissue fragments obtained by ultrasonic aspiration are usually discarded. In this study, we demonstrate that these fragments are possible sources of material for histopathological study and tissue culture and compare their microscopic features and viability in tissue culture of cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator tissue fragments. Brain tumor tissue collected by ultrasonic aspiration (CUSA EXcel®; Integra Radionics Inc.) in a simple sterile suction trap during resection was processed for primary cell culture. Cell viability and immunohistological markers were measured by the WST-1 test, microscopy and immunofluorescent evaluation. Six gliomas are presented to demonstrate that these tissue fragments show good preservation of histological detail and tissue viability in culture. Utilization of this material may facilitate pathological interpretation by providing a more representative sample of tumor histology as well as an adequate and sterile biosource of material for tissue culture studies.

Resolution Enhancement In Ultrasonic Imaging By A Time-Varying Filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ching, N. H.; Rosenfeld, D.; Braun, M.

1987-09-01

The study reported here investigates the use of a time-varying filter to compensate for the spreading of ultrasonic pulses due to the frequency dependence of attenuation by tissues. The effect of this pulse spreading is to degrade progressively the axial resolution with increasing depth. The form of compensation required to correct for this effect is impossible to realize exactly. A novel time-varying filter utilizing a bank of bandpass filters is proposed as a realizable approximation of the required compensation. The performance of this filter is evaluated by means of a computer simulation. The limits of its application are discussed. Apart from improving the axial resolution, and hence the accuracy of axial measurements, the compensating filter could be used in implementing tissue characterization algorithms based on attenuation data.

Physics of ultrasonic wave propagation in bone and heart characterized using Bayesian parameter estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Christian Carl

This Dissertation explores the physics underlying the propagation of ultrasonic waves in bone and in heart tissue through the use of Bayesian probability theory. Quantitative ultrasound is a noninvasive modality used for clinical detection, characterization, and evaluation of bone quality and cardiovascular disease. Approaches that extend the state of knowledge of the physics underpinning the interaction of ultrasound with inherently inhomogeneous and isotropic tissue have the potential to enhance its clinical utility. Simulations of fast and slow compressional wave propagation in cancellous bone were carried out to demonstrate the plausibility of a proposed explanation for the widely reported anomalous negative dispersion in cancellous bone. The results showed that negative dispersion could arise from analysis that proceeded under the assumption that the data consist of only a single ultrasonic wave, when in fact two overlapping and interfering waves are present. The confounding effect of overlapping fast and slow waves was addressed by applying Bayesian parameter estimation to simulated data, to experimental data acquired on bone-mimicking phantoms, and to data acquired in vitro on cancellous bone. The Bayesian approach successfully estimated the properties of the individual fast and slow waves even when they strongly overlapped in the acquired data. The Bayesian parameter estimation technique was further applied to an investigation of the anisotropy of ultrasonic properties in cancellous bone. The degree to which fast and slow waves overlap is partially determined by the angle of insonation of ultrasound relative to the predominant direction of trabecular orientation. In the past, studies of anisotropy have been limited by interference between fast and slow waves over a portion of the range of insonation angles. Bayesian analysis estimated attenuation, velocity, and amplitude parameters over the entire range of insonation angles, allowing a more complete characterization of anisotropy. A novel piecewise linear model for the cyclic variation of ultrasonic backscatter from myocardium was proposed. Models of cyclic variation for 100 type 2 diabetes patients and 43 normal control subjects were constructed using Bayesian parameter estimation. Parameters determined from the model, specifically rise time and slew rate, were found to be more reliable in differentiating between subject groups than the previously employed magnitude parameter.

Ultrasonic Apparatus and Method to Assess Compartment Syndrome

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yost, William T. (Inventor); Ueno, Toshiaki (Inventor); Hargens, Alan R. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A process and apparatus for measuring pressure buildup in a body compartment that encases muscular tissue. The method includes assessing the body compartment configuration and identifying the effect of pulsatible components on compartment dimensions and muscle tissue characteristics. This process is used in preventing tissue necrosis, and in decisions of whether to perform surgery on the body compartment for prevention of Compartment Syndrome. An apparatus is used for measuring pressure build-up in the body compartment having components for imparting ultrasonic waves such as a transducer, placing the transducer to impart the ultrasonic waves, capturing the imparted ultrasonic waves, mathematically manipulating the captured ultrasonic waves and categorizing pressure build-up in the body compartment from the mathematical manipulations.

21 CFR 892.1550 - Ultrasonic pulsed doppler imaging system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Ultrasonic pulsed doppler imaging system. 892.1550... system. (a) Identification. An ultrasonic pulsed doppler imaging system is a device that combines the... determine stationary body tissue characteristics, such as depth or location of tissue interfaces or dynamic...

Ultrasound-aided high-resolution biophotonic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lihong V.

2003-10-01

We develop novel biophotonic imaging for early-cancer detection, a grand challenge in cancer research, using nonionizing electromagnetic and ultrasonic waves. Unlike ionizing x-ray radiation, nonionizing electromagnetic waves such as optical waves are safe for biomedical applications and reveal new contrast mechanisms and functional information. For example, our spectroscopic oblique-incidence reflectometry can detect skin cancers based on functional hemoglobin parameters and cell nuclear size with 95% accuracy. Unfortunately, electromagnetic waves in the nonionizing spectral region do not penetrate biological tissue in straight paths as do x-rays. Consequently, high-resolution tomography based on nonionizing electromagnetic waves alone, as demonstrated by our Mueller optical coherence tomography, is limited to superficial tissue imaging. Ultrasonic imaging, on the contrary, furnishes good imaging resolution but has poor contrast in early-stage tumors and has strong speckle artifacts as well. We developed ultrasound-mediated imaging modalities by combining electromagnetic and ultrasonic waves synergistically. The hybrid modalities yield speckle-free electromagnetic-contrast at ultrasonic resolution in relatively large biological tissue. In ultrasound-modulated (acousto)-optical tomography, a focused ultrasonic wave encodes diffuse laser light in scattering biological tissue. In photo-acoustic (thermo-acoustic) tomography, a low-energy laser (RF) pulse induces ultrasonic waves in biological tissue due to thermoelastic expansion.

In silico simulation and in vitro evaluation of an elastomeric scaffold using ultrasonic shear wave imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Jiao; Nie, Erwei; Zhu, Yanying; Hong, Yi

2018-03-01

Biodegradable elastomeric scaffolds for soft tissue repair represent a growing area of biomaterials research. Mechanical strength is one of the key factors to consider in the evaluation of candidate materials and the designs for tissue scaffolds. It is desirable to develop non-invasive evaluation methods of the mechanical property of scaffolds which would provide options for monitoring temporal mechanical property changes in situ. In this paper, we conduct in silico simulation and in vitro evaluation of an elastomeric scaffold using a novel ultrasonic shear wave imaging (USWI). The scaffold is fabricated from a biodegradable elastomer, poly(carbonate urethane) urea using salt leaching method. A numerical simulation is performed to test the robustness of the developed inversion algorithm for the elasticity map reconstruction which will be implemented in the phantom experiment. The generation and propagation of shear waves in a homogeneous tissue-mimicking medium with a circular scaffold inclusion is simulated and the elasticity map is well reconstructed. A PVA phantom experiment is performed to test the ability of USWI combined with the inversion algorithm to non-invasively characterize the mechanical property of a porous, biodegradable elastomeric scaffold. The elastic properties of the tested scaffold can be easily differentiated from the surrounding medium in the reconstructed image. The ability of the developed method to identify the edge of the scaffold and characterize the elasticity distribution is demonstrated. Preliminary results in this pilot study support the idea of applying the USWI based method for non-invasive elasticity characterization of tissue scaffolds.

Photo-acoustic excitation and detection of guided ultrasonic waves in bone samples covered by a soft coating layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zuomin; Moilanen, Petro; Karppinen, Pasi; Määttä, Mikko; Karppinen, Timo; Hæggström, Edward; Timonen, Jussi; Myllylä, Risto

2012-12-01

Photo-acoustic (PA) excitation was combined with skeletal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for multi-mode ultrasonic assessment of human long bones. This approach permits tailoring of the ultrasonic excitation and detection so as to efficiently detect the fundamental flexural guided wave (FFGW) through a coating of soft tissue. FFGW is a clinically relevant indicator of cortical thickness. An OPO laser with tunable optical wavelength, was used to excite a photo-acoustic source in the shaft of a porcine femur. Ultrasonic signals were detected by a piezoelectric transducer, scanning along the long axis of the bone, 20-50 mm away from the source. Five femurs were measured without and with a soft coating. The coating was made of an aqueous gelatin-intralipid suspension that optically and acoustically mimicked real soft tissue. An even coating thickness was ensured by using a specific mold. The optical wave length of the source (1250 nm) was tuned to maximize the amplitude of FFGW excitation at 50 kHz frequency. The experimentally determined FFGW phase velocity in the uncoated samples was consistent with that of the fundamental antisymmetric Lamb mode (A0). Using appropriate signal processing, FFGW was also identified in the coated bone samples, this time with a phase velocity consistent with that theoretically predicted for the first mode of a fluid-solid bilayer waveguide (BL1). Our results suggest that photo-acoustic quantitative ultrasound enables assessment of the thickness-sensitive FFGW in bone through a layer of soft tissue. Photo-acoustic characterization of the cortical bone thickness may thus become possible.

Laminar and turbulent surgical plume characteristics generated from curved- and straight-blade laparoscopic ultrasonic dissectors.

PubMed

Kim, Fernando J; Sehrt, David; Pompeo, Alexandre; Molina, Wilson R

2014-05-01

To characterize laparoscopic ultrasonic dissector surgical plume emission (laminar or turbulent) and investigate plume settlement time between curved and straight blades. A straight and a curved blade laparoscopic ultrasonic dissector were activated on tissue and in a liquid environment to evaluate plume emission. Plume emission was characterized as either laminar or turbulent and the plume settlement times were compared. Devices were then placed in liquid to observed consistency in the fluid disruption. Two types of plume emission were identified generating different directions of plume: laminar flow causes minimal visual obstruction by directing the aerosol downwards, while turbulent flow directs plume erratically across the cavity. Laminar plume dissipates immediately while turbulent plume reaches a second maximum obstruction approximately 0.3 s after activation and clears after 2 s. Turbulent plume was observed with the straight blade in 10 % of activations, and from the curved blade in 47 % of activations. The straight blade emitted less obstructive plume. Turbulent flow is disruptive to laparoscopic visibility with greater field obstruction and requires longer settling than laminar plume. Ultrasonic dissectors with straight blades have more consistent oscillations and generate more laminar flow compared with curved blades. Surgeons may avoid laparoscope smearing from maximum plume generation depending on blade geometry.

Bedside assistance in freehand ultrasonic diagnosis by real-time visual feedback of 3D scatter diagram of pulsatile tissue-motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuzawa, M.; Kawata, K.; Nakamori, N.; Kitsunezuka, Y.

2011-03-01

By real-time visual feedback of 3D scatter diagram of pulsatile tissue-motion, freehand ultrasonic diagnosis of neonatal ischemic diseases has been assisted at the bedside. The 2D ultrasonic movie was taken with a conventional ultrasonic apparatus (ATL HDI5000) and ultrasonic probes of 5-7 MHz with the compact tilt-sensor to measure the probe orientation. The real-time 3D visualization was realized by developing an extended version of the PC-based visualization system. The software was originally developed on the DirectX platform and optimized with the streaming SIMD extensions. The 3D scatter diagram of the latest pulsatile tissues has been continuously generated and visualized as projection image with the ultrasonic movie in the current section more than 15 fps. It revealed the 3D structure of pulsatile tissues such as middle and posterior cerebral arteries, Willis ring and cerebellar arteries, in which pediatricians have great interests in the blood flow because asphyxiated and/or low-birth-weight neonates have a high risk of ischemic diseases such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and periventricular leukomalacia. Since the pulsatile tissue-motion is due to local blood flow, it can be concluded that the system developed in this work is very useful to assist freehand ultrasonic diagnosis of ischemic diseases in the neonatal cranium.

In vitro chronic hepatic disease characterization with a multiparametric ultrasonic approach.

PubMed

Meziri, M; Pereira, W C A; Abdelwahab, A; Degott, C; Laugier, P

2005-03-01

Although, high resolution, real-time ultrasonic (US) imaging is routinely available, image interpretation is based on grey-level and texture and quantitative evaluation is limited. Other potentially useful diagnostic information from US echoes may include modifications in tissue acoustic parameters (speed, attenuation and backscattering) resulting from disease development. Changes in acoustical parameters can be detected using time-of-flight and spectral analysis techniques. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of three parameters together (attenuation coefficient, US speed and integrated backscatter coefficient-IBC) to discriminate healthy and fibrosis subgroups in liver tissue. Echoes from 21 fresh in vitro samples of human liver and from a plane reflector were obtained using a 20-MHz central frequency transducer (6-30 MHz bandpass). The scan plane was parallel to the reflector placed beneath the liver. A 30 x 20 matrix of A-scans was obtained, with a 200-microm step. The samples were classified according to the Metavir scale in five different degrees of fibrosis. US speed, attenuation and IBC were estimated from standard methods described in the literature. Statistical tests were applied to the results of each parameter individually and indicated that it was not possible to identify all the fibrosis groups. Then a discriminant analysis was performed for the three parameters together resulting in a reasonable separation of fibrotic groups. Although the number of tissue samples is limited, this study opens the possibility of enhancing the discriminant capability of ultrasonic parameters of liver tissue disease when they are combined together.

An ultrasonic methodology for muscle cross section measurement of support space flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatfield, Thomas R.; Klaus, David M.; Simske, Steven J.

2004-09-01

The number one priority for any manned space mission is the health and safety of its crew. The study of the short and long term physiological effects on humans is paramount to ensuring crew health and mission success. One of the challenges associated in studying the physiological effects of space flight on humans, such as loss of bone and muscle mass, has been that of readily attaining the data needed to characterize the changes. The small sampling size of astronauts, together with the fact that most physiological data collection tends to be rather tedious, continues to hinder elucidation of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed changes that occur in space. Better characterization of the muscle loss experienced by astronauts requires that new technologies be implemented. To this end, we have begun to validate a 360° ultrasonic scanning methodology for muscle measurements and have performed empirical sampling of a limb surrogate for comparison. Ultrasonic wave propagation was simulated using 144 stations of rotated arm and calf MRI images. These simulations were intended to provide a preliminary check of the scanning methodology and data analysis before its implementation with hardware. Pulse-echo waveforms were processed for each rotation station to characterize fat, muscle, bone, and limb boundary interfaces. The percentage error between MRI reference values and calculated muscle areas, as determined from reflection points for calf and arm cross sections, was -2.179% and +2.129%, respectively. These successful simulations suggest that ultrasound pulse scanning can be used to effectively determine limb cross-sectional areas. Cross-sectional images of a limb surrogate were then used to simulate signal measurements at several rotation angles, with ultrasonic pulse-echo sampling performed experimentally at the same stations on the actual limb surrogate to corroborate the results. The objective of the surrogate sampling was to compare the signal output of the simulation tool used as a methodology validation for actual tissue signals. The disturbance patterns of the simulated and sampled waveforms were consistent. Although only discussed as a small part of the work presented, the sampling portion also helped identify important considerations such as tissue compression and transducer positioning for future work involving tissue scanning with this methodology.

Systematic approach to study of thinly and thickly sectioned melanoma tissues with scanning acoustic microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyasaka, C.; Tittmann, B. R.; Tutwiler, R.; Tian, Y.; Maeva, E.; Shum, D.

2010-03-01

The present study is to investigate the feasibility of applying in-vivo acoustic microscopy to the analysis of cancerous tissue. The study was implemented with mechanical scanning reflection acoustic microscope (SAM) by the following procedures. First, we ultrasonically visualized thick sections of normal and tumor tissues to determine the lowest transducer frequency required for cellular imaging. We used skin for normal tissue and the tumor was a malignant melanoma. Thin sections of the tissue were also studied with the optical and high-frequency-ultrasonic imaging for pathological evaluation. Secondly, we ultrasonically visualized subsurface cellular details of thin tissue specimens with different modes (i.e., pulse and tone-burst wave modes) to obtain the highest quality ultrasonic images. The objective is to select the best mode for the future design of a future SAM for in-vivo examination. Thirdly, we developed a mathematical modeling technique based on an angular spectrum approach for improving image processing and comparing numerical to experimental results.

A multi-physics model for ultrasonically activated soft tissue.

PubMed

Suvranu De, Rahul

2017-02-01

A multi-physics model has been developed to investigate the effects of cellular level mechanisms on the thermomechanical response of ultrasonically activated soft tissue. Cellular level cavitation effects have been incorporated in the tissue level continuum model to accurately determine the thermodynamic states such as temperature and pressure. A viscoelastic material model is assumed for the macromechanical response of the tissue. The cavitation model based equation-of-state provides the additional pressure arising from evaporation of intracellular and cellular water by absorbing heat due to structural and viscoelastic heating in the tissue, and temperature to the continuum level thermomechanical model. The thermomechanical response of soft tissue is studied for the operational range of frequencies of oscillations and applied loads for typical ultrasonically activated surgical instruments. The model is shown to capture characteristics of ultrasonically activated soft tissue deformation and temperature evolution. At the cellular level, evaporation of water below the boiling temperature under ambient conditions is indicative of protein denaturation around the temperature threshold for coagulation of tissues. Further, with increasing operating frequency (or loading), the temperature rises faster leading to rapid evaporation of tissue cavity water, which may lead to accelerated protein denaturation and coagulation.

Opto-acoustic thrombolysis

DOEpatents

Celliers, Peter; Da Silva, Luiz; Glinsky, Michael; London, Richard; Maitland, Duncan; Matthews, Dennis; Fitch, Pat

2000-01-01

This invention is a catheter-based device for generating an ultrasound excitation in biological tissue. Pulsed laser light is guided through an optical fiber to provide the energy for producing the acoustic vibrations. The optical energy is deposited in a water-based absorbing fluid, e.g. saline, thrombolytic agent, blood or thrombus, and generates an acoustic impulse in the fluid through thermoelastic and/or thermodynamic mechanisms. By pulsing the laser at a repetition rate (which may vary from 10 Hz to 100 kHz) an ultrasonic radiation field can be established locally in the medium. This method of producing ultrasonic vibrations can be used in vivo for the treatment of stroke-related conditions in humans, particularly for dissolving thrombus or treating vasospasm. The catheter can also incorporate thrombolytic drug treatments as an adjunct therapy and it can be operated in conjunction with ultrasonic detection equipment for imaging and feedback control and with optical sensors for characterization of thrombus type and consistency.

The Hit and Away technique: optimal usage of the ultrasonic scalpel in laparoscopic gastrectomy.

PubMed

Irino, Tomoyuki; Hiki, Naoki; Ohashi, Manabu; Nunobe, Souya; Sano, Takeshi; Yamaguchi, Toshiharu

2016-01-01

Thermal injury and unexpected bleeding caused by ultrasonic scalpels can lead to fatal complications in laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), such as postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF). In this study, we developed the "Hit and Away" protocol for optimal usage of the ultrasonic scalpel, which in essence involves dividing tissues and vessels in batches using the tip of the scalpel to control tissue temperature. To assess the effectiveness of the technique, the surface temperature of the mesocolon of female swine after ultrasonic scalpel activations was measured, and tissue samples were collected to evaluate microscopic thermal injury to the pancreas. In parallel, we retrospectively surveyed 216 patients who had undergone LG before or after the introduction of this technique and assessed the ability of this technique to reduce POPF. The tissue temperature of the swine mesocolon reached 43 °C, a temperature at which adipose tissue melted but fibrous tissue, including vessels, remained intact. The temperature returned to baseline within 3 s of turning off the ultrasonic scalpel, demonstrating the advantage of using ultrasonic scalpel in a pulsatile manner. Tissue samples from the pancreas demonstrated that the extent of thermal injury post-procedure was limited to the capsule of the pancreas. Moreover, with respect to the clinical outcomes before and after the introduction of this technique, POPF incidence decreased significantly from 7.8 to 1.0% (p = 0.021). The "Hit and Away" technique can reduce blood loss and thermal injury to the pancreas and help to ensure the safety of lymph node dissection in LG.

Protecting exposed tissues with external ultrasonic super-hydration.

PubMed

Silberg, Barry Neil

2006-01-01

The author contends that a technique preventing dehydration of exposed tissues, such as external ultrasonic super-hydration, will result in a lower morbidity rate, decreasing deep tissue pain, susceptibility to infection, fat necrosis, wound dehiscence, and improving recovery times. He discusses how he uses this technique in his aesthetic surgery practice.

PROPERTIES OF PHANTOM TISSUE-LIKE POLYMETHYLPENTENE IN THE FREQUENCY RANGE 20–70 MHZ

PubMed Central

Madsen, Ernest L; Deaner, Meagan E; Mehi, James

2011-01-01

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been employed to characterize soft tissues at ordinary abdominal ultrasound frequencies (2–15 MHz) and is beginning application at high frequencies (20–70 MHz). For example, backscatter and attenuation coefficients can be estimated in vivo using a reference phantom. At high frequencies it is crucial that reverberations do not compromise the measurements. Such reverberations can occur between the phantom's scanning window and transducer components as well as within the scanning window between its surfaces. Transducers are designed to minimize reverberations between the transducer and soft tissue. Thus, the acoustic impedance of a phantom scanning window should be tissue-like; polymethylpentene (TPX) is commonly used because of its tissue-like acoustic impedance. For QUS it is also crucial to correct for the transmission coefficient of the scanning window. Computation of the latter requires knowledge of the ultrasonic properties, viz, density, speed and attenuation coefficients. This work reports values for the ultrasonic properties of two versions of TPX over the high frequency range. One form (TPX film) is used as a scanning window on high frequency phantoms, and at 40 MHz and 22°C was found to have an attenuation coefficient of 120 dB/cm and a propagation speed of 2093 m/s. PMID:21723451

Residual heat of laparoscopic energy devices: how long must the surgeon wait to touch additional tissue?

PubMed

Govekar, Henry R; Robinson, Thomas N; Stiegmann, Greg V; McGreevy, Francis T

2011-11-01

Energy devices are essential laparoscopic tools. Residual heat is defined as the increased instrument temperature after energy activation is completed. This study aimed to determine the length of time a surgeon needs to wait before touching other tissue using four common laparoscopic energy sources. Thermal imaging quantified instrument and tissue temperature ex vivo using monopolar coagulation, argon beam coagulation, ultrasonic dissection, and bipolar tissue fusion devices. To simulate realistic operative usage, each instrument was activated for 5 s four consecutive times with 5 s pauses between fires. Thermal conductivity to bovine liver tissue was measured 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 s after final activation. The maximum increase in instrument tip temperature was 172 ± 63°C for the ultrasonic dissection, 81 ± 18°C for the monopolar coagulation, 46 ± 19°C for the bipolar tissue fusion, and 1 ± 1°C for the argon beam coagulation (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Touching the instrument tip to tissue at four intervals after the final activation (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 s) found that ultrasonic energy raised the tissue temperature higher (maximum change, 58°C) than the other three energy devices at all four time points (P < 0.05). Ultrasonic energy instruments have greater residual heat than monopolar electrosurgery, bipolar tissue fusion, and argon beam. The ultrasonic energy instrument tips heated tissue more than 20°C from baseline even 20 s after activation; whereas all the other energy sources raised the tissue temperature less than 20°C by 5 s. These practical findings may alter a surgeon's usage of these common energy devices.

Anisotropic physical properties of myocardium characterized by ultrasonic measurements of backscatter, attenuation, and velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldwin, Steven L.

The goal of elucidating the physical mechanisms underlying the propagation of ultrasonic waves in anisotropic soft tissue such as myocardium has posed an interesting and largely unsolved problem in the field of physics for the past 30 years. In part because of the vast complexity of the system being studied, progress towards understanding and modeling the mechanisms that underlie observed acoustic parameters may first require the guidance of careful experiment. Knowledge of the causes of observed ultrasonic properties in soft tissue including attenuation, speed of sound, and backscatter, and how those properties are altered with specific pathophysiologies, may lead to new noninvasive approaches to the diagnosis of disease. The primary aim of this Dissertation is to contribute to an understanding of the physics that underlies the mechanisms responsible for the observed interaction of ultrasound with myocardium. To this end, through-transmission and backscatter measurements were performed by varying acoustic properties as a function of angle of insonification relative to the predominant myofiber direction and by altering the material properties of myocardium by increased protein cross-linking induced by chemical fixation as an extreme form of changes that may occur in certain pathologies such as diabetes. Techniques to estimate acoustic parameters from backscatter were broadened and challenges to implementing these techniques in vivo were addressed. Provided that specific challenges identified in this Dissertation can be overcome, techniques to estimate attenuation from ultrasonic backscatter show promise as a means to investigate the physical interaction of ultrasound with anisotropic biological media in vivo. This Dissertation represents a step towards understanding the physics of the interaction of ultrasonic waves with anisotropic biological media.

Two-Element Transducer for Ultrasound

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lecroissette, D. H.; Heyser, R. C.

1986-01-01

Separation of transmitting and receiving units improves probing of deep tissue. Ultrasonic transducer has dual elements to increase depth at which sonic images are made of biological tissue. Transducer uses separate transmitting and receiving elements, and frequency response of receiving element independently designed to accommodate attenuation of higher frequencies by tissue. New transducer intended for pulse-echo ultrasonic systems in which reflected sound pulses reveal features in tissue.

Ultrasonic tissue characterization for monitoring nanostructured TiO2-induced bone growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rus, G.; García-Martínez, J.

2007-07-01

The use of bioactive nanostructured TiO2 has recently been proposed for improving orthopaedic implant adhesion due to its improved biocompatibility with bone, since it induces: (i) osteoblast function, (ii) apatite nucleation and (iii) protein adsorption. The present work focuses on a non-ionizing radiation emitting technique for quantifying in real time the improvement in terms of mechanical properties of the surrounding bone due to the presence of the nanostructured TiO2 prepared by controlled precipitation and acid ageing. The mechanical strength is the ultimate goal of a bone implant and is directly related to the elastic moduli. Ultrasonics are high frequency mechanical waves and are therefore suited for characterizing elastic moduli. As opposed to echographic techniques, which are not correlated to elastic properties and are not able to penetrate bone, a low frequency ultrasonic transmission test is proposed, in which a P-wave is transmitted through the specimen and recorded. The problem is posed as an inverse problem, in which the unknown is a set of parameters that describe the mechanical constants of the sequence of layers. A finite element numerical model that depends on these parameters is used to predict the transformation of the waveform and compare to the measurement. The parameters that best describe the real tissue are obtained by minimizing the discrepancy between the real and numerically predicted waveforms. A sensitivity study to the uncertainties of the model is performed for establishing the feasibility of using this technique to investigate the macroscopic effect on bone growth of nanostructured TiO2 and its beneficial effect on implant adhesion.

Characterization of human breast cancer by scanning acoustic microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Di; Malyarenko, Eugene; Seviaryn, Fedar; Yuan, Ye; Sherman, Mark; Bandyopadhyay, Sudeshna; Gierach, Gretchen; Greenway, Christopher W.; Maeva, Elena; Strumban, Emil; Duric, Neb; Maev, Roman

2013-03-01

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize human breast cancer tissues by the measurement of microacoustic properties. Methods: We investigated eight breast cancer patients using acoustic microscopy. For each patient, seven blocks of tumor tissue were collected from seven different positions around a tumor mass. Frozen sections (10 micrometer, μm) of human breast cancer tissues without staining and fixation were examined in a scanning acoustic microscope with focused transducers at 80 and 200 MHz. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) stained sections from the same frozen breast cancer tissues were imaged by optical microscopy for comparison. Results: The results of acoustic imaging showed that acoustic attenuation and sound speed in cancer cell-rich tissue regions were significantly decreased compared with the surrounding tissue regions, where most components are normal cells/tissues, such as fibroblasts, connective tissue and lymphocytes. Our observation also showed that the ultrasonic properties were influenced by arrangements of cells and tissue patterns. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that attenuation and sound speed imaging can provide biomechanical information of the tumor and normal tissues. The results also demonstrate the potential of acoustic microscopy as an auxiliary method for operative detection and localization of cancer affected regions.

Recent developments in tissue-type imaging (TTI) for planning and monitoring treatment of prostate cancer.

PubMed

Feleppa, Ernest J; Porter, Christopher R; Ketterling, Jeffrey; Lee, Paul; Dasgupta, Shreedevi; Urban, Stella; Kalisz, Andrew

2004-07-01

Because current methods of imaging prostate cancer are inadequate, biopsies cannot be effectively guided and treatment cannot be effectively planned and targeted. Therefore, our research is aimed at ultrasonically characterizing cancerous prostate tissue so that we can image it more effectively and thereby provide improved means of detecting, treating and monitoring prostate cancer. We base our characterization methods on spectrum analysis of radiofrequency (rf) echo signals combined with clinical variables such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Tissue typing using these parameters is performed by artificial neural networks. We employed and evaluated different approaches to data partitioning into training, validation, and test sets and different neural network configuration options. In this manner, we sought to determine what neural network configuration is optimal for these data and also to assess possible bias that might exist due to correlations among different data entries among the data for a given patient. The classification efficacy of each neural network configuration and data-partitioning method was measured using relative-operating-characteristic (ROC) methods. Neural network classification based on spectral parameters combined with clinical data generally produced ROC-curve areas of 0.80 compared to curve areas of 0.64 for conventional transrectal ultrasound imaging combined with clinical data. We then used the optimal neural network configuration to generate lookup tables that translate local spectral parameter values and global clinical-variable values into pixel values in tissue-type images (TTIs). TTIs continue to show cancerous regions successfully, and may prove to be particularly useful clinically in combination with other ultrasonic and nonultrasonic methods, e.g., magnetic-resonance spectroscopy.

Recent Developments in Tissue-type Imaging(TTI) for Planning and Monitoring Treatment of Prostate Cancer

PubMed Central

Feleppa, Ernest J.; Porter, Christopher R.; Ketterling, Jeffrey; Lee, Paul; Dasgupta, Shreedevi; Urban, Stella; Kalisz, Andrew

2006-01-01

Because current methods of imaging prostate cancer are inadequate, biopsies cannot be effectively guided and treatment cannot be effectively planned and targeted. Therefore, our research is aimed at ultrasonically characterizing cancerous prostate tissue so that we can image it more effectively and thereby provide improved means of detecting, treating and monitoring prostate cancer. We base our characterization methods on spectrum analysis of radio frequency (rf) echo signals combined with clinical variables such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Tissue typing using these parameters is performed by artificial neural networks. We employedand evaluated different approaches to data partitioning into training, validation, and test sets and different neural network configuration options. In this manner, we sought to determine what neural network configuration is optimal for these data and also to assess possible bias that might exist due to correlations among different data entries among the data for a given patient. The classification efficacy of each neural network configuration and data-partitioning method was measured using relative-operating-characteristic (ROC) methods. Neural network classification based on spectral parameters combined with clinical data generally produced ROC-curve areas of 0.80 compared to curve areas of 0.64 for conventional transrectal ultrasound imaging combined with clinical data. We then used the optimal neural network configuration to generate lookup tables that translate local spectral parameter values and global clinical-variable values into pixel values in tissue-type images (TTIs). TTIs continue to show can cerous regions successfully, and may prove to be particularly useful clinically in combination with other ultrasonic and nonultrasonic methods, e.g., magnetic-resonance spectroscopy. PMID:15754797

Method and apparatus to characterize ultrasonically reflective contrast agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pretlow, Robert A., III (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A method and apparatus for characterizing the time and frequency response of an ultrasonically reflective contrast agent is disclosed. An ultrasonically reflective contrast agent is injected, under constant pressure, into a fluid flowing through a pump flow circuit. The fluid and the ultrasonically reflective contrast agent are uniformly mixed in a mixing chamber, and the uniform mixture is passed through a contrast agent chamber. The contrast agent chamber is acoustically and axially interposed between an ultrasonic transducer chamber and an acoustic isolation chamber. A pulse of ultrasonic energy is transmitted into the contrast agent chamber from the ultrasonic transducer chamber. An echo waveform is received from the ultrasonically reflective contrast agent, and it is analyzed to determine the time and frequency response of the ultrasonically reflective contrast agent.

Simulation of ultrasonic pulse propagation, distortion, and attenuation in the human chest wall.

PubMed

Mast, T D; Hinkelman, L M; Metlay, L A; Orr, M J; Waag, R C

1999-12-01

A finite-difference time-domain model for ultrasonic pulse propagation through soft tissue has been extended to incorporate absorption effects as well as longitudinal-wave propagation in cartilage and bone. This extended model has been used to simulate ultrasonic propagation through anatomically detailed representations of chest wall structure. The inhomogeneous chest wall tissue is represented by two-dimensional maps determined by staining chest wall cross sections to distinguish between tissue types, digitally scanning the stained cross sections, and mapping each pixel of the scanned images to fat, muscle, connective tissue, cartilage, or bone. Each pixel of the tissue map is then assigned a sound speed, density, and absorption value determined from published measurements and assumed to be representative of the local tissue type. Computational results for energy level fluctuations and arrival time fluctuations show qualitative agreement with measurements performed on the same specimens, but show significantly less waveform distortion than measurements. Visualization of simulated tissue-ultrasound interactions in the chest wall shows possible mechanisms for image aberration in echocardiography, including effects associated with reflection and diffraction caused by rib structures. A comparison of distortion effects for varying pulse center frequencies shows that, for soft tissue paths through the chest wall, energy level and waveform distortion increase markedly with rising ultrasonic frequency and that arrival-time fluctuations increase to a lesser degree.

Verification of echo amplitude envelope analysis method in skin tissues for quantitative follow-up of healing ulcers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omura, Masaaki; Yoshida, Kenji; Akita, Shinsuke; Yamaguchi, Tadashi

2018-07-01

We aim to develop an ultrasonic tissue characterization method for the follow-up of healing ulcers by diagnosing collagen fibers properties. In this paper, we demonstrated a computer simulation with simulation phantoms reflecting irregularly distributed collagen fibers to evaluate the relationship between physical properties, such as number density and periodicity, and the estimated characteristics of the echo amplitude envelope using the homodyned-K distribution. Moreover, the consistency between echo signal characteristics and the structures of ex vivo human tissues was verified from the measured data of normal skin and nonhealed ulcers. In the simulation study, speckle or coherent signal characteristics are identified as periodically or uniformly distributed collagen fibers with high number density and high periodicity. This result shows the effectiveness of the analysis using the homodyned-K distribution for tissues with complicated structures. Normal skin analysis results are characterized as including speckle or low-coherence signal components, and a nonhealed ulcer is different from normal skin with respect to the physical properties of collagen fibers.

Advanced NDE techniques for quantitative characterization of aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyman, Joseph S.; Winfree, William P.

1990-01-01

Recent advances in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) at NASA Langley Research Center and their applications that have resulted in quantitative assessment of material properties based on thermal and ultrasonic measurements are reviewed. Specific applications include ultrasonic determination of bolt tension, ultrasonic and thermal characterization of bonded layered structures, characterization of composite materials, and disbonds in aircraft skins.

Motion Estimation Using the Firefly Algorithm in Ultrasonic Image Sequence of Soft Tissue

PubMed Central

Chao, Chih-Feng; Horng, Ming-Huwi; Chen, Yu-Chan

2015-01-01

Ultrasonic image sequence of the soft tissue is widely used in disease diagnosis; however, the speckle noises usually influenced the image quality. These images usually have a low signal-to-noise ratio presentation. The phenomenon gives rise to traditional motion estimation algorithms that are not suitable to measure the motion vectors. In this paper, a new motion estimation algorithm is developed for assessing the velocity field of soft tissue in a sequence of ultrasonic B-mode images. The proposed iterative firefly algorithm (IFA) searches for few candidate points to obtain the optimal motion vector, and then compares it to the traditional iterative full search algorithm (IFSA) via a series of experiments of in vivo ultrasonic image sequences. The experimental results show that the IFA can assess the vector with better efficiency and almost equal estimation quality compared to the traditional IFSA method. PMID:25873987

Motion estimation using the firefly algorithm in ultrasonic image sequence of soft tissue.

PubMed

Chao, Chih-Feng; Horng, Ming-Huwi; Chen, Yu-Chan

2015-01-01

Ultrasonic image sequence of the soft tissue is widely used in disease diagnosis; however, the speckle noises usually influenced the image quality. These images usually have a low signal-to-noise ratio presentation. The phenomenon gives rise to traditional motion estimation algorithms that are not suitable to measure the motion vectors. In this paper, a new motion estimation algorithm is developed for assessing the velocity field of soft tissue in a sequence of ultrasonic B-mode images. The proposed iterative firefly algorithm (IFA) searches for few candidate points to obtain the optimal motion vector, and then compares it to the traditional iterative full search algorithm (IFSA) via a series of experiments of in vivo ultrasonic image sequences. The experimental results show that the IFA can assess the vector with better efficiency and almost equal estimation quality compared to the traditional IFSA method.

Analytical Ultrasonics in Materials Research and Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.

1986-01-01

Research results in analytical ultrasonics for characterizing structural materials from metals and ceramics to composites are presented. General topics covered by the conference included: status and advances in analytical ultrasonics for characterizing material microstructures and mechanical properties; status and prospects for ultrasonic measurements of microdamage, degradation, and underlying morphological factors; status and problems in precision measurements of frequency-dependent velocity and attenuation for materials analysis; procedures and requirements for automated, digital signal acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation; incentives for analytical ultrasonics in materials research and materials processing, testing, and inspection; and examples of progress in ultrasonics for interrelating microstructure, mechanical properites, and dynamic response.

Which cartilage is regenerated, hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage? Non-invasive ultrasonic evaluation of tissue-engineered cartilage.

PubMed

Hattori, K; Takakura, Y; Ohgushi, H; Habata, T; Uematsu, K; Takenaka, M; Ikeuchi, K

2004-09-01

To investigate ultrasonic evaluation methods for detecting whether the repair tissue is hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage in new cartilage regeneration therapy. We examined four experimental rabbit models: a spontaneous repair model (group S), a large cartilage defect model (group L), a periosteal graft model (group P) and a tissue-engineered cartilage regeneration model (group T). From the resulting ultrasonic evaluation, we used %MM (the maximum magnitude of the measurement area divided by that of the intact cartilage) as a quantitative index of cartilage regeneration. The results of the ultrasonic evaluation were compared with the histological findings and histological score. The %MM values were 61.1 +/- 16.5% in group S, 29.8 +/- 15.1% in group L, 36.3 +/- 18.3% in group P and 76.5 +/- 18.7% in group T. The results showed a strong similarity to the histological scoring. The ultrasonic examination showed that all the hyaline-like cartilage in groups S and T had a high %MM (more than 60%). Therefore, we could define the borderline between the two types of regenerated cartilage by the %MM.

Damage characterization on human femur bone by means of ultrasonics and acoustic emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strantza, M.; Polyzos, D.; Louis, O.; Boulpaep, F.; Van Hemelrijck, D.; Aggelis, D. G.

2015-07-01

Human bone tissue is characterized as a material with high brittleness. Due to this nature, visible signs of cracking are not easy to be detected before final failure. The main objective of this work is to investigate if the acoustic emission (AE) technique can offer valuable insight to the fracture process of human femur specimens as in other engineering materials characterization. This study describes the AE activity during fracture of whole femur bones under flexural load. Before fracture, broadband AE sensors were used in order to measure parameters like wave velocity dispersion and attenuation. Waveform parameters like the duration, rise time and average frequency, were also examined relatively to the propagation distance as a preparation for the AE monitoring during fracture. After the ultrasonic study, the samples were partly cast in concrete and fixed as cantilevers. A point load was applied on the femur head, which due to the test geometry resulted in a combination of two different patterns of fracture, bending and torsion. Two AE broadband sensors were placed in different points of the sample, one near the fixing end and the other near the femur head. Preliminary analysis shows that parameters like the number of acquired AE signals and their amplitude are well correlated with the load history. Furthermore, the parameters of rise time and frequency can differentiate the two fracture patterns. Additionally, AE allows the detection of the load at the onset of fracture from the micro-cracking events that occur at the early loading stages, allowing monitoring of the whole fracture process. Parameters that have been used extensively for monitoring and characterization of fracture modes of engineering materials seem to poses characterization power in the case of bone tissue monitoring as well.

In Vivo Determination of the Complex Elastic Moduli of Cetacean Head Tissue

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

of an ultrasonic Doppler vibration measurement system called NVMS developed at Georgia Tech iii. Algorithms have been developed to enable the...magnitude and phase of vibration to be determined as a function of range (tissue depth) along the ultrasonic beam. By measuring the differential phase of...The frequency dependence of the propagation speed is then used to determine the shear loss factor. The elastic properties of tissue phantoms

Use of an ultrasonic osteotome device in spine surgery: experience from the first 128 patients.

PubMed

Hu, Xiaobang; Ohnmeiss, Donna D; Lieberman, Isador H

2013-12-01

The ultrasonic BoneScalpel is a tissue-specific device that allows the surgeon to make precise osteotomies while protecting collateral or adjacent soft tissue structures. The device is comprised of a blunt ultrasonic blade that oscillates at over 22,500 cycles/s with an imperceptible microscopic amplitude. The recurring impacts pulverize the noncompliant crystalline structure resulting in a precise cut. The more compliant adjacent soft tissue is not affected by the ultrasonic oscillation. The purpose of this study is to report the experience and safety of using this ultrasonic osteotome device in a variety of spine surgeries. Data were retrospectively collected from medical charts and surgical reports for each surgery in which the ultrasonic scalpel was used to perform any type of osteotomy (facetectomy, laminotomy, laminectomy, en bloc resection, Smith Petersen osteotomy, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, etc.). The majority of patients had spinal stenosis, degenerative or adolescent scoliosis, pseudoarthrosis, adjacent segment degeneration, and spondylolisthesis et al. Intra-operative complications were also recorded. A total of 128 consecutive patients (73 female, 55 male) beginning with our first case experience were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 58 years (range 12-85 years). Eighty patients (62.5 %) had previous spine surgery and/or spinal deformity. The ultrasonic scalpel was used at all levels of the spine and the average levels operated on each patient were 5. The mean operation time (skin to skin) was 4.3 h and the mean blood loss was 425.4 ml. In all cases, the ultrasonic scalpel was used to create the needed osteotomies to facilitate the surgical procedure without any percussion on the spinal column or injury to the underlying nerves. There was a noticeable absence of bleeding from the cut end of the bone consistent with the ultrasonic application. There were 11 instances of dural injuries (8.6 %) and two of which were directly associated with the use of ultrasonic device. In no procedure was the use of the ultrasonic scalpel abandoned for use of another instrument due to difficulty in using the device or failure to achieve the desired osteotomy. Overall, the ultrasonic scalpel was safe and performed as desired when used as a bone cutting device to facilitate osteotomies in a variety of spine surgeries. However, caution should be taken to avoid potential thermal injury and dural tear. If used properly, this device may decrease the risk of soft tissue injury associated with the use of high speed burrs and oscillating saws during spine surgery.

Development and characterization of a tissue-mimicking material for high-intensity focused ultrasound.

PubMed

King, Randy L; Liu, Yunbo; Maruvada, Subha; Herman, Bruce A; Wear, Keith A; Harris, Gerald R

2011-07-01

A tissue-mimicking material (TMM) for the acoustic and thermal characterization of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) devices has been developed. The material is a high-temperature hydrogel matrix (gellan gum) combined with different sizes of aluminum oxide particles and other chemicals. The ultrasonic properties (attenuation coefficient, speed of sound, acoustical impedance, and the thermal conductivity and diffusivity) were characterized as a function of temperature from 20 to 70°C. The backscatter coefficient and nonlinearity parameter B/A were measured at room temperature. Importantly, the attenuation coefficient has essentially linear frequency dependence, as is the case for most mammalian tissues at 37°C. The mean value is 0.64f(0.95) dB·cm(-1) at 20°C, based on measurements from 2 to 8 MHz. Most of the other relevant physical parameters are also close to the reported values, although backscatter signals are low compared with typical human soft tissues. Repeatable and consistent temperature elevations of 40°C were produced under 20-s HIFU exposures in the TMM. This TMM is appropriate for developing standardized dosimetry techniques, validating numerical models, and determining the safety and efficacy of HIFU devices.

The comparison of thermal tissue injuries caused by ultrasonic scalpel and electrocautery use in rabbit tongue tissue

PubMed Central

Beriat, Guclu Kaan; Akmansu, Sefik Halit; Ezerarslan, Hande; Dogan, Cem; Han, Unsal; Saglam, Mehmet; Senel, Oytun Okan; Kocaturk, Sinan

2012-01-01

The aim of this study compares to the increase in tissue temperature and the thermal histological effects of ultrasonic scalpel, bipolar and unipolar electrosurgery incisions in the tongue tissue of rabbits. This study evaluates the histopathological changes related to thermal change and the maximum temperature values in the peripheral tissue brought about by the incisions carried out by the three methods in a comparative way. To assess thermal tissue damage induced by the three instruments, maximum tissue temperatures were measured during the surgical procedure and tongue tissue samples were examined histopathologically following the surgery. The mean maximum temperature values of the groups were 93.93±2.76 C° for the unipolar electrocautery group, whereas 85.07±5.95 C° for the bipolar electrocautery group, and 108.23±7.64 C° for the ultrasonic scalpel group. There was a statistically significant relationship between the increase in maximum temperature values and the separation among tissue layers, edema, congestion, necrosis, hemorrhage, destruction in blood vessel walls and fibrin accumulation, and between the existence of fibrin thrombus and tissue damage depth (p<0.05). It was concluded that the bipolar electrocautery use gives way to less temperature increase in the tissues and less thermal tissue damage in comparison to the other methods. PMID:22938541

Ultrasonically Encoded Photoacoustic Flowgraphy in Biological Tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lidai; Xia, Jun; Yao, Junjie; Maslov, Konstantin I.; Wang, Lihong V.

2013-11-01

Blood flow speed is an important functional parameter. Doppler ultrasound flowmetry lacks sufficient sensitivity to slow blood flow (several to tens of millimeters per second) in deep tissue. To address this challenge, we developed ultrasonically encoded photoacoustic flowgraphy combining ultrasonic thermal tagging with photoacoustic imaging. Focused ultrasound generates a confined heat source in acoustically absorptive fluid. Thermal waves propagate with the flow and are directly visualized in pseudo color using photoacoustic computed tomography. The Doppler shift is employed to calculate the flow speed. This method requires only acoustic and optical absorption, and thus is applicable to continuous fluid. A blood flow speed as low as 0.24mm·s-1 was successfully measured. Deep blood flow imaging was experimentally demonstrated under 5-mm-thick chicken breast tissue.

Ultrasound-Mediated Biophotonic Imaging: A Review of Acousto-Optical Tomography and Photo-Acoustic Tomography

PubMed Central

Wang, Lihong V.

2004-01-01

This article reviews two types of ultrasound-mediated biophotonic imaging–acousto-optical tomography (AOT, also called ultrasound-modulated optical tomography) and photo-acoustic tomography (PAT, also called opto-acoustic or thermo-acoustic tomography)–both of which are based on non-ionizing optical and ultrasonic waves. The goal of these technologies is to combine the contrast advantage of the optical properties and the resolution advantage of ultrasound. In these two technologies, the imaging contrast is based primarily on the optical properties of biological tissues, and the imaging resolution is based primarily on the ultrasonic waves that either are provided externally or produced internally, within the biological tissues. In fact, ultrasonic mediation overcomes both the resolution disadvantage of pure optical imaging in thick tissues and the contrast and speckle disadvantages of pure ultrasonic imaging. In our discussion of AOT, the relationship between modulation depth and acoustic amplitude is clarified. Potential clinical applications of ultrasound-mediated biophotonic imaging include early cancer detection, functional imaging, and molecular imaging. PMID:15096709

Spectral estimation for characterization of acoustic aberration.

PubMed

Varslot, Trond; Angelsen, Bjørn; Waag, Robert C

2004-07-01

Spectral estimation based on acoustic backscatter from a motionless stochastic medium is described for characterization of aberration in ultrasonic imaging. The underlying assumptions for the estimation are: The correlation length of the medium is short compared to the length of the transmitted acoustic pulse, an isoplanatic region of sufficient size exists around the focal point, and the backscatter can be modeled as an ergodic stochastic process. The motivation for this work is ultrasonic imaging with aberration correction. Measurements were performed using a two-dimensional array system with 80 x 80 transducer elements and an element pitch of 0.6 mm. The f number for the measurements was 1.2 and the center frequency was 3.0 MHz with a 53% bandwidth. Relative phase of aberration was extracted from estimated cross spectra using a robust least-mean-square-error method based on an orthogonal expansion of the phase differences of neighboring wave forms as a function of frequency. Estimates of cross-spectrum phase from measurements of random scattering through a tissue-mimicking aberrator have confidence bands approximately +/- 5 degrees wide. Both phase and magnitude are in good agreement with a reference characterization obtained from a point scatterer.

Carotid lesion characterization by synthetic-aperture-imaging techniques with multioffset ultrasonic probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capineri, Lorenzo; Castellini, Guido; Masotti, Leonardo F.; Rocchi, Santina

1992-06-01

This paper explores the applications of a high-resolution imaging technique to vascular ultrasound diagnosis, with emphasis on investigation of the carotid vessel. With the present diagnostic systems, it is difficult to measure quantitatively the extension of the lesions and to characterize the tissue; quantitative images require enough spatial resolution and dynamic to reveal fine high-risk pathologies. A broadband synthetic aperture technique with multi-offset probes is developed to improve the lesion characterization by the evaluation of local scattering parameters. This technique works with weak scatterers embedded in a constant velocity medium, large aperture, and isotropic sources and receivers. The features of this technique are: axial and lateral spatial resolution of the order of the wavelength, high dynamic range, quantitative measurements of the size and scattering intensity of the inhomogeneities, and capabilities of investigation of inclined layer. The evaluation of the performances in real condition is carried out by a software simulator in which different experimental situations can be reproduced. Images of simulated anatomic test-objects are presented. The images are obtained with an inversion process of the synthesized ultrasonic signals, collected on the linear aperture by a limited number of finite size transducers.

Statistical ultrasonics: the influence of Robert F. Wagner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Insana, Michael F.

2009-02-01

An important ongoing question for higher education is how to successfully mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. It has been my privilege to have been mentored by one of the best, Dr Robert F. Wagner and his colleagues at the CDRH/FDA during the mid 1980s. Bob introduced many of us in medical ultrasonics to statistical imaging techniques. These ideas continue to broadly influence studies on adaptive aperture management (beamforming, speckle suppression, compounding), tissue characterization (texture features, Rayleigh/Rician statistics, scatterer size and number density estimators), and fundamental questions about how limitations of the human eye-brain system for extracting information from textured images can motivate image processing. He adapted the classical techniques of signal detection theory to coherent imaging systems that, for the first time in ultrasonics, related common engineering metrics for image quality to task-based clinical performance. This talk summarizes my wonderfully-exciting three years with Bob as I watched him explore topics in statistical image analysis that formed a rational basis for many of the signal processing techniques used in commercial systems today. It is a story of an exciting time in medical ultrasonics, and of how a sparkling personality guided and motivated the development of junior scientists who flocked around him in admiration and amazement.

Introducing nuclei scatterer patterns into histology based intravascular ultrasound simulation framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraft, Silvan; Karamalis, Athanasios; Sheet, Debdoot; Drecoll, Enken; Rummeny, Ernst J.; Navab, Nassir; Noël, Peter B.; Katouzian, Amin

2013-03-01

Medical ultrasonic grayscale images are formed from acoustic waves following their interactions with distributed scatterers within tissues media. For accurate simulation of acoustic wave propagation, a reliable model describing unknown parameters associated with tissues scatterers such as distribution, size and acoustic properties is essential. In this work, we introduce a novel approach defining ultrasonic scatterers by incorporating a distribution of cellular nuclei patterns in biological tissues to simulate ultrasonic response of atherosclerotic tissues in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). For this reason, a virtual phantom is generated through manual labeling of different tissue types (fibrotic, lipidic and calcified) on histology sections. Acoustic properties of each tissue type are defined by assuming that the ultrasound signal is primarily backscattered by the nuclei of the organic cells within the intima and media of the vessel wall. This resulting virtual phantom is subsequently used to simulate ultrasonic wave propagation through the tissue medium computed using finite difference estimation. Subsequently B-mode images for a specific histological section are processed from the simulated radiofrequency (RF) data and compared with the original IVUS of the same tissue section. Real IVUS RF signals for these histological sections were obtained using a single-element mechanically rotating 40MHz transducer. Evaluation is performed by trained reviewers subjectively assessing both simulated and real B-mode IVUS images. Our simulation platform provides a high image quality with a very promising correlation to the original IVUS images. This will facilitate to better understand progression of such a chronic disease from micro-level and its integration into cardiovascular disease-specific models.

Ultrasonics in Dentistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walmsley, A. D.

Ultrasonic instruments have been used in dentistry since the 1950's. Initially they were used to cut teeth but very quickly they became established as an ultrasonic scaler which was used to remove deposits from the hard tissues of the tooth. This enabled the soft tissues around the tooth to return to health. The ultrasonic vibrations are generated in a thin metal probe and it is the working tip that is the active component of the instrument. Scanning laser vibrometry has shown that there is much variability in their movement which is related to the shape and cross sectional shape of the probe. The working instrument will also generate cavitation and microstreaming in the associated cooling water. This can be mapped out along the length of the instrument indicating which are the active areas. Ultrasonics has also found use for cleaning often inaccessible or different surfaces including root canal treatment and dental titanium implants. The use of ultrasonics to cut bone during different surgical techniques shows considerable promise. More research is indicated to determine how to maximize the efficiency of such instruments so that they are more clinically effective.

Medical tomograph system using ultrasonic transmission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyser, Richard C. (Inventor); Nathan, Robert (Inventor)

1978-01-01

Ultrasonic energy transmission in rectilinear array scanning patterns of soft tissue provides projection density values of the tissue which are recorded as a function of scanning position and angular relationship, .theta., of the subject with a fixed coordinate system. A plurality of rectilinear scan arrays in the same plane for different angular relationships .theta..sub.1 . . . .theta..sub.n thus recorded are superimposed. The superimposition of intensity values thus yields a tomographic image of an internal section of the tissue in the scanning plane.

Destructive effect of HIFU on rabbit embedded endometrial carcinoma tissues and their vascularities

PubMed Central

Guan, Liming; Xu, Gang

2017-01-01

Objectives To evaluate damage effect of High-intensity focused ultrasound on early stage endometrial cancer tissues and their vascularities. Materials and Methods Rabbit endometrial cancer models were established via tumor blocks implantation for a prospective control study. Ultrasonic ablation efficacy was evaluated by pathologic and imaging changes. The target lesions of experimental rabbits before and after ultrasonic ablation were observed after autopsy. The slides were used for hematoxylin-eosin staining, elastic fiber staining and endothelial cell staining; the slides were observed by optical microscopy. One slide was observed by electron microscopy. Then the target lesions of experimental animals with ultrasonic ablation were observed by vascular imaging, one group was visualized by digital subtract angiography, one group was quantified by color Doppler flow imaging, and one group was detected by dye perfusion. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analyses. Results Histological examination indicated that High-intensity focused ultrasound caused the tumor tissues and their vascularities coagulative necrosis. Tumor vascular structure components including elastic fiber, endothelial cells all were destroyed by ultrasonic ablation. Digital subtract angiography showed tumor vascular shadow were dismissed after ultrasonic ablation. After ultrasonic ablation, gray-scale of tumor nodules enhanced in ultrasonography, tumor peripheral and internal blood flow signals disappeared or significantly reduced in color Doppler flow imaging. Vascular perfusion performed after ultrasonic ablation, tumor vessels could not filled by dye liquid. Conclusion High-intensity focused ultrasound as a noninvasive method can destroy whole endometrial cancer cells and their supplying vascularities, which maybe an alternative approach of targeted therapy and new antiangiogenic strategy for endometrial cancer. PMID:28121624

Destructive effect of HIFU on rabbit embedded endometrial carcinoma tissues and their vascularities.

PubMed

Guan, Liming; Xu, Gang

2017-03-21

To evaluate damage effect of High-intensity focused ultrasound on early stage endometrial cancer tissues and their vascularities. Rabbit endometrial cancer models were established via tumor blocks implantation for a prospective control study. Ultrasonic ablation efficacy was evaluated by pathologic and imaging changes. The target lesions of experimental rabbits before and after ultrasonic ablation were observed after autopsy. The slides were used for hematoxylin-eosin staining, elastic fiber staining and endothelial cell staining; the slides were observed by optical microscopy. One slide was observed by electron microscopy. Then the target lesions of experimental animals with ultrasonic ablation were observed by vascular imaging, one group was visualized by digital subtract angiography, one group was quantified by color Doppler flow imaging, and one group was detected by dye perfusion.SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analyses. Histological examination indicated that High-intensity focused ultrasound caused the tumor tissues and their vascularities coagulative necrosis. Tumor vascular structure components including elastic fiber, endothelial cells all were destroyed by ultrasonic ablation. Digital subtract angiography showed tumor vascular shadow were dismissed after ultrasonic ablation. After ultrasonic ablation, gray-scale of tumor nodules enhanced in ultrasonography, tumor peripheral and internal blood flow signals disappeared or significantly reduced in color Doppler flow imaging. Vascular perfusion performed after ultrasonic ablation, tumor vessels could not filled by dye liquid. High-intensity focused ultrasound as a noninvasive method can destroy whole endometrial cancer cells and their supplying vascularities, which maybe an alternative approach of targeted therapy and new antiangiogenic strategy for endometrial cancer.

Ultrasound: biological effects and industrial hygiene concerns.

PubMed

Wiernicki, C; Karoly, W J

1985-09-01

Due to the increased use of high intensity ultrasonic devices, there is now a greater risk of worker exposure to ultrasonic radiation than there was in the past. Exposure to high power ultrasound may produce adverse biological effects. High power ultrasound, characterized by high intensity outputs at frequencies of 20-100 kHz, has a wide range of applications throughout industry. Future applications may involve equipment with higher energy outputs. Contact ultrasound, i.e., no airspace between the energy source and the biological tissue, is significantly more hazardous than exposure to airborne ultrasound because air transmits less than one percent of the energy. This paper discusses biological effects associated with overexposure to ultrasound, exposure standards proposed for airborne and contact ultrasound, industrial hygiene controls that can be employed to minimize exposure, and the instrumentation that is required for evaluating exposures.

Digital ultrasonic signal processing: Primary ultrasonics task and transducer characterization use and detailed description

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hammond, P. L.

1979-01-01

This manual describes the use of the primary ultrasonics task (PUT) and the transducer characterization system (XC) for the collection, processing, and recording of data received from a pulse-echo ultrasonic system. Both PUT and XC include five primary functions common to many real-time data acquisition systems. Some of these functions are implemented using the same code in both systems. The solicitation and acceptance of operator control input is emphasized. Those operations not under user control are explained.

Ultrasound—biophysics mechanisms†

PubMed Central

O'Brien, William D.

2007-01-01

Ultrasonic biophysics is the study of mechanisms responsible for how ultrasound and biological materials interact. Ultrasound-induced bioeffect or risk studies focus on issues related to the effects of ultrasound on biological materials. On the other hand, when biological materials affect the ultrasonic wave, this can be viewed as the basis for diagnostic ultrasound. Thus, an understanding of the interaction of ultrasound with tissue provides the scientific basis for image production and risk assessment. Relative to the bioeffect or risk studies, that is, the biophysical mechanisms by which ultrasound affects biological materials, ultrasound-induced bioeffects are generally separated into thermal and nonthermal mechanisms. Ultrasonic dosimetry is concerned with the quantitative determination of ultrasonic energy interaction with biological materials. Whenever ultrasonic energy is propagated into an attenuating material such as tissue, the amplitude of the wave decreases with distance. This attenuation is due to either absorption or scattering. Absorption is a mechanism that represents that portion of ultrasonic wave that is converted into heat, and scattering can be thought of as that portion of the wave, which changes direction. Because the medium can absorb energy to produce heat, a temperature rise may occur as long as the rate of heat production is greater than the rate of heat removal. Current interest with thermally mediated ultrasound-induced bioeffects has focused on the thermal isoeffect concept. The non-thermal mechanism that has received the most attention is acoustically generated cavitation wherein ultrasonic energy by cavitation bubbles is concentrated. Acoustic cavitation, in a broad sense, refers to ultrasonically induced bubble activity occurring in a biological material that contains pre-existing gaseous inclusions. Cavitation-related mechanisms include radiation force, microstreaming, shock waves, free radicals, microjets and strain. It is more challenging to deduce the causes of mechanical effects in tissues that do not contain gas bodies. These ultrasonic biophysics mechanisms will be discussed in the context of diagnostic ultrasound exposure risk concerns. PMID:16934858

Comparison of Tissue Injury from Focused Ultrasonic Propulsion of Kidney Stones Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

PubMed Central

Connors, Bret A.; Evan, Andrew P.; Blomgren, Philip M.; Hsi, Ryan S.; Harper, Jonathan D.; Sorensen, Mathew D.; Wang, Yak-Nam; Simon, Julianna C.; Paun, Marla; Starr, Frank; Cunitz, Bryan W.; Bailey, Michael R.; Lingeman, James E.

2013-01-01

Purpose Focused ultrasonic propulsion is a new non-invasive technique designed to move kidney stones and stone fragments out of the urinary collecting system. However, the extent of tissue injury associated with this technique is not known. As such, we quantitated the amount of tissue injury produced by focused ultrasonic propulsion under simulated clinical treatment conditions, and under conditions of higher power or continuous duty cycles, and compared those results to SWL injury. Materials and Methods A human calcium oxalate monohydrate stone and/or nickel beads were implanted (with ureteroscopy) into 3 kidneys of live pigs (45–55 kg) and repositioned using focused ultrasonic propulsion. Additional pig kidneys were exposed to SWL level pulse intensities or continuous ultrasound exposure of 10 minutes duration (ultrasound probe either transcutaneous or on the kidney). These kidneys were compared to 6 kidneys treated with an unmodified Dornier HM3 Lithotripter (2400 shocks, 120 SWs/min and 24 kV). Histological analysis was performed to assess the volume of hemorrhagic tissue injury created by each technique (% functional renal volume, FRV). Results SWL produced a lesion of 1.56±0.45% FRV. Ultrasonic propulsion produced no detectable lesion with the simulated clinical treatment. A lesion of 0.46±0.37% FRV or 1.15±0.49% FRV could be produced if excessive treatment parameters were used while the ultrasound probe was placed on the kidney. Conclusions Focused ultrasonic propulsion produced no detectable morphological injury to the renal parenchyma when using clinical treatment parameters and produced injury comparable in size to SWL when using excessive treatment parameters. PMID:23917165

Physical interpretation and development of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation techniques applied to the quantitative characterization of textile composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1993-01-01

In this Progress Report, we describe our current research activities concerning the development and implementation of advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods applied to the characterization of stitched composite materials and bonded aluminum plate specimens. One purpose of this investigation is to identify and characterize specific features of polar backscatter interrogation which enhance the ability of ultrasound to detect flaws in a stitched composite laminate. Another focus is to explore the feasibility of implementing medical linear array imaging technology as a viable ultrasonic-based nondestructive evaluation method to inspect and characterize bonded aluminum lap joints. As an approach to implementing quantitative ultrasonic inspection methods to both of these materials, we focus on the physics that underlies the detection of flaws in such materials.

Improving the signal-to-noise ratio in ultrasound-modulated optical tomography by a lock-in amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Lili; Wu, Jingping; Lin, Guimin; Hu, Liangjun; Li, Hui

2016-10-01

With high spatial resolution of ultrasonic location and high sensitivity of optical detection, ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT) is a promising noninvasive biological tissue imaging technology. In biological tissue, the ultrasound-modulated light signals are very weak and are overwhelmed by the strong unmodulated light signals. It is a difficulty and key to efficiently pick out the weak modulated light from strong unmodulated light in UOT. Under the effect of an ultrasonic field, the scattering light intensity presents a periodic variation as the ultrasonic frequency changes. So the modulated light signals would be escape from the high unmodulated light signals, when the modulated light signals and the ultrasonic signal are processed cross correlation operation by a lock-in amplifier and without a chopper. Experimental results indicated that the signal-to-noise ratio of UOT is significantly improved by a lock-in amplifier, and the higher the repetition frequency of pulsed ultrasonic wave, the better the signal-to-noise ratio of UOT.

Deviations from Rayleigh statistics in ultrasonic speckle.

PubMed

Tuthill, T A; Sperry, R H; Parker, K J

1988-04-01

The statistics of speckle patterns in ultrasound images have potential for tissue characterization. In "fully developed speckle" from many random scatterers, the amplitude is widely recognized as possessing a Rayleigh distribution. This study examines how scattering populations and signal processing can produce non-Rayleigh distributions. The first order speckle statistics are shown to depend on random scatterer density and the amplitude and spacing of added periodic scatterers. Envelope detection, amplifier compression, and signal bandwidth are also shown to cause distinct changes in the signal distribution.

Clinical evaluation of split-crest technique with ultrasonic bone surgery for narrow ridge expansion: status of soft and hard tissues and implant success.

PubMed

Anitua, Eduardo; Begoña, Leire; Orive, Gorka

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the split-crest technique with ultrasonic bone surgery for implant placement in patients with narrow ridges, focusing on the status of soft and hard tissues and on implant success rate, at least 6 months after implant loading. During September 2007 and November 2008, 15 patients received 37 implants (BTI implants) with split-crest surgical procedure using ultrasonic bone surgery. Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF®) was applied during split crest procedure to promote tissue regeneration. Implant surfaces were humidified with PRGF to accelerate osseointegration. Patients were recalled for a final clinical evaluation at least 6 months after implant loading. Clinical assessment included the status of soft and hard tissues around implants, and implants' success rate. Thirty-seven implants in 15 patients were evaluated between July 2009 and January 2010. The status of soft tissues was very good, showing adequate plaque index, bleeding index, and probing depth values. Success rate of implants at the end of follow-up (between 11 and 28 months after insertion) was 100%. Bone ridge was measured and compared at final examination showing a mean ridge expansion of 3.35 mm (SD: 0.34). Split-crest with ultrasonic bone surgery can be considered an effective and safe procedure for narrow ridge expansion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Analytical ultrasonics for structural materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kupperman, D. S.

1986-01-01

The application of ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements to characterize the microstructure of structural materials is discussed. Velocity measurements in cast stainless steel are correlated with microstructural variations ranging from equiaxed (elastically isotropic) to columnar (elastically anisotropic) grain structure. The effect of the anisotropic grain structure on the deviation of ultrasonic waves in cast stainless steel is also reported. Field-implementable techniques for distinguishing equiaxed from columnar grain structures in cast strainless steel structural members are presented. The application of ultrasonic velocity measurements to characterize structural ceramics in the green state is also discussed.

Characterization of benign thyroid nodules with HyperSPACE (Hyper Spectral Analysis for Characterization in Echography) before and after percutaneous laser ablation: a pilot study.

PubMed

Granchi, Simona; Vannacci, Enrico; Biagi, Elena

2017-04-22

To evaluate the capability of the HyperSPACE (Hyper SPectral Analysis for Characterization in Echography) method in tissue characterization, in order to provide information for the laser treatment of benign thyroid nodules in respect of conventional B-mode images and elastography. The method, based on the spectral analysis of the raw radiofrequency ultrasonic signal, was applied to characterize the nodule before and after laser treatment. Thirty patients (25 females and 5 males, age between 37 and 81 years) with thyroid benign nodule at cytology (Thyr 2) were evaluated by conventional ultrasonography, elastography, and HyperSPACE, before and after laser ablation. The images processed by HyperSPACE exhibit different color distributions that are referred to different tissue features. By calculating the percentages of the color coverages, the analysed nodules were subdivided into 3 groups. Each nodule belonging to the same group experienced, on average, similar necrosis extension. The nodules exhibit different Configurations (colors) distributions that could be indicative of the response of nodular tissue to the laser treatmentConclusions: HyperSPACEcan characterize benign nodules by providing additional information in respect of conventional ultrasound and elastography which is useful for support in the laser treatment of nodules in order to increase the probability of success.

Development of coaxial ultrasonic probe for fatty liver diagnostic system using ultrasonic velocity change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hori, Makoto; Yokota, Daiki; Aotani, Yuhei; Kumagai, Yuta; Wada, Kenji; Matsunaka, Toshiyuki; Morikawa, Hiroyasu; Horinaka, Hiromichi

2017-07-01

A diagnostic system for fatty liver at an early stage is needed because fatty liver is linked to metabolic syndrome. We have already proposed a fatty liver diagnosis method based on the temperature coefficient of ultrasonic velocity. In this study, we fabricated a coaxial ultrasonic probe by integrating two kinds of transducers for warming and signal detection. The diagnosis system equipped with the coaxial probe was applied to tissue-mimicking phantoms including the fat area. The fat content rates corresponding to the set rates of the phantoms were estimated by the ultrasonic velocity-change method.

High-frequency ultrasonic imaging of growth and development in manufactured engineered oral mucosal tissue surfaces.

PubMed

Winterroth, Frank; Kato, Hiroko; Kuo, Shiuhyang; Feinberg, Stephen E; Hollister, Scott J; Fowlkes, J Brian; Hollman, Kyle W

2014-09-01

This study uses high-resolution ultrasound to examine the growth and development of engineered oral mucosal tissues manufactured under aseptic conditions. The specimens are a commercially available natural tissue scaffold, AlloDerm, and oral keratinocytes seeded onto AlloDerm to form an ex vivo-produced oral mucosal equivalent (EVPOME) suitable for intra-oral grafting. The seeded cells produce a keratinized protective upper layer that smooths out any remaining surface irregularities on the underlying AlloDerm. Two-dimensional acoustic imaging of unseeded AlloDerm and developing EVPOMEs was performed on each day of their growth and development, each tissue specimen being imaged under aseptic conditions (total time from seeding to maturation: 11 d). Ultrasonic monitoring offers us the ability to determine the constituents of the EVPOME that are responsible for changes in its mechanical behavior during the manufacturing process. Ultrasonic monitoring affords us an opportunity to non-invasively assess, in real time, tissue-engineered constructs before release for use in patient care. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Backscatter and attenuation properties of mammalian brain tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijekularatne, Pushpani Vihara

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common category of brain injuries, which contributes to a substantial number of deaths and permanent disability all over the world. Ultrasound technology plays a major role in tissue characterization due to its low cost and portability that could be used to bridge a wide gap in the TBI diagnostic process. This research addresses the ultrasonic properties of mammalian brain tissues focusing on backscatter and attenuation. Orientation dependence and spatial averaging of data were analyzed using the same method resulting from insertion of tissue sample between a transducer and a reference reflector. Apparent backscatter transfer function (ABTF) at 1 to 10 MHz, attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient (BSC) at 1 to 5 MHz frequency ranges were measured on ovine brain tissue samples. The resulting ABTF was a monotonically decreasing function of frequency and the attenuation coefficient and BSC generally were increasing functions of frequency, results consistent with other soft tissues such as liver, blood and heart.

Acoustic imaging with time reversal methods: From medicine to NDT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fink, Mathias

2015-03-01

This talk will present an overview of the research conducted on ultrasonic time-reversal methods applied to biomedical imaging and to non-destructive testing. We will first describe iterative time-reversal techniques that allow both focusing ultrasonic waves on reflectors in tissues (kidney stones, micro-calcifications, contrast agents) or on flaws in solid materials. We will also show that time-reversal focusing does not need the presence of bright reflectors but it can be achieved only from the speckle noise generated by random distributions of non-resolved scatterers. We will describe the applications of this concept to correct distortions and aberrations in ultrasonic imaging and in NDT. In the second part of the talk we will describe the concept of time-reversal processors to get ultrafast ultrasonic images with typical frame rates of order of 10.000 F/s. It is the field of ultrafast ultrasonic imaging that has plenty medical applications and can be of great interest in NDT. We will describe some applications in the biomedical domain: Quantitative Elasticity imaging of tissues by following shear wave propagation to improve cancer detection and Ultrafast Doppler imaging that allows ultrasonic functional imaging.

Temperature and frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation in selected tissues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gammell, P. M.; Croissette, D. H. L.; Heyser, R. C.

1979-01-01

Ultrasonic attenuation over the frequency range of 1.5-10 MHz has been measured as a function of temperature for porcine liver, backfat, kidney and spleen as well as for a single specimen of human liver. The attenuation in these excised specimens increases nearly linearly with frequency. Over the temperature range of approximately 4-37 C the attenuation decreases with increasing temperature for most soft tissue studied.

High resolution Physio-chemical Tissue Analysis: Towards Non-invasive In Vivo Biopsy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Guan; Meng, Zhuo-Xian; Lin, Jian-Die; Deng, Cheri X.; Carson, Paul L.; Fowlkes, J. Brian; Tao, Chao; Liu, Xiaojun; Wang, Xueding

2016-02-01

Conventional gold standard histopathologic diagnosis requires information of both high resolution structural and chemical changes in tissue. Providing optical information at ultrasonic resolution, photoacoustic (PA) technique could provide highly sensitive and highly accurate tissue characterization noninvasively in the authentic in vivo environment, offering a replacement for histopathology. A two-dimensional (2D) physio-chemical spectrogram (PCS) combining micrometer to centimeter morphology and chemical composition simultaneously can be generated for each biological sample with PA measurements at multiple optical wavelengths. This spectrogram presents a unique 2D “physio-chemical signature” for any specific type of tissue. Comprehensive analysis of PCS, termed PA physio-chemical analysis (PAPCA), can lead to very rich diagnostic information, including the contents of all relevant molecular and chemical components along with their corresponding histological microfeatures, comparable to those accessible by conventional histology. PAPCA could contribute to the diagnosis of many diseases involving diffusive patterns such as fatty liver.

Ultrasonically Assisted Cutting of Bio-tissues in Microtomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dong; Roy, Anish; Silberschmidt, Vadim V.

Modern-day histology of bio-tissues for supporting stratified medicine diagnoses requires high-precision cutting to ensure high quality extremely thin specimens used in analysis. Additionally, the cutting quality is significantly affected by a wide variety of soft and hard tissues in the samples. This paper deals with development of a next generation of microtome employing introduction of controlled ultrasonic vibration to realise a hybrid cutting process of bio-tissues. The study is based on a combination of advanced experimental and numerical (finite-element) studies of multi-body dynamics of a cutting system. The quality of cut samples produced with the prototype is compared with the state-of-the-art.

Medical ultrasound: imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity

PubMed Central

Wells, Peter N. T.; Liang, Hai-Dong

2011-01-01

After X-radiography, ultrasound is now the most common of all the medical imaging technologies. For millennia, manual palpation has been used to assist in diagnosis, but it is subjective and restricted to larger and more superficial structures. Following an introduction to the subject of elasticity, the elasticity of biological soft tissues is discussed and published data are presented. The basic physical principles of pulse-echo and Doppler ultrasonic techniques are explained. The history of ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity is summarized, together with a brief critique of previously published reviews. The relevant techniques—low-frequency vibration, step, freehand and physiological displacement, and radiation force (displacement, impulse, shear wave and acoustic emission)—are described. Tissue-mimicking materials are indispensible for the assessment of these techniques and their characteristics are reported. Emerging clinical applications in breast disease, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, minimally invasive surgery, musculoskeletal studies, radiotherapy, tissue engineering, urology and vascular disease are critically discussed. It is concluded that ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity is now sufficiently well developed to have clinical utility. The potential for further research is examined and it is anticipated that the technology will become a powerful mainstream investigative tool. PMID:21680780

Autologous Adipose-Derived Tissue Matrix Part I: Biologic Characteristics.

PubMed

Schendel, Stephen A

2017-10-01

Autologous collagen is an ideal soft tissue filler and may serve as a matrix for stem cell implantation and growth. Procurement of autologous collagen has been limited, though, secondary to a sufficient source. Liposuction is a widely performed and could be a source of autologous collagen. The amount of collagen and its composition in liposuctioned fat remains unknown. The purpose of this research was to characterize an adipose-derived tissue-based product created using ultrasonic cavitation and cryo-grinding. This study evaluated the cellular and protein composition of the final product. Fat was obtained from individuals undergoing routine liposuction and was processed by a 2 step process to obtain only the connective tissue. The tissue was then evaluated by scanning electronic microscope, Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. Liposuctioned fat was obtained from 10 individuals with an average of 298 mL per subject. After processing an average of 1 mL of collagen matrix was obtained from each 100 mL of fat. Significant viable cell markers were present in descending order for adipocytes > CD90+ > CD105+ > CD45+ > CD19+ > CD144+ > CD34+. Western blot analysis showed collagen type II, III, IV, and other proteins. Scanning electronic microscope study showed a regular pattern of cross-linked, helical collagen. Additionally, vital staing demonstrated that the cells were still viable after processing. Collagen and cells can be easily obtained from liposuctioned fat by ultrasonic separation without alteration of the overall cellular composition of the tissue. Implantation results in new collagen and cellular growth. Collagen matrix with viable cells for autologous use can be obtained from liposuctioned fat and may provide long term results. 5. © 2017 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. Reprints and permission: journals.permissions@oup.com

Clinical feasibility study of combined opto-acoustic and ultrasonic imaging modality providing coregistered functional and anatomical maps of breast tumors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zalev, Jason; Clingman, Bryan; Smith, Remie J.; Herzog, Don; Miller, Tom; Stavros, A. Thomas; Ermilov, Sergey; Conjusteau, André; Tsyboulski, Dmitri; Oraevsky, Alexander A.; Kist, Kenneth; Dornbluth, N. C.; Otto, Pamela

2013-03-01

We report on findings from the clinical feasibility study of the ImagioTM. Breast Imaging System, which acquires two-dimensional opto-acoustic (OA) images co-registered with conventional ultrasound using a specialized duplex hand-held probe. Dual-wavelength opto-acoustic technology is used to generate parametric maps based upon total hemoglobin and its oxygen saturation in breast tissues. This may provide functional diagnostic information pertaining to tumor metabolism and microvasculature, which is complementary to morphological information obtained with conventional gray-scale ultrasound. We present co-registered opto-acoustic and ultrasonic images of malignant and benign tumors from a recent clinical feasibility study. The clinical results illustrate that the technology may have the capability to improve the efficacy of breast tumor diagnosis. In doing so, it may have the potential to reduce biopsies and to characterize cancers that were not seen well with conventional gray-scale ultrasound alone.

High-intensity therapeutic ultrasound: metrological requirements versus clinical usage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aubry, J.-F.

2012-10-01

High-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) is an appealing non-invasive, non-ionizing therapeutic modality with a wide range of tissue interactions ranging from transient permeabilization of cell membranes to thermal ablation. The ability to guide and monitor the treatment with an associated ultrasonic or magnetic resonance imaging device has resulted in a dramatic rise in the clinical use of therapeutic ultrasound in the past two decades. Nevertheless, the range of clinical applications and the number of patients treated has grown at a much higher pace than the definition of standards. In this paper the metrological requirements of the therapeutic beams are reviewed and are compared with the current clinical use of image-guided HITU mostly based on a practical approach. Liver therapy, a particularly challenging clinical application, is discussed to highlight the differences between some complex clinical situations and the experimental conditions of the metrological characterization of ultrasonic transducers.

Ultrasonic stress wave characterization of composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duke, J. C., Jr.; Henneke, E. G., II; Stinchcomb, W. W.

1986-01-01

The work reported covers three simultaneous projects. The first project was concerned with: (1) establishing the sensitivity of the acousto-ultrasonic method for evaluating subtle forms of damage development in cyclically loaded composite materials, (2) establishing the ability of the acousto-ultrasonic method for detecting initial material imperfections that lead to localized damage growth and final specimen failure, and (3) characteristics of the NBS/Proctor sensor/receiver for acousto-ultrasonic evaluation of laminated composite materials. The second project was concerned with examining the nature of the wave propagation that occurs during acoustic-ultrasonic evaluation of composite laminates and demonstrating the role of Lamb or plate wave modes and their utilization for characterizing composite laminates. The third project was concerned with the replacement of contact-type receiving piezotransducers with noncontacting laser-optical sensors for acousto-ultrasonic signal acquisition.

Density and Ultrasonic Characterization of Oil Palm Trunk Infected by Ganoderma Boninense Disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najmie, M. M. K.; Khalid, K.; Sidek, A. A.; Jusoh, M. A.

2011-01-01

Oil palm trunks infected by Ganoderma boninense disease have been studied using density and ultrasonic characterizations. The ultrasonic characterizations have been performed using a commercial ultrasonic instrument at the frequency of 54 kHz. The measurements have been done in 3 zones: inner zone, central zone and peripheral zone. It was found that the stem density of the oil palm infected by Ganoderma boninense disease was reduced by 50% in comparison to the original healthy trunk. From this effect the velocity of the ultrasonic wave propagated through the Longitudinal, Radial, and Tangential directions is lower for the trunk infected by Ganoderma boninense disease compared to a healthy trunk. For the 10 cm thickness of samples, the ultrasonic velocity for all transit directions was in range of 260 - 750 ms-1 for the infected sample, whereas for healthy samples was in the range of 460 - 900 ms-1. These results are very useful for the detection of the area which has been affected by the disease.

Radiographic and ultrasonic characterization of sintered silicon carbide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baaklini, G. Y.; Abel, P. B.

1988-01-01

The capabilities were investigated of projection microfocus X-radiography, ultrasonic velocity and attenuation, and reflection scanning acoustic microscopy for characterizing silicon carbide specimens. Silicon carbide batches covered a range of densities and different microstructural characteristics. Room temperature, four point flexural strength tests were conducted. Fractography was used to identify types, sizes, and locations of fracture origins. Fracture toughness values were calculated from fracture strength and flaw characterization data. Detection capabilities of radiography and acoustic microscopy for fracture-causing flaws were evaluated. Applicability of ultrasonics for verifying material strength and toughness was examined.

Flaw imaging and ultrasonic techniques for characterizing sintered silicon carbide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baaklini, George Y.; Abel, Phillip B.

1987-01-01

The capabilities were investigated of projection microfocus x-radiography, ultrasonic velocity and attenuation, and reflection scanning acoustic microscopy for characterizing silicon carbide specimens. Silicon carbide batches covered a range of densities and different microstructural characteristics. Room temperature, four point flexural strength tests were conducted. Fractography was used to identify types, sizes, and locations of fracture origins. Fracture toughness values were calculated from fracture strength and flaw characterization data. Detection capabilities of radiography and acoustic microscopy for fracture-causing flaws were evaluated. Applicability of ultrasonics for verifying material strength and toughness was examined.

Magnetic nanoparticles for enhancing the effectiveness of ultrasonic hyperthermia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Józefczak, A.; Kaczmarek, K.; Hornowski, T.; Kubovčíková, M.; Rozynek, Z.; Timko, M.; Skumiel, A.

2016-06-01

Ultrasonic hyperthermia is a method of cancer treatment in which tumors are exposed to an elevated cytotoxic temperature using ultrasound (US). In conventional ultrasonic hyperthermia, the ultrasound-induced heating in the tumor is achieved through the absorption of wave energy. However, to obtain appropriate temperature in reasonable time, high US intensities, which can have a negative impact on healthy tissues, are required. The effectiveness of US for medical purposes can be significantly improved by using the so-called sonosensitizers, which can enhance the thermal effect of US on the tissue by increasing US absorption. One possible candidate for such sonosensitizers is magnetic nanoparticles with mean sizes of 10-300 nm, which can be efficiently heated because of additional attenuation and scattering of US. Additionally, magnetic nanoparticles are able to produce heat in the alternating magnetic field (magnetic hyperthermia). The synergetic application of ultrasonic and magnetic hyperthermia can lead to a promising treatment modality.

Development of Multiple-Frequency Ultrasonic Imaging System Using Multiple Resonance Piezoelectric Transducer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, Iwaki; Yoshizumi, Natsuki; Saito, Shigemi; Wada, Yuji; Koyama, Daisuke; Nakamura, Kentaro

2012-07-01

The authors have developed a multiple frequency imaging system using a multiple resonance transducer (MRT) consisting of 1-3 composite materials with a low mechanical quality factor Q bonded together. The MRT has a structure consisting of thin and thick piezoelectric plates, two matching layers, and a backing layer. This makes it possible to obtain B-mode images of satisfactory resolution using ultrasonic pulses owing to their short duration. In this paper, the vibration property of the MRT derived through equivalent-circuit analysis is first shown. By utilizing the result, an MRT capable of transmitting ultrasonic pulses for generation of the images of biological tissues with satisfactory resolution is designed and prototyped. Setting the prototype transducer in the mechanical sector probe of commercial ultrasonic diagnosis equipment, the speckle reduction effect is demonstrated using images of various phantoms to mimic biological tissues and a human thyroid.

Measurement of mechanical properties of homogeneous tissue with ultrasonically induced shear waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenleaf, James F.; Chen, Shigao

2007-03-01

Fundamental mechanical properties of tissue are altered by many diseases. Regional and systemic diseases can cause changes in tissue properties. Liver stiffness is caused by cirrhosis and fibrosis. Vascular wall stiffness and tone are altered by smoking, diabetes and other diseases. Measurement of tissue mechanical properties has historically been done with palpation. However palpation is subjective, relative, and not quantitative or reproducible. Elastography in which strain is measured due to stress application gives a qualitative estimate of Young's modulus at low frequency. We have developed a method that takes advantage of the fact that the wave equation is local and shear wave propagation depends only on storage and loss moduli in addition to density, which does not vary much in soft tissues. Our method is called shearwave dispersion ultrasonic velocity measurement (SDUV). The method uses ultrasonic radiation force to produce repeated motion in tissue that induces shear waves to propagate. The shear wave propagation speed is measured with pulse echo ultrasound as a function of frequency of the shear wave. The resulting velocity dispersion curve is fit with a Voight model to determine the elastic and viscous moduli of the tissue. Results indicate accurate and precise measurements are possible using this "noninvasive biopsy" method. Measurements in beef along and across the fibers are consistent with the literature values.

Microstructural and Defect Characterization in Ceramic Composites Using an Ultrasonic Guided Wave Scan System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, D. J.; Cosgriff, L. M.; Martin, R. E.; Verrilli, M. J.; Bhatt, R. T.

2003-01-01

In this study, an ultrasonic guided wave scan system was used to characterize various microstructural and flaw conditions in two types of ceramic matrix composites, SiC/SiC and C/SiC. Rather than attempting to isolate specific lamb wave modes to use for characterization (as is desired for many types of guided wave inspection problems), the guided wave scan system utilizes the total (multi-mode) ultrasonic response in its inspection analysis. Several time and frequency-domain parameters are calculated from the ultrasonic guided wave signal at each scan location to form images. Microstructural and defect conditions examined include delamination, density variation, cracking, and pre/ post-infiltration. Results are compared with thermographic imaging methods. Although the guided wave technique is commonly used so scanning can be eliminated, applying the technique in the scanning mode allows a more precise characterization of defect conditions.

In Vivo Determination of the Complex Elastic Moduli of Cetacean Head Tissue

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-30

remotely generated elastic waves can be detected remotely using a modified version of an ultrasonic Doppler vibration measurement system called NIVMS...developed at Georgia Techiii. Algorithms are being developed to enable the magnitude and phase of vibration to be determined, as well as the range (tissue...depth) along the ultrasonic beam at which the vibration is being measured. By measuring the amplitude and arrival time of the shear wave at two

Basic investigation on acoustic velocity change imaging method for quantitative assessment of fat content in human liver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mano, Kazune; Tanigawa, Shohei; Hori, Makoto; Yokota, Daiki; Wada, Kenji; Matsunaka, Toshiyuki; Morikawa, Hiroyasu; Horinaka, Hiromichi

2016-07-01

Fatty liver is a disease caused by the excess accumulation of fat in the human liver. The early diagnosis of fatty liver is very important, because fatty liver is the major marker linked to metabolic syndrome. We already proposed the ultrasonic velocity change imaging method to diagnose fatty liver by using the fact that the temperature dependence of ultrasonic velocity is different in water and in fat. For the diagonosis of a fatty liver stage, we attempted a feasibility study of the quantitative assessment of the fat content in the human liver using our ultrasonic velocity change imaging method. Experimental results showed that the fat content in the tissue mimic phantom containing lard was determined by its ultrasonic velocity change in the flat temperature region formed by a circular warming ultrasonic transducer with an acoustic lens having an appropriate focal length. By considering the results of our simulation using a thermal diffusion equation, we determined whether this method could be applied to fatty liver assessment under the condition that the tissue had the thermal relaxation effect caused by blood flow.

Time reversal for ultrasonic transcranial surgery and echographic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanter, Mickael; Aubry, Jean-Francois; Vignon, Francois; Fink, Mathias

2005-09-01

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is able to induce non-invasively controlled and selective destruction of tissues by focusing ultrasonic beams within organs, analogous to a magnifying glass that concentrates enough sunlight to burn a hole in paper. The brain is an attractive organ in which to perform ultrasonic tissue ablation, but such an application has been hampered by the strong defocusing effect of the skull bone. Our group has been involved in this topic for several years, providing proofs of concept and proposing technological solutions to this problem. Thanks to a high-power time-reversal mirror, presented here are in vivo thermal lesions induced through the skull of 12 sheep. Thermal lesions were confirmed by T2-weighted magnetic resonance post-treatment images and histological examination. These results provide striking evidence that noninvasive ultrasound brain surgery is feasible. A recent approach for high-resolution brain ultrasonic imaging will also be discussed with a skull aberration correction technique based on twin arrays technology. The correction of transcranial ultrasonic images is implemented on a new generation of time-reversal mirrors relying on a fully programmable transmit and receive beamformer.

Rail flaw sizing using conventional and phased array ultrasonic testing.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-01

An approach to detecting and characterizing internal defects in rail through the use of phased array ultrasonic testing has shown the potential to reduce the risk of missed defects and improve transverse defect characterization. : Transportation Tech...

Research on Characterization of Damage States in Continuous Fiber Composites Using Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

Composites Using Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Annual Technical Report I by Vikrai K. Kinra Depdrtment of Aerospace Engineering r and Mechanics...and identify by b ko number) 7It is well known that composite materials suffer complex damage when they are.-ub- jected to either monotonic or...Characterization of Damage States in Continuous Fiber Composites Using Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Annual Technical Report by Vikram K. Kinra Department

Comparison of tissue injury from focused ultrasonic propulsion of kidney stones versus extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

PubMed

Connors, Bret A; Evan, Andrew P; Blomgren, Philip M; Hsi, Ryan S; Harper, Jonathan D; Sorensen, Mathew D; Wang, Yak-Nam; Simon, Julianna C; Paun, Marla; Starr, Frank; Cunitz, Bryan W; Bailey, Michael R; Lingeman, James E

2014-01-01

Focused ultrasonic propulsion is a new noninvasive technique designed to move kidney stones and stone fragments out of the urinary collecting system. However, to our knowledge the extent of tissue injury associated with this technique is not known. We quantitated the amount of tissue injury produced by focused ultrasonic propulsion under simulated clinical treatment conditions and under conditions of higher power or continuous duty cycles. We compared those results to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy injury. A human calcium oxalate monohydrate stone and/or nickel beads were implanted by ureteroscopy in 3 kidneys of live pigs weighing 45 to 55 kg and repositioned using focused ultrasonic propulsion. Additional pig kidneys were exposed to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy level pulse intensity or continuous ultrasound exposure 10 minutes in duration using an ultrasound probe transcutaneously or on the kidney. These kidneys were compared to 6 treated with an unmodified Dornier HM3 lithotripter (Dornier Medical Systems, Kennesaw, Georgia) using 2,400 shocks at 120 shock waves per minute and 24 kV. Histological analysis was performed to assess the volume of hemorrhagic tissue injury created by each technique according to the percent of functional renal volume. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy produced a mean ± SEM lesion of 1.56% ± 0.45% of functional renal volume. Ultrasonic propulsion produced no detectable lesion with simulated clinical treatment. A lesion of 0.46% ± 0.37% or 1.15% ± 0.49% of functional renal volume was produced when excessive treatment parameters were used with the ultrasound probe placed on the kidney. Focused ultrasonic propulsion produced no detectable morphological injury to the renal parenchyma when using clinical treatment parameters but produced injury comparable in size to that of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy when using excessive treatment parameters. Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acousto-optical imaging using a powerful long pulse laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rousseau, Guy; Blouin, Alain; Monchalin, Jean-Pierre

2008-06-01

Acousto-optical imaging is an emerging biodiagnostic technique which provides an optical spectroscopic signature and a spatial localization of an optically absorbing target embedded in a strongly scattering medium. The transverse resolution of the technique is determined by the lateral extent of ultrasound beam focal zone while the axial resolution is obtained by using short ultrasound pulses. Although very promising for medical diagnostic, the practical application of this technique is presently limited by its poor sensitivity. Moreover, any method to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio must obviously satisfy the in vivo safety limits regarding the acceptable power level of both the ultrasonic pressure wave and the laser beam. In this paper, we propose to improve the sensitivity by using a pulsed single-frequency laser source to raise the optical peak power applied to the scattering medium and to collect more ultrasonically tagged photons. Such a laser source also allows illuminating the tissues mainly during the transit time of the ultrasonic wave to maintain the average optical power below the maximum permissible exposure. In our experiment, a single-frequency Nd:YAG laser emitting 500-μs pulses with a peak power superior to 100 W was used. Photons were tagged in few-cm thick optical phantoms with tone bursts generated by an ultrasonic transducer. Tagged photons were detected with a GaAs photorefractive interferometer characterized by a large optical etendue to process simultaneously a large number of speckle grains. When pumped by high intensity laser pulses, such an interferometer also provides the fast response time essential to obtain an apparatus insensitive to the speckle decorrelation due to mechanical vibrations or tissues movements. The use of a powerful long pulse laser appears promising to enhance the signal level in ultrasound modulated optical imaging. When combined with a photorefractive interferometer of large optical etendue, such a source could allow obtaining both the sensitivity and the fast response time necessary for biodiagnostic applications.

In Vivo Determination of the Complex Elastic Moduli of Cetacean Head Tissue

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

digitization of the modulated carrier signaT. Pure-tone ultrasonic vibrometry has been implemented in both air - coupled and water- coupled systems for...and J. Sabatier, " Air - coupled ultrasonic sensing of grass-covered vibrating surfaces; qualitative comparisons with laser vibrometry ", J. Acoust. Soc...follow-on grant. 2.2 Range discrimination in continuous-wave ultrasonic vibrometry The following Is adapted from a manuscript in preparation for

Cement-based materials' characterization using ultrasonic attenuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Punurai, Wonsiri

The quantitative nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of cement-based materials is a critical area of research that is leading to advances in the health monitoring and condition assessment of the civil infrastructure. Ultrasonic NDE has been implemented with varying levels of success to characterize cement-based materials with complex microstructure and damage. A major issue with the application of ultrasonic techniques to characterize cement-based materials is their inherent inhomogeneity at multiple length scales. Ultrasonic waves propagating in these materials exhibit a high degree of attenuation losses, making quantitative interpretations difficult. Physically, these attenuation losses are a combination of internal friction in a viscoelastic material (ultrasonic absorption), and the scattering losses due to the material heterogeneity. The objective of this research is to use ultrasonic attenuation to characterize the microstructure of heterogeneous cement-based materials. The study considers a real, but simplified cement-based material, cement paste---a common bonding matrix of all cement-based composites. Cement paste consists of Portland cement and water but does not include aggregates. First, this research presents the findings of a theoretical study that uses a set of existing acoustics models to quantify the scattered ultrasonic wavefield from a known distribution of entrained air voids. These attenuation results are then coupled with experimental measurements to develop an inversion procedure that directly predicts the size and volume fraction of entrained air voids in a cement paste specimen. Optical studies verify the accuracy of the proposed inversion scheme. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of using attenuation to measure the average size, volume fraction of entrained air voids and the existence of additional larger entrapped air voids in hardened cement paste. Finally, coherent and diffuse ultrasonic waves are used to develop a direct relationship between attenuation and water to cement (w/c) ratio. A phenomenological model based on the existence of fluid-filled capillary voids is used to help explain the experimentally observed behavior. Overall this research shows the potential of using ultrasonic attenuation to quantitatively characterize cement paste. The absorption and scattering losses can be related to the individual microstructural elements of hardened cement paste. By taking a fundamental, mechanics-based approach, it should be possible to add additional components such as scattering by aggregates or even microcracks in a systematic fashion and eventually build a realistic model for ultrasonic wave propagation study for concrete.

In vivo microwave-based thermoacoustic tomography of rats (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Li; Zhou, Yong; Wang, Lihong V.

2016-03-01

Microwave-based thermoacoustic tomography (TAT), based on the measurement of ultrasonic waves induced by microwave pulses, can reveal tissue dielectric properties that may be closely related to the physiological and pathological status of the tissues. Using microwaves as the excitation source improved imaging depth because of their deep penetration into biological tissues. We demonstrate, for the first time, in vivo microwave-based thermoacoustic imaging in rats. The transducer is rotated around the rat in a full circle, providing a full two-dimensional view. Instead of a flat ultrasonic transducer, we used a virtual line detector based on a cylindrically focused transducer. A 3 GHz microwave source with 0.6 µs pulse width and an electromagnetically shielded transducer with 2.25 MHz central frequency provided clear cross-sectional images of the rat's body. The high imaging contrast, based on the tissue's rate of absorption, and the ultrasonically defined spatial resolution combine to reveal the spine, kidney, muscle, and other deeply seated anatomical features in the rat's abdominal cavity. This non-invasive and non-ionizing imaging modality achieved an imaging depth beyond 6 cm in the rat's tissue. Cancer diagnosis based on information about tissue properties from microwave band TAT can potentially be more accurate than has previously been achievable.

New Combinational Method for Noninvasive Treatments of Superficial Tissues for Body Aesthetics Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rybyanets, A. N.; Naumenko, A. A.

The paper introduces an innovative combinational treatment method based on ultrasonic standing waves (USW) technology for noninvasive surgical, therapeutic, lypolitic or cosmetic treatment of tissues including subcutaneous adipose tissue, cellulite or skin on arbitrary body part of patient. The method is based on simultaneous or successive applying of constructively interfering physically and biologically sensed influences: USW, ultrasonic shear waves, radio-frequency (RF) heating, and vacuum massage. The paper provides basic physical principles of USW as well as critical comparison of USW and HIFU methods. The results of finite-elements and finite- difference modeling of USW transducer design and nodal pattern structure in tissue are presented. Biological effects of USW-tissue interaction and synergetic aspects of USW and RF combination are explored. Combinational treatment transducer designs and original in-vitro experiments on tissues are described.

Increased epidermal laser fluence through simultaneous ultrasonic microporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whiteside, Paul J. D.; Chininis, Jeff A.; Schellenberg, Mason W.; Qian, Chenxi; Hunt, Heather K.

2016-03-01

Lasers have demonstrated widespread applicability in clinical dermatology as minimally invasive instruments that achieve photogenerated responses within tissue. However, before reaching its target, the incident light must first transmit through the surface layer of tissue, which is interspersed with chromophores (e.g. melanin) that preferentially absorb the light and may also generate negative tissue responses. These optical absorbers decrease the efficacy of the procedures. In order to ensure that the target receives a clinically relevant dose, most procedures simply increase the incident energy; however, this tends to exacerbate the negative complications of melanin absorption. Here, we present an alternative solution aimed at increasing epidermal energy uence while mitigating excess absorption by unintended targets. Our technique involves the combination of a waveguide-based contact transmission modality with simultaneous high-frequency ultrasonic pulsation, which alters the optical properties of the tissue through the agglomeration of dissolved gasses into micro-bubbles within the tissue. Doing so effectively creates optically transparent pathways for the light to transmit unobstructed through the tissue, resulting in an increase in forward scattering and a decrease in absorption. To demonstrate this, Q-switched nanosecond-pulsed laser light at 532nm was delivered into pig skin samples using custom glass waveguides clad in titanium and silver. Light transmission through the tissue was measured with a photodiode and integrating sphere for tissue with and without continuous ultrasonic pulsation at 510 kHz. The combination of these techniques has the potential to improve the efficiency of laser procedures while mitigating negative tissue effects caused by undesirable absorption.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Characterization of Porous Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ningli

2011-12-01

Wave propagation in porous media is studied in a wide range of technological applications. In the manufacturing industry, determining porosity of materials in the manufacturing process is required for strict quality control. In the oil industry, acoustic signals and seismic surveys are used broadly to determine the physical properties of the reservoir rock which is a porous media filled with oil or gas. In porous noise control materials, a precise prediction of sound absorption with frequency and evaluation of tortuosity are necessary. Ultrasonic nondestructive methods are a very important tool for characterization of porous materials. The dissertation deals with two types of porous media: materials with relatively low and closed porosity and materials with comparatively high and open porosity. Numerical modeling, Finite Element simulations and experimental characterization are all discussed in this dissertation. First, ultrasonic scattering is used to determine the porosity in porous media with closed pores. In order get a relationship between the porosity in porous materials and ultrasonic scattering independently and to increase the sensitivity to obtain scattering information, ultrasonic imaging methods are applied and acoustic waves are focused by an acoustic lens. To verify the technique, engineered porous acrylic plates with varying porosity are measured by ultrasonic scanning and ultrasonic array sensors. Secondly, a laser based ultrasonic technique is explored for predicting the mechanical integrity and durability of cementitious materials. The technique used involves the measurement of the phase velocity of fast and slow longitudinal waves in water saturated cement paste. The slow wave velocity is related to the specimen's tortuosity. The fast wave speed is dependent on the elastic properties of porous solid. Experimental results detailing the generation and detection of fast and slow wave waves in freshly prepared and aged water-saturated cement samples with varying water-to-cement ratios are presented in the dissertation. The third part concerns the ultrasonic characterization of air-saturated porous materials. Using airborne reflected and transmitted ultrasonic experimental data, the open porosity and tortuosity value of a porous acrylic plate with graded void content and a polyimide foam are determined simultaneously. Experimental and numerical results of the method are presented.

High temperature polymerization monitoring of an epoxy resin using ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maréchal, P.; Ghodhbani, N.; Duflo, H.

2018-05-01

In this study, the real time ultrasonic monitoring is investigated to quantify changes in physical and mechanical properties during the manufacture of composite structures. In this context, an experimental transmission was developed with the aim of characterizing a high temperature polymerization reaction and post-curing properties using an ultrasonic method. First, the monitoring of ultrasonic parameters of a thermosetting resin is carried out in a device reproducing the experimental conditions for manufacturing a composite material with a process known as RTM, that is to say an isothermal polymerization at T = 160°C. During this curing, the resin is changing from its initial viscous liquid state to its final viscous solid state. Between those states, a glassy transition stage is observed, during which the physical properties are strongly changing, i.e. an increase of the ultrasonic velocity up to its steady value and a transient increase of the ultrasonic attenuation. Second, the ultrasonic inspection of the thermosetting resin is performed during a heating and cooling process to study the temperature sensitivity after curing. This type of characterization leads to identifying the ultrasonic properties dependence before, during and after the glassy transition temperature Tg . Eventually, this study is composed of two complementary parts: the first is useful for the curing optimization, while the second one is fruitful for the post-processing characterization in a temperature range including the glassy transition temperature Tg .

Review of ultrasonic irrigation in endodontics: increasing action of irrigating solutions

PubMed Central

Mozo, Sandra; Llena, Carmen

2012-01-01

Introduction: Effective irrigant delivery and agitation are prerequisites for successful endodontic treatment. Ultrasonic irrigation can be performed with or without simultaneous ultrasonic instrumentation. Existing literature reveals that ultrasonic irrigation may have a very positive effect on chemical, biological and physical debridement of the root canal system as investigated in many in vitro studies. Objective: The purpose of this review article was to summarize and discuss the available information concerning ultrasonic irrigation in endodontics. Methods: This article presents an overview of ultrasonic irrigation methods and their debridement efficacy. In this paper the relevant literature on passive ultrasonic irrigation is reviewed. Information from original scientific papers or reviews listed in MEDLINE and Cochrane were included in the review. Results: The use of ultrasound in the irrigation procedure results in improved canal cleanliness, better irrigant transfer to the canal system, soft tissue debridement, and removal of smear layer and bacteria. There are many in vitro studies, but there is a need to standardize protocols, and correlate the clinical efficacy of ultrasonic devices with improved treatment outcomes. Understanding the basis of ultrasonic irrigation is fundamental for clinicians and researchers to improve the design and use of ultrasonic irrigation. Key words:Ultrasonic irrigation, ultrasound, smear layer, endodontics. PMID:22143738

Anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel phantom for shear wave elastography in fibrous biological soft tissue: a multimodality characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatelin, Simon; Bernal, Miguel; Deffieux, Thomas; Papadacci, Clément; Flaud, Patrice; Nahas, Amir; Boccara, Claude; Gennisson, Jean-Luc; Tanter, Mickael; Pernot, Mathieu

2014-11-01

Shear wave elastography imaging techniques provide quantitative measurement of soft tissues elastic properties. Tendons, muscles and cerebral tissues are composed of fibers, which induce a strong anisotropic effect on the mechanical behavior. Currently, these tissues cannot be accurately represented by existing elastography phantoms. Recently, a novel approach for orthotropic hydrogel mimicking soft tissues has been developed (Millon et al 2006 J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B 305-11). The mechanical anisotropy is induced in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cryogel by stretching the physical crosslinks of the polymeric chains while undergoing freeze/thaw cycles. In the present study we propose an original multimodality imaging characterization of this new transverse isotropic (TI) PVA hydrogel. Multiple properties were investigated using a large variety of techniques at different scales compared with an isotropic PVA hydrogel undergoing similar imaging and rheology protocols. The anisotropic mechanical (dynamic and static) properties were studied using supersonic shear wave imaging technique, full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) strain imaging and classical linear rheometry using dynamic mechanical analysis. The anisotropic optical and ultrasonic spatial coherence properties were measured by FFOCT volumetric imaging and backscatter tensor imaging, respectively. Correlation of mechanical and optical properties demonstrates the complementarity of these techniques for the study of anisotropy on a multi-scale range as well as the potential of this TI phantom as fibrous tissue-mimicking phantom for shear wave elastographic applications.

Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation, microstructure, and mechanical property interrelations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.

1984-01-01

Ultrasonic techniques for mechanical property characterizations are reviewed and conceptual models are advanced for explaining and interpreting the empirically based results. At present, the technology is generally empirically based and is emerging from the research laboratory. Advancement of the technology will require establishment of theoretical foundations for the experimentally observed interrelations among ultrasonic measurements, mechanical properties, and microstructure. Conceptual models are applied to ultrasonic assessment of fracture toughness to illustrate an approach for predicting correlations found among ultrasonic measurements, microstructure, and mechanical properties.

Ultrasonic assisted production of starch nanoparticles: Structural characterization and mechanism of disintegration.

PubMed

Boufi, Sami; Bel Haaj, Sihem; Magnin, Albert; Pignon, Frédéric; Impéror-Clerc, Marianne; Mortha, Gérard

2018-03-01

In this paper, the disintegration of starch (waxy and standard starch) granules into nanosized particles under the sole effect of high power ultrasonication treatment in water/isopropanol is investigated, by using wide methods of analysis. The present work aims at a fully characterization of the starch nanoparticles produced by ultrasonication, in terms of size, morphology and structural properties, and the proposition of a possible mechanism explaining the top-down generation of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) via high intensity ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering measurements have indicated a leveling of the particle size to about 40nm after 75min of ultrasonication. The WAXD, DSC and Raman have revealed the amorphous character of the SNPs. FE-SEM. AFM observations have confirmed the size measured by DLS and suggested that SNPs exhibited 2D morphology of platelet-like shapes. This morphology is further supported by SAXS. On the basis of data collected from the different characterization techniques, a possible mechanism explaining the disintegration process of starch granules into NPs is proposed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quasi-static elastography comparison of hyaline cartilage structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCredie, A. J.; Stride, E.; Saffari, N.

2009-11-01

Joint cartilage, a load bearing structure in mammals, has only limited ability for regeneration after damage. For tissue engineers to design functional constructs, better understanding of the properties of healthy tissue is required. Joint cartilage is a specialised structure of hyaline cartilage; a poroviscoelastic solid containing fibril matrix reinforcements. Healthy joint cartilage is layered, which is thought to be important for correct tissue function. However, the behaviour of each layer during loading is poorly understood. Ultrasound elastography provides access to depth-dependent information in real-time for a sample during loading. A 15 MHz focussed transducer provided details from scatterers within a small fixed region in each sample. Quasi-static loading was applied to cartilage samples while ultrasonic signals before and during compressions were recorded. Ultrasonic signals were processed to provide time-shift profiles using a sum-squared difference method and cross-correlation. Two structures of hyaline cartilage have been tested ultrasonically and mechanically to determine method suitability for monitoring internal deformation differences under load and the effect of the layers on the global mechanical material behaviour. Results show differences in both the global mechanical properties and the ultrasonically tested strain distributions between the two structures tested. It was concluded that these differences are caused primarily by the fibril orientations.

Compensating for Tissue Changes in an Ultrasonic Power Link for Implanted Medical Devices.

PubMed

Vihvelin, Hugo; Leadbetter, Jeff; Bance, Manohar; Brown, Jeremy A; Adamson, Robert B A

2016-04-01

Ultrasonic power transfer using piezoelectric devices is a promising wireless power transfer technology for biomedical implants. However, for sub-dermal implants where the separation between the transmitter and receiver is on the order of several acoustic wavelengths, the ultrasonic power transfer efficiency (PTE) is highly sensitive to the distance between the transmitter and receiver. This sensitivity can cause large swings in efficiency and presents a serious limitation on battery life and overall performance. A practical ultrasonic transcutaneous energy transfer (UTET) system design must accommodate different implant depths and unpredictable acoustic changes caused by tissue growth, hydration, ambient temperature, and movement. This paper describes a method used to compensate for acoustic separation distance by varying the transmit (Tx) frequency in a UTET system. In a benchtop UTET system we experimentally show that without compensation, power transfer efficiency can range from 9% to 25% as a 5 mm porcine tissue sample is manipulated to simulate in situ implant conditions. Using an active frequency compensation method, we show that the power transfer efficiency can be kept uniformly high, ranging from 20% to 27%. The frequency compensation strategy we propose is low-power, non-invasive, and uses only transmit-side measurements, making it suitable for active implanted medical device applications.

Torsional Ultrasound Sensor Optimization for Soft Tissue Characterization

PubMed Central

Melchor, Juan; Muñoz, Rafael; Rus, Guillermo

2017-01-01

Torsion mechanical waves have the capability to characterize shear stiffness moduli of soft tissue. Under this hypothesis, a computational methodology is proposed to design and optimize a piezoelectrics-based transmitter and receiver to generate and measure the response of torsional ultrasonic waves. The procedure employed is divided into two steps: (i) a finite element method (FEM) is developed to obtain a transmitted and received waveform as well as a resonance frequency of a previous geometry validated with a semi-analytical simplified model and (ii) a probabilistic optimality criteria of the design based on inverse problem from the estimation of robust probability of detection (RPOD) to maximize the detection of the pathology defined in terms of changes of shear stiffness. This study collects different options of design in two separated models, in transmission and contact, respectively. The main contribution of this work describes a framework to establish such as forward, inverse and optimization procedures to choose a set of appropriate parameters of a transducer. This methodological framework may be generalizable for other different applications. PMID:28617353

Characterization of trabecular bone using the backscattered spectral centroid shift.

PubMed

Wear, Keith A

2003-04-01

Ultrasonic attenuation in bone in vivo is generally measured using a through-transmission method at the calcaneus. Although attenuation in calcaneus has been demonstrated to be a useful predictor for osteoporotic fracture risk, measurements at other clinically important sites, such as hip and spine, could potentially contain additional useful diagnostic information. Through-transmission measurements may not be feasible at these sites due to complex bone shapes and the increased amount of intervening soft tissue. Centroid shift from the backscattered signal is an index of attenuation slope and has been used previously to characterize soft tissues. In this paper, centroid shift from signals backscattered from 30 trabecular bone samples in vitro were measured. Attenuation slope also was measured using a through-transmission method. The correlation coefficient between centroid shift and attenuation slope was -0.71. The 95% confidence interval was (-0.86, -0.47). These results suggest that the backscattered spectral centroid shift may contain useful diagnostic information potentially applicable to hip and spine.

Evaluation of an optical fiber probe for in vivo measurement of the photoacoustic response of tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beard, Paul C.; Mills, Timothy N.

1995-05-01

A miniature (1 mm diameter) all-optical photoacoustic probe for generating and detecting ultrasonic thermoelastic waves in biological media at the tip of an optical fiber has been developed. The probe provides a compact and convenient means of performing pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy for the characterization of biological tissue. The device is based upon a transparent Fabry Perot polymer film ultrasound sensor mounted directly over the end of a multimode optical fiber. The optical fiber is used to deliver nanosecond laser pulses to the tissue producing thermoelastic waves which are then detected by the sensor. Detection sensitivities of 53 mv/MPa and a 10 kPa acoustic noise floor have been demonstrated giving excellent signal to noise ratios in a strong liquid absorber. Lower, but clearly detectable, signals in post mortem human aorta have also been observed. The performance and small physical size of the device suggest that it has the potential to perform remote in situ photoacoustic measurements in tissue.

An in vitro evaluation of the degree of pulp tissue dissolution through different root canal irrigation protocols.

PubMed

Amato, Massimo; Pantaleo, Giuseppe; Abtellatif, Dina; Blasi, Andrea; Gagliani, Massimo; Iandolo, Alfredo

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro , using artificial lateral canals, the rate of dissolution of the pulp tissue through different protocols of canal irrigation. One hundred artificial canals provided with lateral canals have been used. Each lateral canal was filled with pulp tissue and calibrated to 0.002 mg. All canals were irrigated using five different protocols. Five groups have been used for the experiment: Group A, distilled water (control); Group B, preheated NaOCl; Group C, NaOCl heated inside the canal; Group D, NaOCl ultrasonically activated; and Group E, NaOCl heated inside the canal with ultrasonic activation. All samples were weighed through professional microbalance in three different phases: before insertion of the pulp tissue into the lateral canal, after insertion of the pulp tissue and, finally, after different protocols of irrigation. A statistical analysis with Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test was performed. The partial dissolution of the pulp tissue inside the artificial lateral canal occurs only using the protocol with NaOCl heated inside the canal with ultrasonic activation. Other irrigation protocols are not able to dissolve the pulp tissue. The main objective of endodontic therapy is the removal of damaged tissues and bacteria. Modern literature highlights that it is impossible to remove all the pulp tissues and bacteria from the whole endodontic space. Hence, to achieve excellence and get positive results in the short and long term, it is necessary to use techniques and technologies that may increase the degree of root canal detersion.

Characterization of nuclear graphite elastic properties using laser ultrasonic methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zeng, Fan W; Han, Karen; Olasov, Lauren R

2015-01-01

Laser ultrasonic methods have been used to characterize the elastic behaviors of commercially-available and legacy nuclear graphites. Since ultrasonic techniques are sensitive to various aspects of graphite microstructure including preferred grain orientation, microcrack orientation and porosity, laser ultrasonics is a candidate technique for monitoring graphite degradation and structural integrity in environments expected in high-temperature, gas-cooled nuclear reactors. Aspects of materials texture can be assessed by studying ultrasonic wavespeeds as a function of propagation direction and polarization. Shear wave birefringence measurements, in particular, can be used to evaluate elastic anisotropy. In this work, laser ultrasonic measurements of graphite moduli have beenmore » made to provide insight into the relationship between the microstructures and the macroscopic stiffnesses of these materials. In particular, laser ultrasonic measurements have been made using laser line sources to produce shear waves with specific polarizations. By varying the line orientation relative to the sample, shear wave birefringence measurements have been recorded. Results from shear wave birefringence measurements show that an isostatically molded graphite, such as PCIB, behaves isotropically, while an extruded graphite, such as H-451, displays significant ultrasonic texture. Graphites have complicated microstructures that depend on the manufacturing processes used, and ultrasonic texture in these materials could originate from grain orientation and preferred microcrack alignment. Effects on material isotropy due to service related microstructural changes are possible and the ultimate aim of this work is to determine the degree to which these changes can be assessed nondestructively using laser ultrasonics measurements« less

21 CFR 892.1540 - Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor. 892.1540 Section 892.1540 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... tissues in motion. This generic type of device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient...

21 CFR 892.1540 - Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor. 892.1540 Section 892.1540 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... tissues in motion. This generic type of device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient...

21 CFR 892.1540 - Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Nonfetal ultrasonic monitor. 892.1540 Section 892.1540 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... tissues in motion. This generic type of device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient...

Attenuation Coefficient Estimation of the Healthy Human Thyroid In Vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouyer, J.; Cueva, T.; Portal, A.; Yamamoto, T.; Lavarello, R.

Previous studies have demonstrated that attenuation coefficients can be useful towards characterizing thyroid tissues. In this work, ultrasonic attenuation coefficients were estimated from healthy human thyroids in vivo using a clinical scanner. The selected subjects were five young, healthy volunteers (age: 26 ± 6 years old, gender: three females, two males) with no reported history of thyroid diseases, no palpable thyroid nodules, no smoking habits, and body mass index less than 30 kg/m2. Echographic examinations were conducted by a trained sonographer using a SonixTouch system (Ultrasonix Medical Corporation, Richmond, BC) equipped with an L14-5 linear transducer array (nominal center frequency of 10 MHz, transducer footprint of 3.8 cm). Radiofrequency data corresponding to the collected echographic images in both transverse and longitudinal views were digitized at a sampling rate of 40 MHz and processed with Matlab codes (MathWorks, Natick, MA) to estimate attenuation coefficients using the spectral log difference method. The estimation was performed using an analysis bandwidth spanning from 4.0 to 9.0 MHz. The average value of the estimated ultrasonic attenuation coefficients was equal to 1.34 ± 0.15 dB/(cm.MHz). The standard deviation of the estimated average attenuation coefficient across different volunteers suggests a non-negligible inter-subject variability in the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient of the human thyroid.

Novel characterization method for fibrous materials using non-contact acoustics: material properties revealed by ultrasonic perturbations.

PubMed

Periyaswamy, Thamizhisai; Balasubramanian, Karthikeyan; Pastore, Christopher

2015-02-01

Fibrous materials are unique hierarchical complex structures exhibiting a range of mechanical, thermal, optical and electrical properties. The inherent discontinuity at micro and macro levels, heterogeneity and multi-scale porosity differentiates fibrous materials from other engineering materials that are typically continuum in nature. These structural complexities greatly influence the techniques and modalities that can be applied to characterize fibrous materials. Typically, the material response to an applied external force is measured and used as a characteristic number of the specimen. In general, a range of equipment is in use to obtain these numbers to signify the material properties. Nevertheless, obtaining these numbers for materials like fiber ensembles is often time consuming, destructive, and requires multiple modalities. It is hypothesized that the material response to an applied acoustic frequency would provide a robust alternative characterization mode for rapid and non-destructive material analysis. This research proposes applying air-coupled ultrasonic acoustics to characterize fibrous materials. Ultrasonic frequency waves transmitted through fibrous assemblies were feature extracted to understand the correlation between the applied frequency and the material properties. Mechanical and thermal characteristics were analyzed using ultrasonic features such as time of flight, signal velocity, power and the rate of attenuation of signal amplitude. Subsequently, these temporal and spectral characteristics were mapped with the standard low-stress mechanical and thermal properties via an empirical artificial intelligence engine. A high correlation of >0.92 (S.D. 0.06) was observed between the ultrasonic features and the standard measurements. The proposed ultrasonic technique can be used toward rapid characterization of dynamic behavior of flexible fibrous assemblies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Physical interpretation and development of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation techniques applied to the quantitative characterization of textile composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1994-01-01

In this Progress Report, we describe our continuing research activities concerning the development and implementation of advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods applied to the inspection and characterization of complex composite structures. We explore the feasibility of implementing medical linear array imaging technology as a viable ultrasonic-based nondestructive evaluation method to inspect and characterize complex materials. As an initial step toward the application of linear array imaging technology to the interrogation of a wide range of complex composite structures, we present images obtained using an unmodified medical ultrasonic imaging system of two epoxy-bonded aluminum plate specimens, each with intentionally disbonded regions. These images are compared with corresponding conventional ultrasonic contact transducer measurements in order to assess whether these images can detect disbonded regions and provide information regarding the nature of the disbonded region. We present a description of a standoff/delay fixture which has been designed, constructed, and implemented on a Hewlett-Packard SONOS 1500 medical imaging system. This standoff/delay fixture, when attached to a 7.5 MHz linear array probe, greatly enhances our ability to interrogate flat plate specimens. The final section of this Progress Report describes a woven composite plate specimen that has been specially machined to include intentional flaws. This woven composite specimen will allow us to assess the feasibility of applying linear array imaging technology to the inspection and characterization of complex textile composite materials. We anticipate the results of this on-going investigation may provide a step toward the development of a rapid, real-time, and portable method of ultrasonic inspection and characterization based on linear array technology.

Porosity Measurements and Analysis for Metal Additive Manufacturing Process Control.

PubMed

Slotwinski, John A; Garboczi, Edward J; Hebenstreit, Keith M

2014-01-01

Additive manufacturing techniques can produce complex, high-value metal parts, with potential applications as critical metal components such as those found in aerospace engines and as customized biomedical implants. Material porosity in these parts is undesirable for aerospace parts - since porosity could lead to premature failure - and desirable for some biomedical implants - since surface-breaking pores allows for better integration with biological tissue. Changes in a part's porosity during an additive manufacturing build may also be an indication of an undesired change in the build process. Here, we present efforts to develop an ultrasonic sensor for monitoring changes in the porosity in metal parts during fabrication on a metal powder bed fusion system. The development of well-characterized reference samples, measurements of the porosity of these samples with multiple techniques, and correlation of ultrasonic measurements with the degree of porosity are presented. A proposed sensor design, measurement strategy, and future experimental plans on a metal powder bed fusion system are also presented.

Porosity Measurements and Analysis for Metal Additive Manufacturing Process Control

PubMed Central

Slotwinski, John A; Garboczi, Edward J; Hebenstreit, Keith M

2014-01-01

Additive manufacturing techniques can produce complex, high-value metal parts, with potential applications as critical metal components such as those found in aerospace engines and as customized biomedical implants. Material porosity in these parts is undesirable for aerospace parts - since porosity could lead to premature failure - and desirable for some biomedical implants - since surface-breaking pores allows for better integration with biological tissue. Changes in a part’s porosity during an additive manufacturing build may also be an indication of an undesired change in the build process. Here, we present efforts to develop an ultrasonic sensor for monitoring changes in the porosity in metal parts during fabrication on a metal powder bed fusion system. The development of well-characterized reference samples, measurements of the porosity of these samples with multiple techniques, and correlation of ultrasonic measurements with the degree of porosity are presented. A proposed sensor design, measurement strategy, and future experimental plans on a metal powder bed fusion system are also presented. PMID:26601041

Differences between Adenosine Triphosphatases from Monocotylous and Dicotylous Plants.

PubMed

Sperk, G; Tuppy, H

1977-02-01

The mitochondrial membrane-bound ATPases of several plants were investigated. Two distinct types were encountered. The mitochondrial ATPases of castor bean (Ricinus communis var. Zanzibarensis, L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea, L.), and scarlet runner (Phaseolus coccineus, L.) were found to be inhibited by oligomycin, to have elevated molecular weights when separated from the organelles by ultrasonication and ammonium sulfate treatment and, subsequent to purification, to be cold-labile. On the other hand, mitochondria isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.), maize (Zea mays, L.), calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica, Spreng.), and onions (Allium cepa, L.) contain ATPases which, after ultrasonication of the organelles, were virtually insensitive to oligomycin and those molecular weights were as low as about 45,000; in the purified form they were resistant to storage in the cold. The plants whose mitochondria were of the first type, characterized by having ATPases similar to those of the mitochondria of animal tissues and bakers' yeast, belonged to the dicotyledons, whereas the mitochondria of the other type were found in monocotyledonous plants.

Anisotropy of the apparent frequency dependence of backscatter in formalin fixed human myocardium.

PubMed

Hall, C S; Verdonk, E D; Wickline, S A; Perez, J E; Miller, J G

1997-01-01

Measurements of the frequency dependence of ultrasonic backscatter are presented for specific angles of insonification for regions of infarcted and noninfarcted human myocardium. A 5-MHz transducer was used to insonify cylindrical cores taken from 7 noninfarcted regions and 12 infarcted regions of the left ventricular free wall of 6 formalin-fixed human hearts explanted because of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The dependence of apparent (uncompensated for diffraction effects and attenuation) backscatter on frequency was approximated by a power-law dependence, magnitude of B(f)2 = afn. Under ideal conditions in a lossless medium, the effect of not compensating for the effects of diffraction and attenuation leads to the value of n to be 2.0 for Rayleigh scatterers while the frequency dependence of the fully compensated backscatter coefficient would be f4. The value of n was determined over the frequency range, 3-7 MHz. Both nonifarcted and infarcted myocardium exhibited anisotropy of the frequency dependence of backscatter, with maxima occurring at angles that were perpendicular to the predominant myofiber direction and minima when parallel to the fibers. Perpendicular insonification yielded results for n of 1.8 +/- 0.1 for noninfarcted myocardium and 1.2 +/- 0.1 for infarcted myocardium while parallel insonification yielded results of 0.4 +/- 0.1 for noninfarcted and 0.0 +/- 0.1 for infarcted myocardium. The functional form of the angle-dependent backscatter is similar for both noninfarcted and infarcted myocardium, although the frequency dependence is clearly different for both tissue states for all angles of insonification. The results of this study indicate that the anisotropy of the frequency dependence of backscatter may play a significant role in ultrasonic imaging and is an important consideration for ultrasonic tissue characterization in myocardium.

New application system for laser and ultrasonic therapy in endoscopic surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desinger, Kai; Helfmann, Juergen; Stein, Thomas; Mueller, Gerhard J.

1996-12-01

Flexible acoustic waveguides for selective tissue fragmentation are not yet commercially available. Experimental studies have shown the possibility of transmission of acoustical transients via optical silica glass fibers. The aim of this project is the development of a new endoscopic application system that would enable surgeons to use the laser and the ultrasound technique for therapy simultaneously. The concept of this application system is based on the transmission of laser radiation and ultrasound power via flexible silica glass fibers. Theoretical and experimental results on the feasibility of such an application system for an ultrasonic power delivery system are presented. Piezo-electric transducers are used to provide a high efficiency in generating the ultrasonic power. With reference to the CUSA-technique, a special flexible guiding system has been designed for providing aspiration at the tip and for protection of the fiber. The system transmits via an optical fiber up to 100 Watt Nd:YAG laser radiation. The axial oscillation of the fiber tip is +/- micrometers at a frequency of 27 kHz. First results of in vitro experiments are presented. The parenchymatous cells of liver can be fragmented without destruction of the collagenous matrix. The laser can be optionally used to coagulate bleedings or to cut collagenous tissues in contact. Applications for an acoustical and optical waveguide in ultrasonic surgery are demonstrated. This new approach in developing a first application system for the therapeutical use of laser radiation and power ultrasound in minimal invasive surgery via optical waveguides offers new possibilities in surgery. The laser ultrasonic surgical therapy (LUST) with its thin and flexible applicator provides new working fields especially for neuro or liver surgery. The tip can be bent and thus areas which could not be treated before have now been made accessible. Without changing the instrumentation, the surgeon can use the laser for tissue coagulation or cutting, next to the selective ultrasonic tissue fragmentation, where nerves or vessels will not be affected. Such a LUST-application system could be ready for clinical use in two to four years.

Characterization of Dispersive Ultrasonic Rayleigh Surface Waves in Asphalt Concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

In, Chi-Won; Kim, Jin-Yeon; Jacobs, Laurence J.; Kurtis, Kimberly E.

2008-02-01

This research focuses on the application of ultrasonic Rayleigh surface waves to nondestructively characterize the mechanical properties and structural defects (non-uniformly distributed aggregate) in asphalt concrete. An efficient wedge technique is developed in this study to generate Rayleigh surface waves that is shown to be effective in characterizing Rayleigh waves in this highly viscoelastic (attenuating) and heterogeneous medium. Experiments are performed on an asphalt-concrete beam produced with uniformly distributed aggregate. Ultrasonic techniques using both contact and non-contact sensors are examined and their results are compared. Experimental results show that the wedge technique along with an air-coupled sensor appears to be effective in characterizing Rayleigh waves in asphalt concrete. Hence, measurement of theses material properties needs to be investigated in non-uniformly distributed aggregate material using these techniques.

Transfer function concept for ultrasonic characterization of material microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.; Kautz, H. E.

1986-01-01

The approach given depends on treating material microstructures as elastomechanical filters that have analytically definable transfer functions. These transfer functions can be defined in terms of the frequency dependence of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient. The transfer function concept provides a basis for synthesizing expressions that characterize polycrystalline materials relative to microstructural factors such as mean grain size, grain-size distribution functions, and grain boundary energy transmission. Although the approach is nonrigorous, it leads to a rational basis for combining the previously mentioned diverse and fragmented equations for ultrasonic attenuation coefficients.

Ear Scaffold Reconstruction Using Ultrasonic Aspirator for Cauliflower Ear.

PubMed

Hao, Scarlett; Angster, Kristen; Hubbard, Fleesie; Greywoode, Jewel; Vakharia, Kalpesh T

2018-04-01

Untreated auricular hematomas from ear trauma can result in an ear deformation known as cauliflower ear, secondary to fibrosis and new cartilage overgrowth. Cauliflower ear reconstruction has traditionally utilized tools such as a drill or a scalpel in order to improve auricular cosmesis. We present a case report utilizing an ultrasonic aspirator to recontour the fibrosed cartilage of a cauliflower ear. The ultrasonic aspirator has advantages over traditional tools in its ability to provide finely controlled bone removal without damage to surrounding soft tissue. The patient in this case report underwent multistage reconstruction using the ultrasonic aspirator with excellent cosmetic result and patient satisfaction.

Influence of Concentration and Agitation of Sodium Hypochlorite and Peracetic Acid Solutions on Tissue Dissolution.

PubMed

Tanomaru-Filho, Mário; Silveira, Bruna Ramos Franco; Martelo, Roberta Bosso; Guerreiro-Tanomaru, Juliane Maria

2015-11-01

To evaluated the tissue dissolution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and peracetic acid (PA) solutions at different concentrations, with or without ultrasonic agitation. The following solutions were analyzed: 2.5% NaOCl, 0.5, 1 and 2% PA, 1% PA associated with 6.5% hydrogen peroxide (HP) and saline. Fragments of bovine pulp tissue with 25 ± 2g mg were immersed into test tubes containing 4 mL of the solutions for 10 minutes. In the groups with agitation, pulp tissues were submitted to 2 cycles of 1 minute of ultrasonic agitation. The specimens were weighed after the removal from the solutions. The percentage of mass loss was calculated according to the difference of mass before and after exposure to solutions. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). A total of 2.5% NaOCl with or without agitation showed the higher tissue dissolution (between 64.5 and 67% of mass reduction) (p < 0.005). By comparing the PA solutions, the concentrations of 1 and 2% with or without agitation and the concentration of 0.5% with agitation showed similar dissolution activity (between 35.4 and 44% of mass reduction). The use of the ultrasonic agitation promoted an increase of the dissolution ability only for 0.5% PA. Peracetic acid solution has pulp tissue dissolution. However, this ability is lower than 2.5% NaOCl solution. The sodium hypochlorite solution shows higher ability to dissolve tissue than PA.

Detection of tissue coagulation by decorrelation of ultrasonic echo signals in cavitation-enhanced high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment.

PubMed

Yoshizawa, Shin; Matsuura, Keiko; Takagi, Ryo; Yamamoto, Mariko; Umemura, Shin-Ichiro

2016-01-01

A noninvasive technique to monitor thermal lesion formation is necessary to ensure the accuracy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. The purpose of this study is to ultrasonically detect the tissue change due to thermal coagulation in the HIFU treatment enhanced by cavitation microbubbles. An ultrasound imaging probe transmitted plane waves at a center frequency of 4.5 MHz. Ultrasonic radio-frequency (RF) echo signals during HIFU exposure at a frequency of 1.2 MHz were acquired. Cross-correlation coefficients were calculated between in-phase and quadrature (IQ) data of two B-mode images with an interval time of 50 and 500 ms for the estimation of the region of cavitation and coagulation, respectively. Pathological examination of the coagulated tissue was also performed to compare with the corresponding ultrasonically detected coagulation region. The distribution of minimum hold cross-correlation coefficient between two sets of IQ data with 50-ms intervals was compared with a pulse inversion (PI) image. The regions with low cross-correlation coefficients approximately corresponded to those with high brightness in the PI image. The regions with low cross-correlation coefficients in 500-ms intervals showed a good agreement with those with significant change in histology. The results show that the regions of coagulation and cavitation could be ultrasonically detected as those with low cross-correlation coefficients between RF frames with certain intervals. This method will contribute to improve the safety and accuracy of the HIFU treatment enhanced by cavitation microbubbles.

Composite Characterization Using Ultrasonic Wavefield Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leckey, Cara A. C.; Juarez, Peter D.; Seebo, Jeffrey P.

2016-01-01

The large-scale use of composite components in aerospace applications is expected to continue due to the benefits of composite materials, such as reduced weight, increased strength, and tailorability. NASA's Advanced Composites Project (ACP) has the goals of reducing the timeline for certification of composite materials and enabling the expanded use of advanced composite materials. A key technical challenge area for accomplishing these goals is the need for nondestructive evaluation and materials characterization techniques that are optimized for rapid inspection and detailed defect/damage characterization in composite materials. This presentation will discuss ongoing research investigating the use of ultrasonic wavefield techniques for the characterization of defects such as fiber waviness and delamination damage. Ongoing work includes the development of realistic ultrasonic simulation tools for use in predicting the inspectability of composites and optimizing inspection methodologies. Recent studies on detecting/characterizing delamination damage and fiber waviness via wavefield methods will be described.

Ultrasonic geometrical characterization of periodically corrugated surfaces.

PubMed

Liu, Jingfei; Declercq, Nico F

2013-04-01

Accurate characterization of the characteristic dimensions of a periodically corrugated surface using ultrasonic imaging technique is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The possibility of accurately characterizing the characteristic dimensions is discussed. The condition for accurate characterization and the quantitative relationship between the accuracy and its determining parameters are given. The strategies to avoid diffraction effects instigated by the periodical nature of a corrugated surface are also discussed. Major causes of erroneous measurements are theoretically discussed and experimentally illustrated. A comparison is made between the presented results and the optical measurements, revealing acceptable agreement. This work realistically exposes the capability of the proposed ultrasonic technique to accurately characterize the lateral and vertical characteristic dimensions of corrugated surfaces. Both the general principles developed theoretically as well as the proposed practical techniques may serve as useful guidelines to peers. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Method and apparatus to assess compartment syndrome

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hargens, Alan R. (Inventor); Yost, William T. (Inventor); Ueno, Toshiaki (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A method and apparatus for measuring pressure buildup in a body compartment that encases muscular tissue. The method includes assessing the body compartment configuration and identifying the effect of pulsatile components on at least one compartment dimension. This process is used in preventing tissue necrosis, and in decisions of whether to perform surgery on the body compartment for prevention of Compartment Syndrome. An apparatus is used for measuring excess pressure in the body compartment having components for imparting ultrasonic waves such as a transducer, placing the transducer to impart the ultrasonic waves, capturing the reflected imparted ultrasonic waves, and converting them to electrical signals, a pulsed phase-locked loop device for assessing a body compartment configuration and producing an output signal, and means for mathematically manipulating the output signal to thereby categorize pressure build-up in the body compartment from the mathematical manipulations.

High-resolution wave-theory-based ultrasound reflection imaging using the split-step fourier and globally optimized fourier finite-difference methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Lianjie

Methods for enhancing ultrasonic reflection imaging are taught utilizing a split-step Fourier propagator in which the reconstruction is based on recursive inward continuation of ultrasonic wavefields in the frequency-space and frequency-wave number domains. The inward continuation within each extrapolation interval consists of two steps. In the first step, a phase-shift term is applied to the data in the frequency-wave number domain for propagation in a reference medium. The second step consists of applying another phase-shift term to data in the frequency-space domain to approximately compensate for ultrasonic scattering effects of heterogeneities within the tissue being imaged (e.g., breast tissue). Resultsmore » from various data input to the method indicate significant improvements are provided in both image quality and resolution.« less

Quantitative ultrasound backscatter for pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy- histotripsy.

PubMed

Wang, Tzu-yin; Xu, Zhen; Winterroth, Frank; Hall, Timothy L; Fowlkes, J Brian; Rothman, Edward D; Roberts, William W; Cain, Charles A

2009-05-01

Histotripsy is a well-controlled ultrasonic tissue ablation technology that mechanically and progressively fractionates tissue structures using cavitation. The fractionated tissue volume can be monitored with ultrasound imaging because a significant ultrasound backscatter reduction occurs.This paper correlates the ultrasound backscatter reduction with the degree of tissue fractionation characterized by the percentage of remaining normal-appearing cell nuclei on histology.Different degrees of tissue fractionation were generated in vitro in freshly excised porcine kidneys by varying the number of therapeutic ultrasound pulses from 100 to 2000 pulses per treatment location. All ultrasound pulses were 15 cycles at 1 MHz delivered at 100 Hz pulse repetition frequency and 19 MPa peak negative pressure. The results showed that the normalized backscatter intensity decreased exponentially with increasing number of pulses. Correspondingly, the percentage of normal appearing nuclei in the treated area decreased exponentially as well. A linear correlation existed between the normalized backscatter intensity and the percentage of normal appearing cell nuclei in the treated region. This suggests that the normalized backscatter intensity may be a potential quantitative real-time feedback parameter for histotripsy-induced tissue fractionation. This quantitative feedback may allow the prediction of local clinical outcomes, i.e., when a tissue volume has been sufficiently treated.

Visualizing the movement of the contact between vocal folds during vibration by using array-based transmission ultrasonic glottography

PubMed Central

Jing, Bowen; Chigan, Pengju; Ge, Zhengtong; Wu, Liang; Wang, Supin; Wan, Mingxi

2017-01-01

For the purpose of noninvasively visualizing the dynamics of the contact between vibrating vocal fold medial surfaces, an ultrasonic imaging method which is referred to as array-based transmission ultrasonic glottography is proposed. An array of ultrasound transducers is used to detect the ultrasound wave transmitted from one side of the vocal folds to the other side through the small-sized contact between the vocal folds. A passive acoustic mapping method is employed to visualize and locate the contact. The results of the investigation using tissue-mimicking phantoms indicate that it is feasible to use the proposed method to visualize and locate the contact between soft tissues. Furthermore, the proposed method was used for investigating the movement of the contact between the vibrating vocal folds of excised canine larynges. The results indicate that the vertical movement of the contact can be visualized as a vertical movement of a high-intensity stripe in a series of images obtained by using the proposed method. Moreover, a visualization and analysis method, which is referred to as array-based ultrasonic kymography, is presented. The velocity of the vertical movement of the contact, which is estimated from the array-based ultrasonic kymogram, could reach 0.8 m/s during the vocal fold vibration. PMID:28599522

Ultrasonic characterization of porosity using the Kramers-Kronig relations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rose, J.H.; Hsu, D.K.; Adler, L.

1985-01-01

A new algorithm is proposed to determine the volume fraction of pores in solids using the frequency dependent ultrasonic attenuation. The algorithm was developed by examining the Kramers-Kronig relation between the porosity induced ultrasonic attenuation and the change in sound velocity. The method is tested using data measured for several porous aluminum samples.

High Resolution Anatomic and Elastographic Transrectal Ultrasound for Improved Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-02-01

Pesavento , A., and A. Lorenz., Real time strain imaging and in vivo applications in prostate cancer. In IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, l2, pp.1251-1253...hardening of tissue to increase contrast in elasticity imaging. In IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. 2: pp. 1833-1836, 2000. [6] Pesavento A, L.A., Ermert H

Modelling the attenuation in the ATHENA finite elements code for the ultrasonic testing of austenitic stainless steel welds.

PubMed

Chassignole, B; Duwig, V; Ploix, M-A; Guy, P; El Guerjouma, R

2009-12-01

Multipass welds made in austenitic stainless steel, in the primary circuit of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors, are characterized by an anisotropic and heterogeneous structure that disturbs the ultrasonic propagation and makes ultrasonic non-destructive testing difficult. The ATHENA 2D finite element simulation code was developed to help understand the various physical phenomena at play. In this paper, we shall describe the attenuation model implemented in this code to give an account of wave scattering phenomenon through polycrystalline materials. This model is in particular based on the optimization of two tensors that characterize this material on the basis of experimental values of ultrasonic velocities attenuation coefficients. Three experimental configurations, two of which are representative of the industrial welds assessment case, are studied in view of validating the model through comparison with the simulation results. We shall thus provide a quantitative proof that taking into account the attenuation in the ATHENA code dramatically improves the results in terms of the amplitude of the echoes. The association of the code and detailed characterization of a weld's structure constitutes a remarkable breakthrough in the interpretation of the ultrasonic testing on this type of component.

Effect of Stone Size and Composition on Ultrasonic Propulsion Ex Vivo.

PubMed

Janssen, Karmon M; Brand, Timothy C; Bailey, Michael R; Cunitz, Bryan W; Harper, Jonathan D; Sorensen, Mathew D; Dunmire, Barbrina

2018-01-01

To evaluate in more detail the effectiveness of a new designed more efficient ultrasonic propulsion for large stones and specific stone compositions in a tissue phantom model. In the first clinical trial of noninvasive ultrasonic propulsion, urinary stones of unknown compositions and sizes up to 10 mm were successfully repositioned. The study included 8- to 12-mm stones of 4 different primary compositions (calcium oxalate monohydrate, ammonium acid urate, calcium phosphate, and struvite) and a renal calyx phantom consisting of a 12 mm × 30 mm well in a 10-cm block of tissue-mimicking material. Primary outcome was the number of times a stone was expelled over 10 attempts, with ultrasonic propulsion burst duration varying from 0.5 seconds to 5 seconds. Overall success rate at expelling stones was 95%. All calcium oxalate monohydrate and ammonium acid urate stones were expelled 100% of the time. The largest stone (12 mm) became lodged within the 12-mm phantom calyx 25% of the time regardless of the burst duration. With the 0.5-second burst, there was insufficient energy to expel the heaviest stone (0.88 g), but there was sufficient energy at the longer burst durations. With a single burst, ultrasonic propulsion successfully moved most stones at least 3 cm and, regardless of size or composition, expelled them from the calyx. Ultrasonic propulsion is limited to the stones smaller than the calyceal space, and for each burst duration, related to maximum stone mass. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Effect of Stone Size and Composition on Ultrasonic Propulsion Ex Vivo

PubMed Central

Janssen, Karmon M.; Brand, Timothy C.; Bailey, Michael R.; Cunitz, Bryan W.; Harper, Jonathan D.; Sorensen, Mathew D.; Dunmire, Barbrina

2018-01-01

OBJECTIVE To evaluate in more detail the effectiveness of a new designed more efficient ultrasonic propulsion for large stones and specific stone compositions in a tissue phantom model. In the first clinical trial of noninvasive ultrasonic propulsion, urinary stones of unknown compositions and sizes up to 10 mm were successfully repositioned. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 8- to 12-mm stones of 4 different primary compositions (calcium oxalate monohydrate, ammonium acid urate, calcium phosphate, and struvite) and a renal calyx phantom consisting of a 12 mm × 30 mm well in a 10-cm block of tissue-mimicking material. Primary outcome was the number of times a stone was expelled over 10 attempts, with ultrasonic propulsion burst duration varying from 0.5 seconds to 5 seconds. RESULTS Overall success rate at expelling stones was 95%. All calcium oxalate monohydrate and ammonium acid urate stones were expelled 100% of the time. The largest stone (12 mm) became lodged within the 12-mm phantom calyx 25% of the time regardless of the burst duration. With the 0.5-second burst, there was insufficient energy to expel the heaviest stone (0.88 g), but there was sufficient energy at the longer burst durations. CONCLUSION With a single burst, ultrasonic propulsion successfully moved most stones at least 3 cm and, regardless of size or composition, expelled them from the calyx. Ultrasonic propulsion is limited to the stones smaller than the calyceal space, and for each burst duration, related to maximum stone mass. PMID:28964820

Nondestructive ultrasonic characterization of engineering materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, K.

1985-01-01

The development of an ultrasonic method for the nondestructive characterization of mechanical properties of engineering material is described. The method utilizes the nonlinearity parameter measurement which describes the anharmonic behavior of the solid through measurements of amplitudes of the fundamental and of the generated second harmonic ultrasonic waves. The nonlinearity parameter is also directly related to the acoustoelastic constant of the solid which can be determined by measuring the linear dependence of ultrasonic velocity on stress. A major advantage of measurements of the nonlinearity parameter over that of the acoustoelastic constant is that it may be determined without the application of stress on the material, which makes it more applicable for in-service nondestructive characterization. The relationships between the nonlinearity parameter of second-harmonic generation and the percentage of solid solution phase in engineering materials such as heat treatable aluminum alloys was established. The acoustoelastic constants are measured on these alloys for comparison and confirmation. A linear relationship between the nonlinearity parameter and the volume fraction of second phase precipitates in the alloys is indicated.

Ultrasonic NDE Simulation for Composite Manufacturing Defects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leckey, Cara A. C.; Juarez, Peter D.

2016-01-01

The increased use of composites in aerospace components is expected to continue into the future. The large scale use of composites in aerospace necessitates the development of composite-appropriate nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods to quantitatively characterize defects in as-manufactured parts and damage incurred during or post manufacturing. Ultrasonic techniques are one of the most common approaches for defect/damage detection in composite materials. One key technical challenge area included in NASA's Advanced Composite's Project is to develop optimized rapid inspection methods for composite materials. Common manufacturing defects in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites include fiber waviness (in-plane and out-of-plane), porosity, and disbonds; among others. This paper is an overview of ongoing work to develop ultrasonic wavefield based methods for characterizing manufacturing waviness defects. The paper describes the development and implementation of a custom ultrasound simulation tool that is used to model ultrasonic wave interaction with in-plane fiber waviness (also known as marcelling). Wavefield data processing methods are applied to the simulation data to explore possible routes for quantitative defect characterization.

Visualizing the Vibration of Laryngeal Tissue during Phonation Using Ultrafast Plane Wave Ultrasonography.

PubMed

Jing, Bowen; Tang, Shanshan; Wu, Liang; Wang, Supin; Wan, Mingxi

2016-12-01

Ultrafast plane wave ultrasonography is employed in this study to visualize the vibration of the larynx and quantify the vibration phase as well as the vibration amplitude of the laryngeal tissue. Ultrasonic images were obtained at 5000 to 10,000 frames/s in the coronal plane at the level of the glottis. Although the image quality degraded when the imaging mode was switched from conventional ultrasonography to ultrafast plane wave ultrasonography, certain anatomic structures such as the vocal folds, as well as the sub- and supraglottic structures, including the false vocal folds, can be identified in the ultrafast plane wave ultrasonic image. The periodic vibration of the vocal fold edge could be visualized in the recorded image sequence during phonation. Furthermore, a motion estimation method was used to quantify the displacement of laryngeal tissue from hundreds of frames of ultrasonic data acquired. Vibratory displacement waveforms of the sub- and supraglottic structures were successfully obtained at a high level of ultrasonic signal correlation. Moreover, statistically significant differences in vibration pattern between the sub- and supraglottic structures were found. Variation of vibration amplitude along the subglottic mucosal surface is significantly smaller than that along the supraglottic mucosal surface. Phase delay of vibration along the subglottic mucosal surface is significantly smaller than that along the supraglottic mucosal surface. Copyright © 2016 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Probabilistic-driven oriented Speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion with application to cardiac ultrasonic images.

PubMed

Vegas-Sanchez-Ferrero, G; Aja-Fernandez, S; Martin-Fernandez, M; Frangi, A F; Palencia, C

2010-01-01

A novel anisotropic diffusion filter is proposed in this work with application to cardiac ultrasonic images. It includes probabilistic models which describe the probability density function (PDF) of tissues and adapts the diffusion tensor to the image iteratively. For this purpose, a preliminary study is performed in order to select the probability models that best fit the stastitical behavior of each tissue class in cardiac ultrasonic images. Then, the parameters of the diffusion tensor are defined taking into account the statistical properties of the image at each voxel. When the structure tensor of the probability of belonging to each tissue is included in the diffusion tensor definition, a better boundaries estimates can be obtained instead of calculating directly the boundaries from the image. This is the main contribution of this work. Additionally, the proposed method follows the statistical properties of the image in each iteration. This is considered as a second contribution since state-of-the-art methods suppose that noise or statistical properties of the image do not change during the filter process.

High-speed time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) optical focusing inside dynamic scattering media at 793 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Lai, Puxiang; Ma, Cheng; Xu, Xiao; Suzuki, Yuta; Grabar, Alexander A.; Wang, Lihong V.

2014-03-01

Time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) optical focusing is an emerging technique that focuses light deep into scattering media by phase-conjugating ultrasonically encoded diffuse light. In previous work, the speed of TRUE focusing was limited to no faster than 1 Hz by the response time of the photorefractive phase conjugate mirror, or the data acquisition and streaming speed of the digital camera; photorefractive-crystal-based TRUE focusing was also limited to the visible spectral range. These time-consuming schemes prevent this technique from being applied in vivo, since living biological tissue has a speckle decorrelation time on the order of a millisecond. In this work, using a Tedoped Sn2P2S6 photorefractive crystal at a near-infrared wavelength of 793 nm, we achieved TRUE focusing inside dynamic scattering media having a speckle decorrelation time as short as 7.7 ms. As the achieved speed approaches the tissue decorrelation rate, this work is an important step forward toward in vivo applications of TRUE focusing in deep tissue imaging, photodynamic therapy, and optical manipulation.

Ultrasonic Non Linearity Characterization of the Stainless Steel Wire Reinforced Aluminium Composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, C. S.; Park, T. S.; Park, I. K.; Hyun, C. Y.

2009-03-01

The effectiveness of the ultrasonic nonlinearity measurement for nearly closed cracks was demonstrated for hot pressing and extrusion of stainless steel 304 short wire reinforced aluminum composite. Aluminum based composites show considerable potential in the aerospace industry and the automotive industry due to their high specific strength and low thermal expansion coefficient. The ultrasonic nonlinearity (β/β0) increased with the volume fraction of SSF and aging heat treatment because of the generation of microvoids resulted from localized SSF and matrix precipitation. This study demonstrates the potential for characterization of reinforced composite materials fabricated by the powder metallurgy technique.

A Simple Model for Nonlinear Confocal Ultrasonic Beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dong; Zhou, Lin; Si, Li-Sheng; Gong, Xiu-Fen

2007-01-01

A confocally and coaxially arranged pair of focused transmitter and receiver represents one of the best geometries for medical ultrasonic imaging and non-invasive detection. We develop a simple theoretical model for describing the nonlinear propagation of a confocal ultrasonic beam in biological tissues. On the basis of the parabolic approximation and quasi-linear approximation, the nonlinear Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov (KZK) equation is solved by using the angular spectrum approach. Gaussian superposition technique is applied to simplify the solution, and an analytical solution for the second harmonics in the confocal ultrasonic beam is presented. Measurements are performed to examine the validity of the theoretical model. This model provides a preliminary model for acoustic nonlinear microscopy.

MR-guided noninvasive thermal coagulation of in-vivo liver tissue using ultrasonic phased array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daum, Douglas R.; Smith, Nadine; McDannold, Nathan; Hynynen, Kullervo H.

1999-05-01

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to guide and monitor the thermal tissue coagulation of in vivo porcine tissue using a 256 element ultrasonic phased array. The array could coagulate tissue volumes greater than 2 cm3 in liver and 0.5 cm3 in kidney using a single 20 second sonication. This sonication used multiple focus fields which were temporally cycled to heat large tissue volumes simultaneously. Estimates of the coagulated tissue using a thermal dose threshold compare well with T2-weighted images of post sonication lesions. The overlapping large focal volumes could aid in the treatment of large tumor volumes which require multiple overlapping sonications. The ability of MR to detect the presence and undesirable thermal increases at acoustic obstacle such as cartilaginous and bony ribs is demonstrated. This could have a significant impact on the ability to monitor thermal treatments of the liver and other organs which are acoustically blocked.

Characterization of Olive Oil by Ultrasonic and Physico-chemical Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alouache, B.; Khechena, F. K.; Lecheb, F.; Boutkedjirt, T.

Olive oil excels by its nutritional and medicinal benefits. It can be consumed without any treatment. However, its quality can be altered by inadequate storage conditions or if it is mixed with other kinds of oils. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the ability of ultrasonic methods to characterize and control olive oil quality. By using of a transducer of 2.25 MHz nominal frequency, in pulse echo mode, ultrasonic parameters, such as propagation velocity and attenuation,have been measured for pure olive oil and for its mixtures with sunflower oil at different proportions. Mechanical properties, such as density and viscosity, have also been determined. The results of ultrasonic measurements are consistent with those obtained by physico-chemical methods, such as rancidity degree, acid index, UV specific extinction coefficient and viscosity. They show that the ultrasonic method allows to distinguish between mixtures at different proportions. The study allows concluding that ultrasound techniques can be considered as a useful complement to existing physico-chemical analysis techniques.

Characterization of TiN coating layers using ultrasonic backward radiation.

PubMed

Song, Sung-Jin; Yang, Dong-Joo; Kim, Hak-Joon; Kwon, Sung D; Lee, Young-Ze; Kim, Ji-Yoon; Choi, Song-Chun

2006-12-22

Since ceramic layers coated on machinery components inevitably experience the changes in their properties it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics of ceramic coating layers nondestructively for the reliable use of coated components and the remaining life prediction. To address such a need, in the present study, the ultrasonic backward radiation technique is applied to examine the very thin TiN ceramic layers coated on AISI 1045 steel or austenitic 304 steel substrate. Specifically, the ultrasonic backward radiation profiles have been measured with variations in specimen preparation conditions such as coating layer thickness and sliding loading. In the experiments performed in the current study, the peak angle and the peak amplitude of ultrasonic backward radiation profile varied sensitively according to two specimen preparation conditions. In fact, this result demonstrates a high possibility of the ultrasonic backward radiation as an effective tool for the nondestructive characterization of the TiN ceramic coating layers even in such a thin regime.

Ultrasound backscatter tensor imaging (BTI): analysis of the spatial coherence of ultrasonic speckle in anisotropic soft tissues.

PubMed

Papadacci, Clement; Tanter, Mickael; Pernot, Mathieu; Fink, Mathias

2014-06-01

The assessment of fiber architecture is of major interest in the progression of myocardial disease. Recent techniques such as magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) or ultrasound elastic tensor imaging (ETI) can derive the fiber directions by measuring the anisotropy of water diffusion or tissue elasticity, but these techniques present severe limitations in a clinical setting. In this study, we propose a new technique, backscatter tensor imaging (BTI), which enables determination of the fiber directions in skeletal muscles and myocardial tissues, by measuring the spatial coherence of ultrasonic speckle. We compare the results to ultrasound ETI. Acquisitions were performed using a linear transducer array connected to an ultrasonic scanner mounted on a motorized rotation device with angles from 0° to 355° by 5° increments to image ex vivo bovine skeletal muscle and porcine left ventricular myocardial samples. At each angle, multiple plane waves were transmitted and the backscattered echoes recorded. The coherence factor was measured as the ratio of coherent intensity over incoherent intensity of backscattered echoes. In skeletal muscle, maximal/minimal coherence factor was found for the probe parallel/perpendicular to the fibers. In myocardium, the coherence was assessed across the entire myocardial thickness, and the position of maxima and minima varied transmurally because of the complex fibers distribution. In ETI, the shear wave speed variation with the probe angle was found to follow the coherence variation. Spatial coherence can thus reveal the anisotropy of the ultrasonic speckle in skeletal muscle and myocardium. BTI could be used on any type of ultrasonic scanner with rotating phased-array probes or 2-D matrix probes for noninvasive evaluation of myocardial fibers.

Ultrasound Backscatter Tensor Imaging (BTI): Analysis of the spatial coherence of ultrasonic speckle in anisotropic soft tissues

PubMed Central

Papadacci, Clement; Tanter, Mickael; Pernot, Mathieu; Fink, Mathias

2014-01-01

The assessment of fiber architecture is of major interest in the progression of myocardial disease. Recent techniques such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) Diffusion Tensor Imaging or Ultrasound Elastic Tensor Imaging (ETI) can derive the fiber directions by measuring the anisotropy of water diffusion or tissue elasticity, but these techniques present severe limitations in clinical setting. In this study, we propose a new technique, the Backscatter Tensor Imaging (BTI) which enables determining the fibers directions in skeletal muscles and myocardial tissues, by measuring the spatial coherence of ultrasonic speckle. We compare the results to ultrasound ETI. Acquisitions were performed using a linear transducer array connected to an ultrasonic scanner mounted on a motorized rotation device with angles from 0° to 355° by 5° increments to image ex vivo bovine skeletal muscle and porcine left ventricular myocardial samples. At each angle, multiple plane waves were transmitted and the backscattered echoes recorded. The coherence factor was measured as the ratio of coherent intensity over incoherent intensity of backscattered echoes. In skeletal muscle, maximal/minimal coherence factor was found for the probe parallel/perpendicular to the fibers. In myocardium, the coherence was assessed across the entire myocardial thickness, and the position of maxima and minima varied transmurally due to the complex fibers distribution. In ETI, the shear wave speed variation with the probe angle was found to follow the coherence variation. Spatial coherence can thus reveal the anisotropy of the ultrasonic speckle in skeletal muscle and myocardium. BTI could be used on any type of ultrasonic scanner with rotative phased-array probes or 2-D matrix probes for non-invasive evaluation of myocardial fibers. PMID:24859662

Tumour cell dispersion by the ultrasonic aspirator during brain tumour resection.

PubMed

Preston, J K; Masciopinto, J; Salamat, M S; Badie, B

1999-10-01

Ultrasonic aspirators are commonly used to resect brain tumours because they allow safe, rapid and accurate removal of diseased tissue. Since ultrasonic aspirators generate a spray of aerosolized irrigating fluid around the instrument tip, we questioned whether this spray might contain viable tumours cells that could contribute to intraoperative spread of tumour fragments. To test this hypothesis, we collected the spray produced during the resection of nine brain tumours with an ultrasonic aspirator and semi-quantitatively analysed it for tumour presence. The aerosolized irrigation fluid was found to contain intact tumour cells or clumps of tumour cells in all nine instances, and there was a trend of increasing tumour cell dispersion with increasing ultrasonic aspiration times. Further examination is required to determine if this intraoperative dispersion of apparently viable tumour fragments contributes to local neoplasm recurrence.

Non Destructive Analysis of Fsw Welds using Ultrasonic Signal Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavan Kumar, T.; Prabhakar Reddy, P.

2017-08-01

Friction Stir Welding is an evolving metal joining technique and is mostly used in joining materials which cannot be easily joined by other available welding techniques. It is a technique which can be used for welding dissimilar materials also. The strength of the weld joint is determined by the way in which these material are mixing with each other, since we are not using any filler material for the welding process the intermixing has a significant importance. The complication with the friction stir welding process is that there are many process parameters which effect this intermixing process such as tool geometry, rotating speed of the tool, transverse speed etc., In this study an attempt is made to compare the material flow and weld quality of various weldments by changing the parameters. Ultrasonic signal Analysis is used to characterize the microstructure of the weldments. use of ultrasonic waves is a non destructive, accurate and fast way of characterization of microstructure. In this method the relationship between the ultrasonic measured parameters and microstructures are evaluated using background echo and backscattered signal process techniques. The ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements are dependent on the elastic modulus and any change in the microstructure is reflected in the ultrasonic velocity. An insight into material flow is essential to determine the quality of the weld. Hence an attempt is made in this study to know the relationship between tool geometry and the pattern of material flow and resulting weld quality the experiments are conducted to weld dissimilar aluminum alloys and the weldments are characterized using and ultra Sonic signal processing. Characterization is also done using Scanning Electron Microscopy. It is observed that there is a good correlation between the ultrasonic signal processing results and Scanning Electron Microscopy on the observed precipitates. Tensile tests and hardness tests are conducted on the weldments and compared for determining the weld quality.

Hot topics in biomedical ultrasound: ultrasound therapy and its integration with ultrasonic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Everbach, E. Carr

2005-09-01

Since the development of biomedical ultrasound imaging from sonar after WWII, there has been a clear divide between ultrasonic imaging and ultrasound therapy. While imaging techniques are designed to cause as little change as possible in the tissues through which ultrasound propagates, ultrasound therapy typically relies upon heating or acoustic cavitation to produce a desirable therapeutic effect. Concerns over the increasingly high acoustic outputs of diagnostic ultrasound scanners prompted the adoption of the Mechanical Index (MI) and Thermal Index (TI) in the early 1990s. Therapeutic applications of ultrasound, meanwhile, have evolved from deep tissue heating in sports medicine to include targeted drug delivery, tumor and plaque ablation, cauterization via high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and accelerated dissolution of blood clots. The integration of ultrasonic imaging and therapy in one device is just beginning, but the promise of improved patient outcomes is balanced by regulatory and practical impediments.

Evaluation of ultrasound techniques for brain injury detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mobley, Joel; Kasili, Paul M.; Norton, Stephen J.; Vo-Dinh, Tuan

1998-05-01

In this work, we examine the physics underlying wave propagation in the head to evaluate various ultrasonic transducers for use in a brian injury detection device. The results of measurements of the attenuation coefficient and phase velocity for ultrasonic propagation in samples of brain tissue and skull bone from sheep are presented. The material properties are then used to investigate the propagation of ultrasonic pressure fields in the head. The ultrasound fields for three different transducers are calculated for propagation in a simulated brain/skull model. The model is constructed using speed-of-sound and mass density values of the two tissue types. The impact of the attenuation on the ultrasound fields is then examined. Finally, the relevant points drawn from these discussions are summarized. We hope to minimize the confounding effects of the skull by using sub-MHz ultrasound while maintaining the necessary temporal and spatial resolution to successfully detect injury in the brain.

Nondestructive evaluation/characterization of composite materials and structures using the acousto-ultrasonic techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dos Reis, H. L. M.; Vary, A.

1988-01-01

This paper introduces the nature and the underlying rational of the acousto-ultrasonic stress wave factor technique and some of its applications to composite materials and structures. Furthermore, two examples of successful application of the acousto-ultrasonic technique are presented in detail. In the first example, the acousto-ultrasonic technique is used to evaluate the adhesive bond strength between rubber layers and steel plates, and in the seocnd example the tehcnique is used to monitor progressive damage in wire rope.

Nondestructive testing and characterization of residual stress field using an ultrasonic method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Wentao; Xu, Chunguang; Pan, Qinxue; Song, Jianfeng

2016-03-01

To address the difficulty in testing and calibrating the stress gradient in the depth direction of mechanical components, a new technology of nondestructive testing and characterization of the residual stress gradient field by ultrasonic method is proposed based on acoustoelasticity theory. By carrying out theoretical analysis, the sensitivity coefficients of different types of ultrasonic are obtained by taking the low carbon steel(12%C) as a research object. By fixing the interval distance between sending and receiving transducers, the mathematical expressions of the change of stress and the variation of time are established. To design one sending-one receiving and oblique incidence ultrasonic detection probes, according to Snell law, the critically refracted longitudinal wave (LCR wave) is excited at a certain depth of the fixed distance of the tested components. Then, the relationship between the depth of LCR wave detection and the center frequency of the probe in Q235 steel is obtained through experimental study. To detect the stress gradient in the depth direction, a stress gradient LCR wave detection model is established, through which the stress gradient formula is derived by the relationship between center frequency and detecting depth. A C-shaped stress specimen of Q235 steel is designed to conduct stress loading tests, and the stress is measured with the five group probes at different center frequencies. The accuracy of ultrasonic testing is verified by X-ray stress analyzer. The stress value of each specific depth is calculated using the stress gradient formula. Accordingly, the ultrasonic characterization of residual stress field is realized. Characterization results show that the stress gradient distribution is consistent with the simulation in ANSYS. The new technology can be widely applied in the detection of the residual stress gradient field caused by mechanical processing, such as welding and shot peening.

Micelles and Nanoparticles for Ultrasonic Drug and Gene Delivery

PubMed Central

Husseini, Ghaleb A.; Pitt, William G.

2008-01-01

Drug delivery research employing micelles and nanoparticles has expanded in recent years. Of particular interest is the use of these nanovehicles that deliver high concentrations of cytotoxic drugs to diseased tissues selectively, thus reducing the agent’s side effects on the rest of the body. Ultrasound, traditionally used in diagnostic medicine, is finding a place in drug delivery in connection with these nanoparticles. In addition to their non-invasive nature and the fact that they can be focused on targeted tissues, acoustic waves have been credited with releasing pharmacological agents from nanocarriers, as well as rendering cell membranes more permeable. In this article, we summarize new technologies that combine the use of nanoparticles with acoustic power both in drug and gene delivery. Ultrasonic drug delivery from micelles usually employs polyether block copolymers, and has been found effective in vivo for treating tumors. Ultrasound releases drug from micelles, most probably via shear stress and shock waves from collapse of cavitation bubbles. Liquid emulsions and solid nanoparticles are used with ultrasound to deliver genes in vitro and in vivo. The small packaging allows nanoparticles to extravasate into tumor tissues. Ultrasonic drug and gene delivery from nano-carriers has tremendous potential because of the wide variety of drugs and genes that could be delivered to targeted tissues by fairly non-invasive means. PMID:18486269

Acoustic microscopy analyses to determine good vs. failed tissue engineered oral mucosa under normal or thermally stressed culture conditions.

PubMed

Winterroth, Frank; Lee, Junho; Kuo, Shiuhyang; Fowlkes, J Brian; Feinberg, Stephen E; Hollister, Scott J; Hollman, Kyle W

2011-01-01

This study uses scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) ultrasonic profilometry to determine acceptable vs. failed tissue engineered oral mucosa. Specifically, ex vivo-produced oral mucosal equivalents (EVPOMEs) under normal or thermally stressed culture conditions were scanned with the SAM operator blinded to the culture conditions. As seeded cells proliferate, they fill in and smooth out the surface irregularities; they then stratify and produce a keratinized protective upper layer. Some of these transformations could alter backscatter of ultrasonic signals and in the case of the thermally stressed cells, produce backscatter similar to an unseeded device. If non-invasive ultrasonic monitoring could be developed, then tissue cultivation could be adjusted to measure biological variations in the stratified surface. To create an EVPOME device, oral mucosa keratinocytes were seeded onto acellular cadaveric dermis. Two sets of EVPOMEs were cultured: one at physiological temperature 37 °C and the other at 43 °C. The specimens were imaged with SAM consisting of a single-element transducer: 61 MHz center frequency, 32 MHz bandwidth, 1.52 f#. Profilometry for the stressed and unseeded specimens showed higher surface irregularities compared to unstressed specimens. Elevated thermal stress retards cellular differentiation, increasing root mean square values; these results show that SAM can potentially monitor cell/tissue development.

Gaussian process regression of chirplet decomposed ultrasonic B-scans of a simulated design case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wertz, John; Homa, Laura; Welter, John; Sparkman, Daniel; Aldrin, John

2018-04-01

The US Air Force seeks to implement damage tolerant lifecycle management of composite structures. Nondestructive characterization of damage is a key input to this framework. One approach to characterization is model-based inversion of the ultrasonic response from damage features; however, the computational expense of modeling the ultrasonic waves within composites is a major hurdle to implementation. A surrogate forward model with sufficient accuracy and greater computational efficiency is therefore critical to enabling model-based inversion and damage characterization. In this work, a surrogate model is developed on the simulated ultrasonic response from delamination-like structures placed at different locations within a representative composite layup. The resulting B-scans are decomposed via the chirplet transform, and a Gaussian process model is trained on the chirplet parameters. The quality of the surrogate is tested by comparing the B-scan for a delamination configuration not represented within the training data set. The estimated B-scan has a maximum error of ˜15% for an estimated reduction in computational runtime of ˜95% for 200 function calls. This considerable reduction in computational expense makes full 3D characterization of impact damage tractable.

A Finite-Element Method Model of Soft Tissue Response to Impulsive Acoustic Radiation Force

PubMed Central

Palmeri, Mark L.; Sharma, Amy C.; Bouchard, Richard R.; Nightingale, Roger W.; Nightingale, Kathryn R

2010-01-01

Several groups are studying acoustic radiation force and its ability to image the mechanical properties of tissue. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is one modality using standard diagnostic ultrasound scanners to generate localized, impulsive, acoustic radiation forces in tissue. The dynamic response of tissue is measured via conventional ultrasonic speckle-tracking methods and provides information about the mechanical properties of tissue. A finite-element method (FEM) model has been developed that simulates the dynamic response of tissues, with and without spherical inclusions, to an impulsive acoustic radiation force excitation from a linear array transducer. These FEM models were validated with calibrated phantoms. Shear wave speed, and therefore elasticity, dictates tissue relaxation following ARFI excitation, but Poisson’s ratio and density do not significantly alter tissue relaxation rates. Increased acoustic attenuation in tissue increases the relative amount of tissue displacement in the near field compared with the focal depth, but relaxation rates are not altered. Applications of this model include improving image quality, and distilling material and structural information from tissue’s dynamic response to ARFI excitation. Future work on these models includes incorporation of viscous material properties and modeling the ultrasonic tracking of displaced scatterers. PMID:16382621

Monitoring of renal ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits by ultrasonic contrast and its relationship with expression of VEGF in renal tissue.

PubMed

Hao, Peng

2016-02-01

To evaluate the renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in rabbits using the ultrasonic contrast technique and discuss the clinical value of ultrasonic contrast technique in the diagnosis of renal IRI by comparing the time-intensity curve of renal cortex and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of renal tissue. Twenty 3-month-old New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely Ctrl group, IRI-12 h, IRI-24 h and IRI-48 h groups. The two dimensional gray-scale ultrasonography was employed to determine and mark the position of rabbit kidney. Rabbits were given the intraperitoneal anesthesia with 20% urethane with the dosage of 5 mL/kg. The aseptic operation was performed after the local skin disinfection in the area of both kidneys. The right kidney of animals in the control group was excised without any treatment for the left kidney. After excising the right kidney of animals in groups of IRI-12 h, IRI-24 h and IRI-48 h, the aneurysm clip was used to clip the renal pedicle vessel of left kidney, in order to simulate the ischemia. Because of the tissue ischemia, it could be seen that the color of kidney was changed from bright red to dark red, which indicated the successful modeling of ischemia. The aneurysm clip was released after one hour of maintaining the ischemia. Then the kidney turned out to be bright red from dark red, which indicated that the reperfusion was completed. Taking this moment as the time of ischemia reperfusion, the wound was stitched up. A total of 12, 24 and 36 h after the operation, the two-dimensional and color Doppler flow imaging and ultrasonic contrast were employed for the examination. The dynamic changes of ultrasonic contrast were recorded. The quantitative analysis software (QontraXt) was adopted to analyze the time-intensity curve of echo at different positions of renal cortex. After the ultrasonic contrast testing, rabbits were put to death. The renal cortex tissue was isolated and the tissue RNA and total protein were extracted respectively. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to detect the VEGF and the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to measure the linear relationship between these two variables. The ultrasonic contrast could clearly reflect the process of IRI. The results of testing at mRNA and protein level indicated that the expression of VEGF in IRI groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the expression of VEGF was also increased by the time of reperfusion. There is the certain correlation between the expression of VEGF and process of IRI. The correlation coefficient between the ultrasonic contrast parameters of AT and TTP and the relative expression of VEGF is over 0.9, which indicates the relatively high correlation. But there is no significant difference in the change of perfusion peak intensity between groups, which has no correlation with the expression of VEGF. Copyright © 2016 Hainan Medical College. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Property and microstructural nonuniformity in the yttrium-barium-copper-oxide superconductor determined from electrical, magnetic, and ultrasonic measurements. Ph.D. Thesis - Case Western Reserve Univ.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.

1991-01-01

The purpose of this dissertation was the following: (1) to characterize the effect of pore fraction on a comprehensive set of electrical and magnetic properties for the yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) high temperature ceramic superconductor; and (2) to determine the viability of using a room-temperature, nondestructive characterization method to aid in the prediction of superconducting (cryogenic) properties. The latter involved correlating ultrasonic velocity measurements at room temperature with property-affecting pore fraction and oxygen content variations. The use of ultrasonic velocity for estimating pore fraction in YBCO is presented, and other polycrystalline materials are reviewed, modeled, and statistically analyzed. This provides the basis for using ultrasonic velocity to interrogate microstructure. The effect of pore fraction (0.10-0.25) on superconductor properties of YBCO samples was characterized. Spatial (within-sample) variations in microstructure and superconductor properties were investigated, and the effect of oxygen content on elastic behavior was examined. Experimental methods used included a.c. susceptibility, electrical, and ultrasonic velocity measurements. Superconductor properties measured included transition temperature, magnetic transition width, transport and magnetic critical current density, magnetic shielding, a.c. loss, and sharpness of the voltage-current characteristics. An ultrasonic velocity image constructed from measurements at 1mm increments across a YBCO sample revealed microstructural variations that correlated with variations in magnetic shielding and a.c. loss behavior. Destructive examination using quantitative image analysis revealed pore fraction to be the varying microstructural feature.

Fast Lamb wave energy shift approach using fully contactless ultrasonic system to characterize concrete structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ham, Suyun; Popovics, John S.

2015-03-01

Ultrasonic techniques provide an effective non-destructive evaluation (NDE) method to monitor concrete structures, but the need to perform rapid and accurate structural assessment requires evaluation of hundreds, or even thousands, of measurement datasets. Use of a fully contactless ultrasonic system can save time and labor through rapid implementation, and can enable automated and controlled data acquisition, for example through robotic scanning. Here we present results using a fully contactless ultrasonic system. This paper describes our efforts to develop a contactless ultrasonic guided wave NDE approach to detect and characterize delamination defects in concrete structures. The developed contactless sensors, controlled scanning system, and employed Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) signal processing scheme are reviewed. Then a guided wave interpretation approach for MASW data is described. The presence of delamination is interpreted by guided plate wave (Lamb wave) behavior, where a shift in excited Lamb mode phase velocity, is monitored. Numerically simulated and experimental ultrasonic data collected from a concrete sample with simulated delamination defects are presented, where the occurrence of delamination is shown to be associated with a mode shift in Lamb wave energy.

Ultrasonic characterization of damage in a simulated CF-18 composite structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McRae, K. I.; Finlayson, R. D.; Sturrock, W. R.; Liesch, D. S.

1993-02-01

A simulated CF-18 aircraft door component was constructed and subjected to treatment during manufacturing with the object of inducing damage in the composite material in a known and well-defined manner. The simulated component was then sent to participants in a nondestructive evaluation study. Results are reported for tests conducted with a scanning apparatus and data acquisition system which consisted of three components: ultrasonic transducer and scanner comprising a two-axis scanning frame to which a modified commercial transducer was attached; an acquisition system for ultrasonic data known as Signal Processing Ultrasonic Device (SPUD); and a data analysis and display system (DETECT/NDE) specifically designed to manipulate large three dimensional ultrasonic data sets. A series of five large-area scans was performed, each scan about 52 cm square. A total of eight regions of interest were identified for a more detailed analysis of the delamination damage, seven detailed scans covering a 13-cm square and one covering a 20.8-cm square. It was often possible to identify the probable source of the damage as that resulting from impact or caused by overloading of fasteners. Flaws of all significant dimensions were located and fully characterized using the ultrasonic procedure.

Ultrahigh Frequency (100 MHz–300 MHz) Ultrasonic Transducers for Optical Resolution Medical Imagining

PubMed Central

Fei, Chunlong; Chiu, Chi Tat; Chen, Xiaoyang; Chen, Zeyu; Ma, Jianguo; Zhu, Benpeng; Shung, K. Kirk; Zhou, Qifa

2016-01-01

High resolution ultrasonic imaging requires high frequency wide band ultrasonic transducers, which produce short pulses and highly focused beam. However, currently the frequency of ultrasonic transducers is limited to below 100 MHz, mainly because of the challenge in precise control of fabrication parameters. This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of sensitive broadband lithium niobate (LiNbO3) single element ultrasonic transducers in the range of 100–300 MHz, as well as their applications in high resolution imaging. All transducers were built for an f-number close to 1.0, which was achieved by press-focusing the piezoelectric layer into a spherical curvature. Characterization results demonstrated their high sensitivity and a −6 dB bandwidth greater than 40%. Resolutions better than 6.4 μm in the lateral direction and 6.2 μm in the axial direction were achieved by scanning a 4 μm tungsten wire target. Ultrasonic biomicroscopy images of zebrafish eyes were obtained with these transducers which demonstrate the feasibility of high resolution imaging with a performance comparable to optical resolution. PMID:27329379

Characterization of Aging Behavior in M250 Grade Maraging Steel Using Ultrasonic Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajkumar, K. V.; Kumar, Anish; Jayakumar, T.; Raj, Baldev; Ray, K. K.

2007-02-01

Ultrasonic measurements have been carried out in M250 grade maraging steel specimens subjected to solution annealing at 1093 K for 1 hour followed by aging at 755 K for various durations in the range of 0.25 to 100 hours. The influence of aging on microstructure, room temperature hardness, and ultrasonic parameters (longitudinal and shear wave velocities and Poisson’s ratio) has been studied in order to derive correlations among these parameters in aged M250 maraging steel. Both hardness and ultrasonic velocities exhibit almost similar behaviors with aging time. They increase with the precipitation of intermetallic phases, Ni3Ti and Fe2Mo, and decrease with the reversion of martensite to austenite. Ultrasonic shear wave velocity is found to be more influenced by the precipitation of intermetallic phases, whereas longitudinal wave velocity is influenced more by the reversion of martensite to austenite. Unlike hardness and ultrasonic velocities, the Poisson’s ratio exhibits a monotonous decrease with aging time and, hence, can be used for unambiguous monitoring of the aging process in M250 maraging steel. Further, none of the parameters, i.e., hardness, ultrasonic velocity, or Poisson’s ratio, alone could identify the initiation of the reversion of austenite at early stage; however, the same could be identified from the correlation between ultrasonic velocity and Poisson’s ratio, indicating the advantage of using the multiparametric approach for comprehensive characterization of complex aging behavior in M250 grade maraging steel.

Concepts and techniques for ultrasonic evaluation of material mechanical properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.

1980-01-01

Ultrasonic methods that can be used for material strength are reviewed. Emergency technology involving advanced ultrasonic techniques and associated measurements is described. It is shown that ultrasonic NDE is particularly useful in this area because it involves mechanical elastic waves that are strongly modulated by morphological factors that govern mechanical strength and also dynamic failure modes. These aspects of ultrasonic NDE are described in conjunction with advanced approaches and theoretical concepts for signal acquisition and analysis for materials characterization. It is emphasized that the technology is in its infancy and that much effort is still required before the techniques and concepts can be transferred from laboratory to field conditions.

Ultrasonic measurements of surface defects on flexible circuits using high-frequency focused polymer transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagle, Sanat; Habib, Anowarul; Melandsø, Frank

2017-07-01

High-frequency transducers made from a layer-by-layer deposition method are investigated as transducers for ultrasonic imaging. Prototypes of adhesive-free transducers with four active elements were made on a high-performance poly(ether imide) substrate with precision milled spherical cavities used to produce focused ultrasonic beams. The transducer prototypes were characterized using a pulse-echo experimental setup in a water tank using a glass plate as a reflector. Then, transducer was used in a three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning tank, to produce high-resolution ultrasonic images of flexible electronic circuits with the aim to detect defects in the outermost cover layer.

Photoacoustic tomography of foreign bodies in soft biological tissue.

PubMed

Cai, Xin; Kim, Chulhong; Pramanik, Manojit; Wang, Lihong V

2011-04-01

In detecting small foreign bodies in soft biological tissue, ultrasound imaging suffers from poor sensitivity (52.6%) and specificity (47.2%). Hence, alternative imaging methods are needed. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging takes advantage of strong optical absorption contrast and high ultrasonic resolution. A PA imaging system is employed to detect foreign bodies in biological tissues. To achieve deep penetration, we use near-infrared light ranging from 750 to 800 nm and a 5-MHz spherically focused ultrasonic transducer. PA images were obtained from various targets including glass, wood, cloth, plastic, and metal embedded more than 1 cm deep in chicken tissue. The locations and sizes of the targets from the PA images agreed well with those of the actual samples. Spectroscopic PA imaging was also performed on the objects. These results suggest that PA imaging can potentially be a useful intraoperative imaging tool to identify foreign bodies.

The power of sound: miniaturized medical implants with ultrasonic links

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Max L.; Chang, Ting Chia; Charthad, Jayant; Weber, Marcus J.; Arbabian, Amin

2017-05-01

Miniaturized wirelessly powered implants capable of operating and communicating deep in the body are necessary for the next-generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. A major challenge in developing these minimally invasive implants is the tradeoff between device size, functionality, and operating depth. Here, we review two different wireless powering methods, inductive and ultrasonic power transfer, examine how to analyze their power transfer efficiency, and evaluate their potential for powering implantable medical devices. In particular, we show how ultrasonic wireless power transfer can address these challenges due to its safety, low attenuation, and millimeter wavelengths in the body. Finally, we demonstrate two ultrasonically powered implants capable of active power harvesting and bidirectional communication for closed-loop operation while functioning through multiple centimeters of tissue.

Relationship between tissue tension and thermal diffusion to peripheral tissue using an energy device.

PubMed

Kondo, Akihiro; Nishizawa, Yuji; Ito, Masaaki; Saito, Norio; Fujii, Satoshi; Akamoto, Shintaro; Fujiwara, Masao; Okano, Keiichi; Suzuki, Yasuyuki

2016-08-01

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between tissue tension and thermal diffusion to peripheral tissues using an electric scalpel, ultrasonically activated device, or a bipolar sealing system. The mesentery of pigs was excised with each energy device (ED) at three tissue tensions (0, 300, 600 g). The excision time and thermal diffusion area were monitored with thermography, measured for each ED, and then histologically examined. Correlations between tissue tension and thermal diffusion area were examined. The excision time was inversely correlated with tissue tension for all ED (electric scalpel, r = 0.718; ultrasonically activated device, r = 0.949; bipolar sealing system, r = 0.843), and tissue tension was inversely correlated with the thermal diffusion area with the electric scalpel (r = 0.718) and bipolar sealing system (r = 0.869). Histopathologically, limited deep thermal denaturation occurred at a tension of 600 g with all ED. We conclude that thermal damage can be avoided with adequate tissue tension when any ED is used. © 2016 Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery, Asia Endosurgery Task Force and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Functional and morphological ultrasonic biomicroscopy for tissue engineers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallidi, S.; Aglyamov, S. R.; Karpiouk, A. B.; Park, S.; Emelianov, S. Y.

2006-03-01

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines various aspects of engineering and life sciences and aims to develop biological substitutes to restore, repair or maintain tissue function. Currently, the ability to have quantitative functional assays of engineered tissues is limited to existing invasive methods like biopsy. Hence, an imaging tool for non-invasive and simultaneous evaluation of the anatomical and functional properties of the engineered tissue is needed. In this paper we present an advanced in-vivo imaging technology - ultrasound biomicroscopy combined with complementary photoacoustic and elasticity imaging techniques, capable of accurate visualization of both structural and functional changes in engineered tissues, sequential monitoring of tissue adaptation and/or regeneration, and possible assistance of drug delivery and treatment planning. The combined imaging at microscopic resolution was evaluated on tissue mimicking phantoms imaged with 25 MHz single element focused transducer. The results of our study demonstrate that the ultrasonic, photoacoustic and elasticity images synergistically complement each other in detecting features otherwise imperceptible using the individual techniques. Finally, we illustrate the feasibility of the combined ultrasound, photoacoustic and elasticity imaging techniques in accurately assessing the morphological and functional changes occurring in engineered tissue.

Enhancement of photoacoustic tomography by ultrasonic computed tomography based on optical excitation of elements of a full-ring transducer array.

PubMed

Xia, Jun; Huang, Chao; Maslov, Konstantin; Anastasio, Mark A; Wang, Lihong V

2013-08-15

Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is a hybrid technique that combines optical excitation and ultrasonic detection to provide high-resolution images in deep tissues. In the image reconstruction, a constant speed of sound (SOS) is normally assumed. This assumption, however, is often not strictly satisfied in deep tissue imaging, due to acoustic heterogeneities within the object and between the object and the coupling medium. If these heterogeneities are not accounted for, they will cause distortions and artifacts in the reconstructed images. In this Letter, we incorporated ultrasonic computed tomography (USCT), which measures the SOS distribution within the object, into our full-ring array PACT system. Without the need for ultrasonic transmitting electronics, USCT was performed using the same laser beam as for PACT measurement. By scanning the laser beam on the array surface, we can sequentially fire different elements. As a first demonstration of the system, we studied the effect of acoustic heterogeneities on photoacoustic vascular imaging. We verified that constant SOS is a reasonable approximation when the SOS variation is small. When the variation is large, distortion will be observed in the periphery of the object, especially in the tangential direction.

Laparoscopic ablation of endometriosis using the cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator.

PubMed

Vasquez, J M; Eisenberg, E; Osteen, K G; Hickerson, D; Diamond, M P

1993-11-01

Surgical modalities such as electrosurgery and lasers have been used for many years to treat endometriosis. They are relatively unselective with wide scatter, however, leading to the potential for significant tissue damage and injury. As an alternative, a technique for performing laparoscopic excision and adhesiolysis using a cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) was developed and studied in 15 patients. Endometriosis was removed using a prototype titanium probe developed for a 10-mm laparoscopic port. The ultrasonic laparoscopic probe consisted of an acoustic vibrator, a coupling device, a removable tip, and a protective flue. Vibrations from the acoustic vibrator (magnetostrictive device) were conveyed to the operating tip through a coupling piece. The magnetostrictive device consisted of nickel alloy laminations 10.8 cm in length that transformed electrical energy into mechanical motion at the hollow titanium tip, vibrating at a frequency of 23 kHz. The excursion of the tip (amplitude setting) was arbitrarily set, with a fixed stroke of 200 microm in all cases to remove tissue with a 1- to 2-mm radius of the vibrating tip. The tip was tapered to obtain greater amplitude and ablation efficiency. When placed in contact with the endometriotic implants and adhesions, it destroyed and emulsified the cell membranes, which were irrigated and removed through a built-in suction tube. The resulting debris and irrigating fluid were removed through the hollow central portion of the probe. The vibrating tip was moved over the surgical site in a back-and-forth motion to allow continuous, controlled removal. Vessels larger than 0.5 mm in diameter, nerves, and fibrous tissue capsules rebounded with the ultrasonic vibration waves emitted by the CUSA, and thus were unimpaired by the procedure. The consistency of tissues was sensed accurately when the tip of the device was in contact with them. This tactile feedback was helpful in enabling the surgeon to differentiate target tissues. The future application of this instrument awaits the outcome of research.

Deep tissue optical focusing and optogenetic modulation with time-reversed ultrasonically encoded light

PubMed Central

Ruan, Haowen; Brake, Joshua; Robinson, J. Elliott; Liu, Yan; Jang, Mooseok; Xiao, Cheng; Zhou, Chunyi; Gradinaru, Viviana; Yang, Changhuei

2017-01-01

Noninvasive light focusing deep inside living biological tissue has long been a goal in biomedical optics. However, the optical scattering of biological tissue prevents conventional optical systems from tightly focusing visible light beyond several hundred micrometers. The recently developed wavefront shaping technique time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing enables noninvasive light delivery to targeted locations beyond the optical diffusion limit. However, until now, TRUE focusing has only been demonstrated inside nonliving tissue samples. We present the first example of TRUE focusing in 2-mm-thick living brain tissue and demonstrate its application for optogenetic modulation of neural activity in 800-μm-thick acute mouse brain slices at a wavelength of 532 nm. We found that TRUE focusing enabled precise control of neuron firing and increased the spatial resolution of neuronal excitation fourfold when compared to conventional lens focusing. This work is an important step in the application of TRUE focusing for practical biomedical uses. PMID:29226248

FABRICA: A Bioreactor Platform for Printing, Perfusing, Observing, & Stimulating 3D Tissues.

PubMed

Smith, Lester J; Li, Ping; Holland, Mark R; Ekser, Burcin

2018-05-15

We are introducing the FABRICA, a bioprinter-agnostic 3D-printed bioreactor platform designed for 3D-bioprinted tissue construct culture, perfusion, observation, and analysis. The computer-designed FABRICA was 3D-printed with biocompatible material and used for two studies: (1) Flow Profile Study: perfused 5 different media through a synthetic 3D-bioprinted construct and ultrasonically analyzed the flow profile at increasing volumetric flow rates (VFR); (2) Construct Perfusion Study: perfused a 3D-bioprinted tissue construct for a week and compared histologically with a non-perfused control. For the flow profile study, construct VFR increased with increasing pump VFR. Water and other media increased VFR significantly while human and pig blood showed shallow increases. For the construct perfusion study, we confirmed more viable cells in perfused 3D-bioprinted tissue compared to control. The FABRICA can be used to visualize constructs during 3D-bioprinting, incubation, and to control and ultrasonically analyze perfusion, aseptically in real-time, making the FABRICA tunable for different tissues.

Stimulated Raman photoacoustic imaging

PubMed Central

Yakovlev, Vladislav V.; Zhang, Hao F.; Noojin, Gary D.; Denton, Michael L.; Thomas, Robert J.; Scully, Marlan O.

2010-01-01

Achieving label-free, molecular-specific imaging with high spatial resolution in deep tissue is often considered the grand challenge of optical imaging. To accomplish this goal, significant optical scattering in tissues has to be overcome while achieving molecular specificity without resorting to extrinsic labeling. We demonstrate the feasibility of developing such an optical imaging modality by combining the molecularly specific stimulated Raman excitation with the photoacoustic detection. By employing two ultrashort excitation laser pulses, separated in frequency by the vibrational frequency of a targeted molecule, only the specific vibrational level of the target molecules in the illuminated tissue volume is excited. This targeted optical absorption generates ultrasonic waves (referred to as stimulated Raman photoacoustic waves) which are detected using a traditional ultrasonic transducer to form an image following the design of the established photoacoustic microscopy. PMID:21059930

Three-Dimensional Model of the Scatterer Distribution in Cirrhotic Liver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Nakamura, Keigo; Hachiya, Hiroyuki

2003-05-01

Ultrasonic B-mode images are affected by changes in scatterer distribution. It is hard to estimate the relationship between the ultrasonic image and the tissue structure quantitatively because we cannot observe the continuous stages of liver cirrhosis tissue clinically, particularly the beginning stage. In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional modeling method of scatterer distribution for normal and cirrhotic livers to confirm the influence of the change in the form of scatterer distribution on echo information. The algorithm of the method includes parameters which determine the expansion of nodules and fibers. Using the B-mode images which are obtained from these scatterer distributions, we analyze the relationship between the changes in the form of biological tissue and the changes in the B-mode images during progressive liver cirrhosis.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques Applied to the Quantitative Characterization of Textile Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1998-01-01

An overall goal of this research has been to enhance our understanding of the scientific principles necessary to develop advanced ultrasonic nondestructive techniques for the quantitative characterization of advanced composite structures. To this end, we have investigated a thin woven composite (5-harness biaxial weave). We have studied the effects that variations of the physical parameters of the experimental setup can have on the ultrasonic determination of the material properties for this thin composite. In particular, we have considered the variation of the nominal center frequency and the f-number of the transmitting transducer which in turn address issues such as focusing and beam spread of ultrasonic fields. This study has employed a planar, two-dimensional, receiving pseudo-array that has permitted investigation of the diffraction patterns of ultrasonic fields. Distortion of the ultrasonic field due to the spatial anisotropy of the thin composite has prompted investigation of the phenomenon of phase cancellation at the face of a finite-aperture, piezoelectric receiver. We have performed phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive analyses to provide a measure of the amount of phase cancellation at the face of a finite-aperture, piezoelectric receiver. The pursuit of robust measurements of received energy (i.e., those not susceptible to phase cancellation at the face of a finite-aperture, piezoelectric receiver) supports the development of robust techniques to determine material properties from measure ultrasonic parameters.

Quantitative ultrasonic evaluation of engineering properties in metals, composites and ceramics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.

1980-01-01

Ultrasonic technology from the perspective of nondestructive evaluation approaches to material strength prediction and property verification is reviewed. Emergent advanced technology involving quantitative ultrasonic techniques for materials characterization is described. Ultrasonic methods are particularly useful in this area because they involve mechanical elastic waves that are strongly modulated by the same morphological factors that govern mechanical strength and dynamic failure processes. It is emphasized that the technology is in its infancy and that much effort is still required before all the available techniques can be transferred from laboratory to industrial environments.

Flaw characterization through nonlinear ultrasonics and wavelet cross-correlation algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bunget, Gheorghe; Yee, Andrew; Stewart, Dylan; Rogers, James; Henley, Stanley; Bugg, Chris; Cline, John; Webster, Matthew; Farinholt, Kevin; Friedersdorf, Fritz

2018-04-01

Ultrasonic measurements have become increasingly important non-destructive techniques to characterize flaws found within various in-service industrial components. The prediction of remaining useful life based on fracture analysis depends on the accurate estimation of flaw size and orientation. However, amplitude-based ultrasonic measurements are not able to estimate the plastic zones that exist ahead of crack tips. Estimating the size of the plastic zone is an advantage since some flaws may propagate faster than others. This paper presents a wavelet cross-correlation (WCC) algorithm that was applied to nonlinear analysis of ultrasonically guided waves (GW). By using this algorithm, harmonics present in the waveforms were extracted and nonlinearity parameters were used to indicate both the tip of the cracks and size of the plastic zone. B-scans performed with the quadratic nonlinearities were sensitive to micro-damage specific to plastic zones.

Ultrasonic non invasive techniques for microbiological instrumentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elvira, L.; Sierra, C.; Galán, B.; Resa, P.

2010-01-01

Non invasive techniques based on ultrasounds have advantageous features to study, characterize and monitor microbiological and enzymatic reactions. These processes may change the sound speed, viscosity or particle distribution size of the medium where they take place, which makes possible their analysis using ultrasonic techniques. In this work, two different systems for the analysis of microbiological liquid media based on ultrasounds are presented. In first place, an industrial application based on an ultrasonic monitoring technique for microbiological growth detection in milk is shown. Such a system may improve the quality control strategies in food production factories, being able to decrease the time required to detect possible contaminations in packed products. Secondly, a study about the growing of the Escherichia coli DH5 α in different conditions is presented. It is shown that the use of ultrasonic non invasive characterization techniques in combination with other conventional measurements like optical density provides complementary information about the metabolism of these bacteria.

Construction of Reference Data for Tissue Characterization of Arterial Wall Based on Elasticity Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inagaki, Jun; Hasegawa, Hideyuki; Kanai, Hiroshi; Ichiki, Masataka; Tezuka, Fumiaki

2005-06-01

Previously, we developed the phased tracking method [H. Kanai et al.: IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 43 (1996) 791] for measuring the minute change in thickness during one heartbeat and the elasticity of the arterial wall. By comparing pathological images with elasticity images measured with ultrasound, elasticity distributions for respective tissues in the arterial wall were determined. We have already measured the elasticity distributions for lipids and fibrous tissues (mixtures of smooth-muscle and collagen fiber) [H. Kanai et al.: Circulation 107 (2003) 3018]. In this study, elasticity distributions were measured for blood clots and calcified tissues. We discuss whether these elasticity distributions, which were measuerd in vitro, can be used as reference data for classifying cross-sectional elasticity images measured in vivo into respective tissues. In addition to the measurement of elasticity distributions, correlations between collagen content and elasticity were investigated with respect to fibrous tissue to estimate the collagen and smooth-muscle content based on elasticity. Collagen and smooth-muscle content may be important factors in determining the stability of the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, correlations between elasticity and elements of the tissue in the arterial wall may provide useful information for the noninvasive diagnosis of plaque vulnerability.

Quantitative Ultrasound Backscatter for Pulsed Cavitational Ultrasound Therapy—Histotripsy

PubMed Central

Wang, Tzu-Yin; Xu, Zhen; Winterroth, Frank; Hall, Timothy L.; Fowlkes, J. Brian; Rothman, Edward D.; Roberts, William W.; Cain, Charles A.

2011-01-01

Histotripsy is a well-controlled ultrasonic tissue ablation technology that mechanically and progressively fractionates tissue structures using cavitation. The fractionated tissue volume can be monitored with ultrasound imaging because a significant ultrasound backscatter reduction occurs. This paper correlates the ultrasound backscatter reduction with the degree of tissue fractionation characterized by the percentage of remaining normal-appearing cell nuclei on histology. Different degrees of tissue fractionation were generated in vitro in freshly excised porcine kidneys by varying the number of therapeutic ultrasound pulses from 100 to 2000 pulses per treatment location. All ultrasound pulses were 15 cycles at 1 MHz delivered at 100 Hz pulse repetition frequency and 19 MPa peak negative pressure. The results showed that the normalized backscatter intensity decreased exponentially with increasing number of pulses. Correspondingly, the percentage of normal appearing nuclei in the treated area decreased exponentially as well. A linear correlation existed between the normalized backscatter intensity and the percentage of normal appearing cell nuclei in the treated region. This suggests that the normalized backscatter intensity may be a potential quantitative real-time feedback parameter for histotripsy-induced tissue fractionation. This quantitative feedback may allow the prediction of local clinical outcomes, i.e., when a tissue volume has been sufficiently treated. PMID:19750596

Destruction of giant cluster-like vesicles by an ultrasonically activated device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yahagi, Ryosuke; Yoshida, Kenji; Zhang, Yiting; Ebata, Masahiko; Toyota, Taro; Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Hayashi, Hideki

2016-07-01

In this paper, we propose a technically simple method of destroying a tissue marker composed of giant cluster-like vesicles (GCVs) to facilitate laparoscopic surgeries; the method releases various biological tracers contained in GCVs. An ultrasonically activated device (USAD) emitting 55.5 kHz ultrasound was employed for this purpose. Optical microscopy and fluorospectrophotometry revealed the destruction of GCVs after ultrasound irradiation when the blade tip was set 1.0 mm or closer to, but not directly in contact with, a GCV-containing cell. This means that USAD could be safely used for destroying this GCV tissue marker in clinical settings.

Characterization of the acoustic field generated by a horn shaped ultrasonic transducer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, B.; Lerch, J. E.; Chavan, A. H.; Weber, J. K. R.; Tamalonis, A.; Suthar, K. J.; DiChiara, A. D.

2017-09-01

A horn shaped Langevin ultrasonic transducer used in a single axis levitator was characterized to better understand the role of the acoustic profile in establishing stable traps. The method of characterization included acoustic beam profiling performed by raster scanning an ultrasonic microphone as well as finite element analysis of the horn and its interface with the surrounding air volume. The results of the model are in good agreement with measurements and demonstrate the validity of the approach for both near and far field analyses. Our results show that this style of transducer produces a strong acoustic beam with a total divergence angle of 10°, a near-field point close to the transducer surface and a virtual sound source. These are desirable characteristics for a sound source used for acoustic trapping experiments.

Characterization of the acoustic field generated by a horn shaped ultrasonic transducer

DOE PAGES

Hu, B.; Lerch, J. E.; Chavan, A. H.; ...

2017-09-04

A horn shaped Langevin ultrasonic transducer used in a single axis levitator was characterized to better understand the role of the acoustic profile in establishing stable traps. The method of characterization included acoustic beam profiling performed by raster scanning an ultrasonic microphone as well as finite element analysis of the horn and its interface with the surrounding air volume. The results of the model are in good agreement with measurements and demonstrate the validity of the approach for both near and far field analysis. Our results show that this style of transducer produces a strong acoustic beam with a totalmore » divergence angle of 10 degrees, a nearfield point close to the transducer surface and a virtual sound source. These are desirable characteristics for a sound source used for acoustic trapping experiments.« less

Characterization of the acoustic field generated by a horn shaped ultrasonic transducer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, B.; Lerch, J. E.; Chavan, A. H.

A horn shaped Langevin ultrasonic transducer used in a single axis levitator was characterized to better understand the role of the acoustic profile in establishing stable traps. The method of characterization included acoustic beam profiling performed by raster scanning an ultrasonic microphone as well as finite element analysis of the horn and its interface with the surrounding air volume. The results of the model are in good agreement with measurements and demonstrate the validity of the approach for both near and far field analyses. Our results show that this style of transducer produces a strong acoustic beam with a totalmore » divergence angle of 10 degree, a near-field point close to the transducer surface and a virtual sound source. These are desirable characteristics for a sound source used for acoustic trapping experiments« less

Characterization of the acoustic field generated by a horn shaped ultrasonic transducer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, B.; Lerch, J. E.; Chavan, A. H.

A horn shaped Langevin ultrasonic transducer used in a single axis levitator was characterized to better understand the role of the acoustic profile in establishing stable traps. The method of characterization included acoustic beam profiling performed by raster scanning an ultrasonic microphone as well as finite element analysis of the horn and its interface with the surrounding air volume. The results of the model are in good agreement with measurements and demonstrate the validity of the approach for both near and far field analysis. Our results show that this style of transducer produces a strong acoustic beam with a totalmore » divergence angle of 10 degrees, a nearfield point close to the transducer surface and a virtual sound source. These are desirable characteristics for a sound source used for acoustic trapping experiments.« less

Porosity estimation of aged mortar using a micromechanical model.

PubMed

Hernández, M G; Anaya, J J; Sanchez, T; Segura, I

2006-12-22

Degradation of concrete structures located in high humidity atmospheres or under flowing water is a very important problem. In this study, a method for ultrasonic non-destructive characterization in aged mortar is presented. The proposed method makes a prediction of the behaviour of aged mortar accomplished with a three phase micromechanical model using ultrasonic measurements. Aging mortar was accelerated by immersing the probes in ammonium nitrate solution. Both destructive and non-destructive characterization of mortar was performed. Destructive tests of porosity were performed using a vacuum saturation method and non-destructive characterization was carried out using ultrasonic velocities. Aging experiments show that mortar degradation not only involves a porosity increase, but also microstructural changes in the cement matrix. Experimental results show that the estimated porosity using the proposed non-destructive methodology had a comparable performance to classical destructive techniques.

Flight-vehicle materials, structures, and dynamics - Assessment and future directions. Vol. 4 - Tribological materials and NDE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fusaro, Robert L. (Editor); Achenbach, J. D. (Editor)

1993-01-01

The present volume on tribological materials and NDE discusses liquid lubricants for advanced aircraft engines, a liquid lubricant for space applications, solid lubricants for aeronautics, and thin solid-lubricant films in space. Attention is given to the science and technology of NDE, tools for an NDE engineering base, experimental techniques in ultrasonics for NDE and material characterization, and laser ultrasonics. Topics addressed include thermal methods of NDE and quality control, digital radiography in the aerospace industry, materials characterization by ultrasonic methods, and NDE of ceramics and ceramic composites. Also discussed are smart materials and structures, intelligent processing of materials, implementation of NDE technology on flight structures, and solid-state weld evaluation.

Tissue identification by ultrasound

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lecroissette, D. H.; Heyser, R. C.; Gammell, P. M.; Wilson, R. L.

1978-01-01

The ultrasonic properties of animal and human soft tissue were measured over the frequency range of 1.5 to 10.0 MHz. The method employed a swept-frequency, coherent technique known as time delay spectrometry. Measurements of attenuation versus frequency on liver, backfat, kidney, pancreas, spleen, breast, and other tissue were made. Considerable attention was paid to tissue handling and in determining the effects of fixing on the attenuation of ultrasound in the tissue.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Characterization of Adhesive Bonds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Qu, Jianmin

1999-01-01

Adhesives and adhesive joints are widely used in various industrial applications to reduce weight and costs, and to increase reliability. For example, advances in aerospace technology have been made possible, in part, through the use of lightweight materials and weight-saving structural designs. Joints, in particular, have been and continue to be areas in which weight can be trimmed from an airframe through the use of novel attachment techniques. In order to save weight over traditional riveted designs, to avoid the introduction of stress concentrations associated with rivet holes, and to take full advantage of advanced composite materials, engineers and designers have been specifying an ever-increasing number of adhesively bonded joints for use on airframes. Nondestructive characterization for quality control and remaining life prediction has been a key enabling technology for the effective use of adhesive joints. Conventional linear ultrasonic techniques generally can only detect flaws (delamination, cracks, voids, etc) in the joint assembly. However, more important to structural reliability is the bond strength. Although strength, in principle, cannot be measured nondestructively, a slight change in material nonlinearity may indicate the onset of failure. Furthermore, microstructural variations due to aging or under-curing may also cause changes in the third order elastic constants, which are related to the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter of the polymer adhesive. It is therefore reasonable to anticipate a correlation between changes in the ultrasonic nonlinear acoustic parameter and the remaining bond strength. It has been observed that higher harmonics of the fundamental frequency are generated when an ultrasonic wave passes through a nonlinear material. It seems that such nonlinearity can be effectively used to characterize bond strength. Several theories have been developed to model this nonlinear effect. Based on a microscopic description of the nonlinear interface binding force, a quantitative method was presented. Recently, a comparison between the experimental and simulated results based on a similar theoretical model was presented. A through-transmission setup for water immersion mode-converted shear waves was used to analyze the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter of an adhesive bond. In addition, ultrasonic guided waves have been used to analyze adhesive or diffusion bonded joints. In this paper, the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter is used to characterize the curing state of a polymer/aluminum adhesive joint. Ultrasonic through-transmission tests were conducted on samples cured under various conditions. The magnitude of the second order harmonic was measured and the corresponding ultrasonic nonlinear parameter was evaluated. A fairly good correlation between the curing condition and the nonlinear parameter is observed. The results show that the nonlinear parameter might be used as a good indicator of the cure state for adhesive joints.

Analysis of temperature rise and the use of coolants in the dissipation of ultrasonic heat buildup during post removal.

PubMed

Davis, Stephen; Gluskin, Alan H; Livingood, Philip M; Chambers, David W

2010-11-01

This study was designed to calculate probabilities for tissue injury and to measure effectiveness of various coolant strategies in countering heat buildup produced by dry ultrasonic vibration during post removal. A simulated biological model was used to evaluate the cooling efficacy of a common refrigerant spray, water spray, and air spray in the recovery of post temperatures deep within the root canal space. The data set consisted of cervical and apical measures of temperature increase at 1-second intervals from baseline during continuous ultrasonic instrumentation until a 10 °C increase in temperature at the cervical site was registered, wherein instrumentation ceased, and the teeth were allowed to cool under ambient conditions or with the assistance of 4 coolant methods. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance by using the independent variables of time of ultrasonic application (10, 15, 20 seconds) and cooling method. In addition to the customary means, standard deviations, and analysis of variance tests, analyses were conducted to determine probabilities that procedures would reach or exceed the 10 °C threshold. Both instrumentation time and cooling agent effects were significant at P <.0001. Under the conditions of this study, it was shown that injurious heat transfer occurs in less than 1 minute during dry ultrasonic instrumentation of metallic posts. Cycles of short instrumentation times with active coolants were effective in reducing the probability of tissue damage when teeth were instrumented dry. With as little as 20 seconds of continuous dry ultrasonic instrumentation, the consequences of thermal buildup to an individual tooth might contribute to an injurious clinical outcome. Copyright © 2010 American Association of Endodontists. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Characterization of Aerospace Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leckey, Cara; Johnston, Patrick; Haldren, Harold; Perey, Daniel

2015-01-01

Composite materials have seen an increased use in aerospace in recent years and it is expected that this trend will continue due to the benefits of reduced weight, increased strength, and other factors. Ongoing work at NASA involves the investigation of the large-scale use of composites for spacecraft structures (SLS components, Orion Composite Crew Module, etc). NASA is also involved in work to enable the use of composites in advanced aircraft structures through the Advanced Composites Project (ACP). In both areas (space and aeronautics) there is a need for new nondestructive evaluation and materials characterization techniques that are appropriate for characterizing composite materials. This paper will present an overview of NASA's needs for characterizing aerospace composites, including a description of planned and ongoing work under ACP for the detection of composite defects such as fiber waviness, reduced bond strength, delamination damage, and microcracking. The research approaches include investigation of angle array, guided wave, and phase sensitive ultrasonic methods. The use of ultrasonic simulation tools for optimizing and developing methods will also be discussed.

Transmission of 100-MHz-range ultrasound through a fused quartz fiber.

PubMed

Irie, Takasuke; Tagawa, Norio; Tanabe, Masayuki; Moriya, Tadashi; Yoshizawa, Masasumi; Iijima, Takashi; Itoh, Kouichi; Yokoyama, Taku; Kumagai, Hideki; Taniguchi, Nobuyuki

2011-07-01

This paper describes an investigation into direct observation of microscopic images of tissue using a thin acoustic wave guide. First, the characteristics of the ultrasonic wave propagated in a fused quartz fiber were measured using the reflection method in order to study the insertion loss and the frequency shift of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transducer. Next, a receiving transducer was placed close to the end of the fiber, and the characteristics of the ultrasonic waves propagated through the acoustic coupling medium were measured using the penetration method in order to study the insertion loss and the frequency-dependent attenuation of the penetrated waves. Finally, a C-mode image was obtained by optimizing the measuring conditions using the results of the above measurements and scanning the ultrasonic beams on a target (coin) in water. A reflected wave with a peak frequency of approximately 220 MHz was obtained from the end of the fiber. The transmitted ultrasonic waves propagated through the acoustic coupling medium were detected with a frequency range of approximately 125-170 MHz, and the maximum detectable distance of the waves was approximately 1.2 mm within the 100-MHz frequency range. Finally, a high-frequency C-mode image of a coin in water was obtained using a tapered fused quartz fiber. The results suggest that it is necessary to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce the insertion loss in the experimental system in order to make it possible to obtain microscopic images of tissue.

Effect of acoustic softening on the thermal-mechanical process of ultrasonic welding.

PubMed

Chen, Kunkun; Zhang, Yansong; Wang, Hongze

2017-03-01

Application of ultrasonic energy can reduce the static stress necessary for plastic deformation of metallic materials to reduce forming load and energy, namely acoustic softening effect (ASE). Ultrasonic welding (USW) is a rapid joining process utilizing ultrasonic energy to form a solid state joint between two or more pieces of metals. Quantitative characterization of ASE and its influence on specimen deformation and heat generation is essential to clarify the thermal-mechanical process of ultrasonic welding. In the present work, experiments were set up to found out mechanical behavior of copper and aluminum under combined effect of compression force and ultrasonic energy. Constitutive model was proposed and numerical implemented in finite element model of ultrasonic welding. Thermal-mechanical analysis was put forward to explore the effect of ultrasonic energy on the welding process quantitatively. Conclusions can be drawn that ASE increases structural deformation significantly, which is beneficial for joint formation. Meanwhile, heat generation from both frictional work and plastic deformation is slightly influenced by ASE. Based on the proposed model, relationship between ultrasonic energy and thermal-mechanical behavior of structure during ultrasonic welding was constructed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thickness-Independent Ultrasonic Imaging Applied to Abrasive Cut-Off Wheels: An Advanced Aerospace Materials Characterization Method for the Abrasives Industry. A NASA Lewis Research Center Technology Transfer Case History

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Farmer, Donald A.

1998-01-01

Abrasive cut-off wheels are at times unintentionally manufactured with nonuniformity that is difficult to identify and sufficiently characterize without time-consuming, destructive examination. One particular nonuniformity is a density variation condition occurring around the wheel circumference or along the radius, or both. This density variation, depending on its severity, can cause wheel warpage and wheel vibration resulting in unacceptable performance and perhaps premature failure of the wheel. Conventional nondestructive evaluation methods such as ultrasonic c-scan imaging and film radiography are inaccurate in their attempts at characterizing the density variation because a superimposing thickness variation exists as well in the wheel. In this article, the single transducer thickness-independent ultrasonic imaging method, developed specifically to allow more accurate characterization of aerospace components, is shown to precisely characterize the extent of the density variation in a cut-off wheel having a superimposing thickness variation. The method thereby has potential as an effective quality control tool in the abrasives industry for the wheel manufacturer.

Multiband tissue classification for ultrasonic transmission tomography using spectral profile detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Jeong-Won; Kim, Tae-Seong; Shin, Dae-Chul; Do, Synho; Marmarelis, Vasilis Z.

2004-04-01

Recently it was shown that soft tissue can be differentiated with spectral unmixing and detection methods that utilize multi-band information obtained from a High-Resolution Ultrasonic Transmission Tomography (HUTT) system. In this study, we focus on tissue differentiation using the spectral target detection method based on Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM). We have developed a new tissue differentiation method called "CEM filter bank". Statistical inference on the output of each CEM filter of a filter bank is used to make a decision based on the maximum statistical significance rather than the magnitude of each CEM filter output. We validate this method through 3-D inter/intra-phantom soft tissue classification where target profiles obtained from an arbitrary single slice are used for differentiation in multiple tomographic slices. Also spectral coherence between target and object profiles of an identical tissue at different slices and phantoms is evaluated by conventional cross-correlation analysis. The performance of the proposed classifier is assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Finally we apply our method to classify tiny structures inside a beef kidney such as Styrofoam balls (~1mm), chicken tissue (~5mm), and vessel-duct structures.

Characterization of sintered SiC by using NDE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baaklini, George Y.

1988-01-01

Capabilities of projection microfocus X-radiography and of ultrasonic velocity and attenuation for characterizing silicon carbide specimens were assessed. Silicon carbide batches covered a range of densities and different microstructural characteristics. Room-temperature, four-point flexural strength tests were conducted. Fractography was used to identify types, sizes, and locations of fracture origins. Fracture toughness values were calculated from fracture strength and flaw characterization data. Detection capabilities of radiography for fracture-causing flaws were evaluated. Applicability of ultrasonics for verifying material strength and toughness was examined. Radiography proved useful in detecting high-density inclusions and isolated voids, but failed in detecting surface and subsurface agglomerates and large grains as fracture origins. Ultrasonic velocity dependency on density was evident. Attenuation dependency on density and mean pore size was clearly demonstrated. Understanding attenuation as a function of toughness was limited by shortcomings in K sub IC determination.

Ultrasonication followed by single-drop microextraction combined with GC/MS for rapid determination of organochlorine pesticides from fish.

PubMed

Shrivas, Kamlesh; Wu, Hui-Fen

2008-02-01

A novel, rapid and simple sample pretreatment technique termed ultrasonication followed by single-drop micro-extraction (U-SDME) has been developed and combined with GC/MS for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish. In the present work, the lengthy procedures generally used in the conventional methods like, Soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction and microwave assisted solvent extraction for extraction of OCPs from fish tissues are minimized by the use of two simple extraction procedures. Firstly, OCPs from fish were extracted in organic solvent with ultrasonication and then subsequently preconcentrated by single-drop micro-extraction (SDME). Extraction parameters of ultrasonication and SDME were optimized in spiked sample solution in order to obtain efficient extraction of OCPs from fish tissues. The calibration curves for OCPs were found to be linear between 10-1000 ng/g with correlation of estimations in the range 0.990-0.994. The recoveries obtained in blank fish tissues were ranged from 82.1 to 95.3%. The LOD and RSD for determination of OCPs in fish were 0.5 ng/g and 9.4-10.0%, respectively. The proposed method was applied for the determination of bioconcentration factor in fish after exposure to different concentrations of OCPs in cultured water. The present method avoids the co-extraction of lipids, long extraction steps (>12 h) and large amount of organic solvent for the separation of OCPs. The main advantages of the present method are rapid, selective, sensitive and low cost for the determination of OCPs in fish.

Influence of Tissue Microstructure on Shear Wave Speed Measurements in Plane Shear Wave Elastography: A Computational Study in Lossless Fibrotic Liver Media.

PubMed

Wang, Yu; Jiang, Jingfeng

2018-01-01

Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been used to measure viscoelastic properties for characterization of fibrotic livers. In this technique, external mechanical vibrations or acoustic radiation forces are first transmitted to the tissue being imaged to induce shear waves. Ultrasonically measured displacement/velocity is then utilized to obtain elastographic measurements related to shear wave propagation. Using an open-source wave simulator, k-Wave, we conducted a case study of the relationship between plane shear wave measurements and the microstructure of fibrotic liver tissues. Particularly, three different virtual tissue models (i.e., a histology-based model, a statistics-based model, and a simple inclusion model) were used to represent underlying microstructures of fibrotic liver tissues. We found underlying microstructures affected the estimated mean group shear wave speed (SWS) under the plane shear wave assumption by as much as 56%. Also, the elastic shear wave scattering resulted in frequency-dependent attenuation coefficients and introduced changes in the estimated group SWS. Similarly, the slope of group SWS changes with respect to the excitation frequency differed as much as 78% among three models investigated. This new finding may motivate further studies examining how elastic scattering may contribute to frequency-dependent shear wave dispersion and attenuation in biological tissues.

A new approach to ultrasonic elasticity imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoerig, Cameron; Ghaboussi, Jamshid; Fatemi, Mostafa; Insana, Michael F.

2016-04-01

Biomechanical properties of soft tissues can provide information regarding the local health status. Often the cells in pathological tissues can be found to form a stiff extracellular environment, which is a sensitive, early diagnostic indicator of disease. Quasi-static ultrasonic elasticity imaging provides a way to image the mechanical properties of tissues. Strain images provide a map of the relative tissue stiffness, but ambiguities and artifacts limit its diagnostic value. Accurately mapping intrinsic mechanical parameters of a region may increase diagnostic specificity. However, the inverse problem, whereby force and displacement estimates are used to estimate a constitutive matrix, is ill conditioned. Our method avoids many of the issues involved with solving the inverse problem, such as unknown boundary conditions and incomplete information about the stress field, by building an empirical model directly from measured data. Surface force and volumetric displacement data gathered during imaging are used in conjunction with the AutoProgressive method to teach artificial neural networks the stress-strain relationship of tissues. The Autoprogressive algorithm has been successfully used in many civil engineering applications and to estimate ocular pressure and corneal stiffness; here, we are expanding its use to any tissues imaged ultrasonically. We show that force-displacement data recorded with an ultrasound probe and displacements estimated at a few points in the imaged region can be used to estimate the full stress and strain vectors throughout an entire model while only assuming conservation laws. We will also demonstrate methods to parameterize the mechanical properties based on the stress-strain response of trained neural networks. This method is a fundamentally new approach to medical elasticity imaging that for the first time provides full stress and strain vectors from one set of observation data.

Ultrasonic determination of thermodynamic threshold parameters for irreversible cutaneous burns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantrell, J. H., Jr.

1982-01-01

In vivo ultrasonic measurements of the depth of conductive cutaneous burns experimentally induced in anesthetized Yorkshire pigs are reported as a function of burn time for the case in which the skin surface temperature is maintained at 100 C. The data are used in the solution of the one-dimensional heat diffusion equation with time-dependent boundary conditions to obtain the threshold temperature and the energy of transformation per unit mass associated with the transition of the tissue from the state of viability to the state of necrosis. The simplicity of the mathematical model and the expediency of the ultrasonic measurements in studies of thermal injury are emphasized.

Ultrasonically modulated x-ray phase contrast and vibration potential imaging methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Theron J.; Cao, Guohua; Wang, Shougang; Bailat, Claude J.; Nguyen, Cuong K.; Li, Shengqiong; Gehring, Stephan; Wands, Jack; Gusev, Vitalyi; Rose-Petruck, Christoph; Diebold, Gerald J.

2006-02-01

We show that the radiation pressure exerted by a beam of ultrasound can be used for contrast enhancement in high resolution x-ray imaging of tissue. Interfacial features of objects are highlighted as a result of both the displacement introduced by the ultrasound and the inherent sensitivity of x-ray phase contrast imaging to density variations. The potential of the method is demonstrated by imaging various tumor phantoms and tumors from mice. The directionality of the acoustic radiation force and its localization in space permits the imaging of ultrasound-selected tissue volumes. In a related effort we report progress on development of an imaging technique using and electrokinetic effect known as the ultrasonic vibration potential. The ultrasonic vibration potential refers to the voltage generated when ultrasound traverses a colloidal or ionic fluid. The theory of imaging based on the vibration potential is reviewed, and an expression given that describes the signal from an arbitrary object. The experimental apparatus consists of a pair of parallel plates connected to the irradiated body, a low noise preamplifier, a radio frequency lock-in amplifier, translation stages for the ultrasonic transducer that generates the ultrasound, and a computer for data storage and image formation. Experiments are reported where bursts of ultrasound are directed onto colloidal silica objects placed within inert bodies.

Semiconductor measurement technology: Microelectronic ultrasonic bonding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harman, G. G. (Editor)

1974-01-01

Information for making high quality ultrasonic wire bonds is presented as well as data to provide a basic understanding of the ultrasonic systems used. The work emphasizes problems and methods of solving them. The required measurement equipment is first introduced. This is followed by procedures and techniques used in setting up a bonding machine, and then various machine- or operator-induced reliability problems are discussed. The characterization of the ultrasonic system and its problems are followed by in-process bonding studies and work on the ultrasonic bonding (welding) mechanism. The report concludes with a discussion of various effects of bond geometry and wire metallurgical characteristics. Where appropriate, the latest, most accurate value of a particular measurement has been substituted for an earlier reported one.

Effects of Porosity on Ultrasonic Characteristic Parameters and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Wen; Liu, Fushun

Voids are inevitable in the fabrication of fiber reinforced composites and have a detrimental impact on mechanical properties of composites. Different void contents were acquired by applying different vacuum bag pressures. Ultrasonic inspection and ablation density method were adopted to measure the ultrasonic characteristic parameters and average porosity, the characterization of voids' distribution, shape and size were carried out through metallographic analysis. Effects of void content on the tensile, flexural and interlaminar shear properties and the ultrasonic characteristic parameters were discussed. The results showed that, as vacuum bag pressure went from -50kPa to -98kPa, the voids content decreased from 4.36 to 0.34, the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient decreased, but the mechanical strengths all increased.

High-contrast fast Fourier transform acousto-optical tomography of phantom tissues with a frequency-chirp modulation of the ultrasound.

PubMed

Forget, Benoît-Claude; Ramaz, François; Atlan, Michaël; Selb, Juliette; Boccara, Albert-Claude

2003-03-01

We report new results on acousto-optical tomography in phantom tissues using a frequency chirp modulation and a CCD camera. This technique allows quick recording of three-dimensional images of the optical contrast with a two-dimensional scan of the ultrasound source in a plane perpendicular to the ultrasonic path. The entire optical contrast along the ultrasonic path is concurrently obtained from the capture of a film sequence at a rate of 200 Hz. This technique reduces the acquisition time, and it enhances the axial resolution and thus the contrast, which are usually poor owing to the large volume of interaction of the ultrasound perturbation.

Combined use of ultrasonic liposuction with the pull-through technique for the treatment of gynecomastia.

PubMed

Hammond, Dennis C; Arnold, Jame F; Simon, Amy M; Capraro, Philippe A

2003-09-01

The authors present a method of treatment for gynecomastia that combines the use of two techniques of soft-tissue contouring. This method uses ultrasonic liposuction in conjunction with the pull-through technique of direct excision to effectively remove the fibrofatty tissue of the male breast and the fibrous breast bud through a single 1-cm incision. Fifteen patients were treated in this fashion, and each patient demonstrated a smooth, masculine breast contour with a well-concealed scar, which eliminates the stigma of breast surgery. The procedure is technically straightforward and provides consistent results. It is offered as an additional option for the treatment of gynecomastia.

Segmentation methodology for automated classification and differentiation of soft tissues in multiband images of high-resolution ultrasonic transmission tomography.

PubMed

Jeong, Jeong-Won; Shin, Dae C; Do, Synho; Marmarelis, Vasilis Z

2006-08-01

This paper presents a novel segmentation methodology for automated classification and differentiation of soft tissues using multiband data obtained with the newly developed system of high-resolution ultrasonic transmission tomography (HUTT) for imaging biological organs. This methodology extends and combines two existing approaches: the L-level set active contour (AC) segmentation approach and the agglomerative hierarchical kappa-means approach for unsupervised clustering (UC). To prevent the trapping of the current iterative minimization AC algorithm in a local minimum, we introduce a multiresolution approach that applies the level set functions at successively increasing resolutions of the image data. The resulting AC clusters are subsequently rearranged by the UC algorithm that seeks the optimal set of clusters yielding the minimum within-cluster distances in the feature space. The presented results from Monte Carlo simulations and experimental animal-tissue data demonstrate that the proposed methodology outperforms other existing methods without depending on heuristic parameters and provides a reliable means for soft tissue differentiation in HUTT images.

Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy Refractory to Surgical Management Using Percutaneous Ultrasonic Tenotomy and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection: A Case Presentation.

PubMed

Nanos, Katherine N; Malanga, Gerard A

2015-12-01

Chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy is a common condition in sports medicine that may be refractory to nonoperative treatments, including activity modification, medications, and comprehensive rehabilitation. Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy is a recently developed technique designed to cut and debride tendinopathic tissue, thus promoting pain relief and functional recovery. We present a case of a collegiate athlete with chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy who was effectively treated with percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy after not responding to extensive nonoperative treatment, surgical debridement, and platelet-rich plasma injections. Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy can be considered as a treatment option in patients presenting with refractory proximal patellar tendinopathy, including those who do not respond to previous operative intervention. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear propagation in ultrasonic fields: measurements, modelling and harmonic imaging.

PubMed

Humphrey, V F

2000-03-01

In high amplitude ultrasonic fields, such as those used in medical ultrasound, nonlinear propagation can result in waveform distortion and the generation of harmonics of the initial frequency. In the nearfield of a transducer this process is complicated by diffraction effects associated with the source. The results of a programme to study the nonlinear propagation in the fields of circular, focused and rectangular transducers are described, and comparisons made with numerical predictions obtained using a finite difference solution to the Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov (or KZK) equation. These results are extended to consider nonlinear propagation in tissue-like media and the implications for ultrasonic measurements and ultrasonic heating are discussed. The narrower beamwidths and reduced side-lobe levels of the harmonic beams are illustrated and the use of harmonics to form diagnostic images with improved resolution is described.

Ultrasonic Characterization of Superhard Material: Osmium Diboride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadawa, P. K.

2012-12-01

Higher order elastic constants have been calculated in hexagonal structured superhard material OsB2 at room temperature following the interaction potential model. The temperature variation of the ultrasonic velocities is evaluated along different angles with unique axis of the crystal using the second order elastic constants. The ultrasonic velocity decreases with the temperature along particular orientation with the unique axis. Temperature variation of the thermal relaxation time and Debye average velocities are also calculated along the same orientation. The temperature dependency of the ultrasonic properties is discussed in correlation with elastic, thermal and electrical properties. It has been found that the thermal conductivity is the main contributor to the behaviour of ultrasonic attenuation as a function of temperature and the responsible cause of attenuation is phonon-phonon interaction. The mechanical properties of OsB2 at low temperature are better than at high temperature, because at low temperature it has low ultrasonic velocity and ultrasonic attenuation. Superhard material OsB2 has many industrial applications, such as abrasives, cutting tools and hard coatings.

Application of laser ultrasonic method for on-line monitoring of friction stir spot welding process.

PubMed

Zhang, Kuanshuang; Zhou, Zhenggan; Zhou, Jianghua

2015-09-01

Application of a laser ultrasonic method is developed for on-line monitoring of the friction stir spot welding (FSSW) process. Based on the technology of FSSW, laser-generated ultrasonic waves in a good weld and nonweld area are simulated by a finite element method. The reflected and transmitted waves are analyzed to disclose the properties of the welded interface. The noncontact-laser ultrasonic-inspection system was established to verify the numerical results. The reflected waves in the good-weld and nonweld area can be distinguished by time-of-flight. The transmitted waves evidently attenuate in the nonweld area in contrast to signal amplitude in the good weld area because of interfacial impedance difference. Laser ultrasonic C-scan images can sufficiently evaluate the intrinsic character of the weld area in comparison with traditional water-immersion ultrasonic testing results. The research results confirm that laser ultrasonics would be an effective method to realize the characterization of FSSW defects.

Airborne ultrasonic inspection in carbon/carbon composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, In-Young; Kim, Young-Hun; Park, Je-Woong; Hsu, David K.; Song, Song-Jin; Cho, Hyun-Jun; Kim, Sun-Kyu; Im, Kwang-Hee

2007-07-01

In this work, a carbon/carbon (C/C) composite material was nondestructively characterized with non-contact ultrasonic methods using automated acquisition scanner as well as contact ultrasonic measurement because (C/C) composite materials have obvious high price over conventional materials. Because of permeation of coupling medium such as water, it is desirable to perform contact-less nondestructive evaluation to assess material properties and part homogeneity. Also through transmission mode was performed because of the main limitation for air-coupled transducers, which is the acoustic impedance mismatch between most materials and air. Especially ultrasonic images and velocities for C/C composite disk brake was measured and found to be consistent to some degree with the non-contact and contact ultrasonic measurement methods. Low frequency through-transmission scans based on both amplitude and time-of-flight of the ultrasonic pulse were used for mapping out the material property inhomogeneity. Measured results were compared with those obtained by the motorized system with using dry-coupling ultrasonics and through transmission method in immersion. Finally, results using a proposed peak-delay measurement method well corresponded to ultrasonic velocities of the pulse overlap method.

Continuous Ultrasonic Inspection of Extruded Wood-Plastic Composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tucker, Brian J.; Bender, Donald A.

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are needed for in-line monitoring of wood-plastic composite (WPC) quality during manufacturing for process control. Through-transmission ultrasonic inspection is useful in characterizing stiffness and detecting cracks and voids in a range of materials; however, little is documented about ultrasound propagation in WPC materials. The objectives of this research were to determine applicable ultrasonic transducer frequencies, coupling methods, configurations and placements for wave speed monitoring and web defect detection within an extrusion process; to quantify the effects of temperature on ultrasonic parameters; and to develop a prototype ultrasonic inspection system for a full-size extrusion line. An angledmore » beam, water-coupled ultrasonic inspection system using a pair of 50-kHz narrowband transducers was adequate for monitoring wave speed parallel to the extrusion direction. For locating internal web defects, water-coupled, 500-kHz broadband ultrasonic transducers were used in a through-thickness transmission setup. Temperature compensation factors were developed to adjust ultrasonic wave speed measurements. The prototype inspection system was demonstrated in a 55 mm conical twin-screw extrusion line.« less

Simulation of ultrasonic focus aberration and correction through human tissue.

PubMed

Tabei, Makoto; Mast, T Douglas; Waag, Robert C

2003-02-01

Ultrasonic focusing in two dimensions has been investigated by calculating the propagation of ultrasonic pulses through cross-sectional models of human abdominal wall and breast. Propagation calculations used a full-wave k-space method that accounts for spatial variations in density, sound speed, and frequency-dependent absorption and includes perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary conditions. To obtain a distorted receive wavefront, propagation from a point source through the tissue path was computed. Receive focusing used an angular spectrum method. Transmit focusing was accomplished by propagating a pressure wavefront from a virtual array through the tissue path. As well as uncompensated focusing, focusing that employed time-shift compensation and time-shift compensation after backpropagation was investigated in both transmit and receive and time reversal was investigated for transmit focusing in addition. The results indicate, consistent with measurements, that breast causes greater focus degradation than abdominal wall. The investigated compensation methods corrected the receive focus better than the transmit focus. Time-shift compensation after backpropagation improved the focus from that obtained using time-shift compensation alone but the improvement was less in transmit focusing than in receive focusing. Transmit focusing by time reversal resulted in lower sidelobes but larger mainlobes than the other investigated transmit focus compensation methods.

Temperature compensation of ultrasonic velocity during the malolactic fermentation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amer, M. A.; Novoa-Díaz, D.; Chávez, J. A.; Turó, A.; García-Hernández, M. J.; Salazar, J.

2015-12-01

Ultrasonic properties of materials present a strong dependence on temperature and in turn the ultrasonic velocity of propagation in the material under test. It is precisely for this reason that most ultrasonic measurements are often carried out with thermostated samples by using either water tanks or climate chambers. This approach is viable in a laboratory and when the measured or characterized samples are relatively small. However, this procedure is highly improbable to be applied when in situ measurements in industrial environments must be performed. This goes for the case of, for example, ultrasonic velocity measurements in wine while it is performing malolactic fermentation inside a tank of hundreds of thousands of litres. In this paper two different practical approaches to temperature compensation are studied. Then, the two temperature compensation methods are applied to the measured ultrasonic velocity values along a whole malolactic fermentation process. The results of each method are discussed.

Catalytic activity of acid and base with different concentration on sol-gel kinetics of silica by ultrasonic method.

PubMed

Das, R K; Das, M

2015-09-01

The effects of both acid (acetic acid) and base (ammonia) catalysts in varying on the sol-gel synthesis of SiO2 nanoparticles using tetra ethyl ortho silicate (TEOS) as a precursor was determined by ultrasonic method. The ultrasonic velocity was received by pulsar receiver. The ultrasonic velocity in the sol and the parameter ΔT (time difference between the original pulse and first back wall echo of the sol) was varied with time of gelation. The graphs of ln[ln1/ΔT] vs ln(t), indicate two region - nonlinear region and a linear region. The time corresponds to the point at which the non-linear region change to linear region is considered as gel time for the respective solutions. Gelation time is found to be dependent on the concentration and types of catalyst and is found from the graphs based on Avrami equation. The rate of condensation is found to be faster for base catalyst. The gelation process was also characterized by viscosity measurement. Normal sol-gel process was also carried out along with the ultrasonic one to compare the effectiveness of ultrasonic. The silica gel was calcined and the powdered sample was characterized with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectra, X-ray diffractogram, and FTIR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nondestructive characterization of thermal barrier coating by noncontact laser ultrasonic technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yang; Chen, Jianwei; Zhang, Zhenzhen

2015-09-01

We present the application of a laser ultrasonic technique in nondestructive characterization of the bonding layer (BL) in a thermal barrier coating (TBC). A physical mode of a multilayered medium is established to describe the propagation of a longitudinal wave generated by a laser in a TBC system. Furthermore, the theoretical analysis on the ultrasonic transmission in TBC is carried out in order to derive the expression of the BL transmission coefficient spectrum (TCS) which is used to determine the velocity of the longitudinal wave in the BL. We employ the inversion method combined with TCS to ascertain the attenuation coefficient of the BL. The experimental validations are performed with TBC specimens produced by an electron-beam physical vapor deposition method. In those experiments, a pulsed laser with a width of 10 ns is used to generate an ultrasonic signal while a two-wave mixing interferometer is created to receive the ultrasonic signals. By introducing the wavelet soft-threshold method that improves the signal-to-noise ratio, the laser ultrasonic testing results of TBC with an oxidation of 1 cycle, 10 cycles, and 100 cycles show that the attenuation coefficients of the BL become larger with an increase in the oxidation time, which is evident for the scanning electron microscopy observations, in which the thickness of the thermally grown oxide increases with oxidation time.

Development of stereotactic mass spectrometry for brain tumor surgery.

PubMed

Agar, Nathalie Y R; Golby, Alexandra J; Ligon, Keith L; Norton, Isaiah; Mohan, Vandana; Wiseman, Justin M; Tannenbaum, Allen; Jolesz, Ferenc A

2011-02-01

Surgery remains the first and most important treatment modality for the majority of solid tumors. Across a range of brain tumor types and grades, postoperative residual tumor has a great impact on prognosis. The principal challenge and objective of neurosurgical intervention is therefore to maximize tumor resection while minimizing the potential for neurological deficit by preserving critical tissue. To introduce the integration of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry into surgery for in vivo molecular tissue characterization and intraoperative definition of tumor boundaries without systemic injection of contrast agents. Using a frameless stereotactic sampling approach and by integrating a 3-dimensional navigation system with an ultrasonic surgical probe, we obtained image-registered surgical specimens. The samples were analyzed with ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and validated against standard histopathology. This new approach will enable neurosurgeons to detect tumor infiltration of the normal brain intraoperatively with mass spectrometry and to obtain spatially resolved molecular tissue characterization without any exogenous agent and with high sensitivity and specificity. Proof of concept is presented in using mass spectrometry intraoperatively for real-time measurement of molecular structure and using that tissue characterization method to detect tumor boundaries. Multiple sampling sites within the tumor mass were defined for a patient with a recurrent left frontal oligodendroglioma, World Health Organization grade II with chromosome 1p/19q codeletion, and mass spectrometry data indicated a correlation between lipid constitution and tumor cell prevalence. The mass spectrometry measurements reflect a complex molecular structure and are integrated with frameless stereotaxy and imaging, providing 3-dimensional molecular imaging without systemic injection of any agents, which can be implemented for surgical margins delineation of any organ and with a rapidity that allows real-time analysis.

Ultrasound Tissue Characterization of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque

PubMed Central

Picano, Eugenio; Paterni, Marco

2015-01-01

A thrombotic occlusion of the vessel fed by ruptured coronary atherosclerotic plaque may result in unstable angina, myocardial infarction or death, whereas embolization from a plaque in carotid arteries may result in transient ischemic attack or stroke. The atherosclerotic plaque prone to such clinical events is termed high-risk or vulnerable plaque, and its identification in humans before it becomes symptomatic has been elusive to date. Ultrasonic tissue characterization of the atherosclerotic plaque is possible with different techniques—such as vascular, transesophageal, and intravascular ultrasound—on a variety of arterial segments, including carotid, aorta, and coronary districts. The image analysis can be based on visual, video-densitometric or radiofrequency methods and identifies three distinct textural patterns: hypo-echoic (corresponding to lipid- and hemorrhage-rich plaque), iso- or moderately hyper-echoic (fibrotic or fibro-fatty plaque), and markedly hyperechoic with shadowing (calcific plaque). Hypoechoic or dishomogeneous plaques, with spotty microcalcification and large plaque burden, with plaque neovascularization and surface irregularities by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, are more prone to clinical complications than hyperechoic, extensively calcified, homogeneous plaques with limited plaque burden, smooth luminal plaque surface and absence of neovascularization. Plaque ultrasound morphology is important, along with plaque geometry, in determining the atherosclerotic prognostic burden in the individual patient. New quantitative methods beyond backscatter (to include speed of sound, attenuation, strain, temperature, and high order statistics) are under development to evaluate vascular tissues. Although not yet ready for widespread clinical use, tissue characterization is listed by the American Society of Echocardiography roadmap to 2020 as one of the most promising fields of application in cardiovascular ultrasound imaging, offering unique opportunities for the early detection and treatment of atherosclerotic disease. PMID:25950760

Non-contact photoacoustic tomography and ultrasonography for tissue imaging

PubMed Central

Rousseau, Guy; Blouin, Alain; Monchalin, Jean-Pierre

2011-01-01

The detection of ultrasound in photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and ultrasonography (US) usually relies on ultrasonic transducers in contact with the biological tissue. This is a major drawback for important potential applications such as surgery and small animal imaging. Here we report the use of remote optical detection, as used in industrial laser-ultrasonics, to detect ultrasound in biological tissues. This strategy enables non-contact implementation of PAT and US without exceeding laser exposure safety limits. The method uses suitably shaped laser pulses and a confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer in differential configuration to reach quantum-limited sensitivity. Endogenous and exogenous inclusions exhibiting optical and acoustic contrasts were detected ex vivo in chicken breast and calf brain specimens. Inclusions down to 0.5 mm in size were detected at depths well exceeding 1 cm. The method could significantly expand the scope of applications of PAT and US in biomedical imaging. PMID:22254164

Velocity and attenuation of sound in arterial tissues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rooney, J. A.; Gammell, P. M.; Hestenes, J. D.; Chin, H. P.; Blankenhorn, D. H.

1982-01-01

The velocity of sound in excised human and canine arterial tissues is measured in order to serve as a basis for the development and application of ultrasonic techniques for the diagnosis of atherosclerotic lesions. Measurements of sound velocity at different regions of 11 human and six canine aortas were made by a time delay spectrometer technique at frequencies from 2 to 10 MHz, and compared with ultrasonic attenuation parameters and the results of biochemical assays. Sound velocity is found to increase with increasing attenuation at all frequencies, and with increasing collagen content. A strong dependence of sound velocity on cholesterol content or low calcium contents is not observed, although velocities of up to 2000 m/sec are observed in highly organized calcified lesions. A decrease in velocity with decreasing temperature is also noted. It is thus concluded that it is principally the differences in tissue collagen levels that contribute to image formation according to sound velocity.

Experimental Study of Ultrasound Contrast Agent Mediated Heat Transfer for Therapeutic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razansky, D.; Adam, D. R.; Einziger, P. D.

2006-05-01

Ultrasound Contrast Agents (UCA) have been recently suggested as efficient enhancers of ultrasonic power deposition in tissue. The ultrasonic energy absorption by UCA, considered as disadvantageous in diagnostic imaging, might be valuable in therapeutic applications such as targeted hyperthermia or ablation treatments. The current study, based on theoretical predictions, was designed to experimentally measure the dissipation and heating effects of encapsulated UCA (Optison™) in a well-controlled and calibrated environment.

High Resolution X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging with Acoustic Tissue-Selective Contrast Enhancement

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

Ultrasonics Symp 1319 (1999). 17. Sarvazyan, A. P. Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging: A New Ultrasonic Technology of Medical Diagnostics. Ultrasound in...samples using acoustically modulated X-ray phase contrast imaging. 15. SUBJECT TERMS x-ray, ultrasound, phase contrast, imaging, elastography 16...x-rays, phase contrast imaging is based on phase changes as x-rays traverse a body resulting in wave interference that result in intensity changes in

Processing ultrasound backscatter to monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaczkowski, Peter J.; Anand, Ajay; Bailey, Michael R.

2005-09-01

The development of new noninvasive surgical methods such as HIFU for the treatment of cancer and internal bleeding requires simultaneous development of new sensing approaches to guide, monitor, and assess the therapy. Ultrasound imaging using echo amplitude has long been used to map tissue morphology for diagnostic interpretation by the clinician. New quantitative ultrasonic methods that rely on amplitude and phase processing for tissue characterization are being developed for monitoring of ablative therapy. We have been developing the use of full wave ultrasound backscattering for real-time temperature estimation, and to image changes in tissue backscatter spectrum as therapy progresses. Both approaches rely on differential processing of the backscatter signal in time, and precise measurement of phase differences. Noise and artifacts from motion and nonstationary speckle statistics are addressed by constraining inversions for tissue parameters with physical models. We present results of HIFU experiments with static point and scanned HIFU exposures in which temperature rise can be accurately mapped using a new heat transfer equation (HTE) model-constrained inverse approach. We also present results of a recently developed spectral imaging method that elucidates microbubble-mediated nonlinearity not visible as a change in backscatter amplitude. [Work supported by Army MRMC.

Characterization of mechanical properties of leather with airborne ultrasonics

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A nondestructive method to accurately evaluate the quality of hides and leather is urgently needed by leather and hide industries. We previously reported the research results for airborne ultrasonic (AU) testing using non-contact transducers to evaluate the quality of hides and leather. The abilit...

Backscattering analysis of high frequency ultrasonic imaging for ultrasound-guided breast biopsy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cummins, Thomas; Akiyama, Takahiro; Lee, Changyang; Martin, Sue E.; Shung, K. Kirk

2017-03-01

A new ultrasound-guided breast biopsy technique is proposed. The technique utilizes conventional ultrasound guidance coupled with a high frequency embedded ultrasound array located within the biopsy needle to improve the accuracy in breast cancer diagnosis.1 The array within the needle is intended to be used to detect micro- calcifications indicative of early breast cancers such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Backscattering analysis has the potential to characterize tissues to improve localization of lesions. This paper describes initial results of the application of backscattering analysis of breast biopsy tissue specimens and shows the usefulness of high frequency ultrasound for the new biopsy related technique. Ultrasound echoes of ex-vivo breast biopsy tissue specimens were acquired by using a single-element transducer with a bandwidth from 41 MHz to 88 MHz utilizing a UBM methodology, and the backscattering coefficients were calculated. These values as well as B-mode image data were mapped in 2D and matched with each pathology image for the identification of tissue type for the comparison to the pathology images corresponding to each plane. Microcalcifications were significantly distinguished from normal tissue. Adenocarcinoma was also successfully differentiated from adipose tissue. These results indicate that backscattering analysis is able to quantitatively distinguish tissues into normal and abnormal, which should help radiologists locate abnormal areas during the proposed ultrasound-guided breast biopsy with high frequency ultrasound.

Application of Ultrasonic Bone Curette in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery: Technical Note

PubMed Central

Rastelli, Milton M.; Pinheiro-Neto, Carlos D.; Fernandez-Miranda, Juan C.; Wang, Eric W.; Snyderman, Carl H.; Gardner, Paul A.

2014-01-01

Background Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) of the skull base often requires extensive bone work in proximity to critical neurovascular structures. Objective To demonstrate the application of an ultrasonic bone curette during EES. Methods Ten patients with skull base lesions underwent EES from September 2011 to April 2012 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Most of the bone work was done with high-speed drill and rongeurs. The ultrasonic curette was used to remove specific structures. Results All the patients were submitted to fully endoscopic endonasal procedures and had critical bony structures removed with the ultrasonic bone curette. Two patients with degenerative spine diseases underwent odontoid process removal. Five patients with clival and petroclival tumors underwent posterior clinoid removal. Two patients with anterior fossa tumors underwent crista galli removal. One patient underwent unilateral optic nerve decompression. No mechanical or heat injury resulted from the ultrasonic curette. The surrounding neurovascular structures and soft tissue were preserved in all cases. Conclusion In selected EES, the ultrasonic bone curette was successfully used to remove loose pieces of bone in narrow corridors, adjacent to neurovascular structures, and it has advantages to high-speed drills in these specific situations. PMID:24719795

MR-guided adaptive focusing of ultrasound

PubMed Central

Larrat, Benoît; Pernot, Mathieu; Montaldo, Gabriel; Fink, Mathias; Tanter, Mickaël

2010-01-01

Adaptive focusing of ultrasonic waves under the guidance of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) system is demonstrated for medical applications. This technique is based on the maximization of the ultrasonic wave intensity at one targeted point in space. The wave intensity is indirectly estimated from the local tissue displacement induced at the chosen focus by the acoustic radiation force of ultrasonic beams. Coded ultrasonic waves are transmitted by an ultrasonic array and an MRI scanner is used to measure the resulting local displacements through a motion sensitive MR sequence. After the transmission of a set of spatially encoded ultrasonic waves, a non iterative inversion process is employed to accurately estimate the spatial-temporal aberration induced by the propagation medium and to maximize the acoustical intensity at the target. Both programmable and physical aberrating layers introducing strong distortions (up to 2π radians) were recovered within acceptable errors (<0.8 rad). This non invasive technique is shown to accurately correct phase aberrations in a phantom gel with negligible heat deposition and limited acquisition time. These refocusing performances demonstrate a major potential in the field of MR-Guided Ultrasound Therapy in particular for transcranial brain HIFU. PMID:20704061

Frequency Analysis of Strain of Cylindrical Shell for Assessment of Viscosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasegawa, Hideyuki; Kanai, Hiroshi

2005-06-01

For tissue characterization of atherosclerotic plaque, we have developed a method, namely, the phased tracking method, [H. Kanai et al.: IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 43 (1996) 791] to measure the regional strain (change in wall thickness) and elasticity of the arterial wall. In addition to the regional elasticity, we are attempting to measure the regional viscosity for a more precise tissue characterization. Previously, we showed that the viscosity can be obtained by measuring the frequency dependence of the elastic modulus using remote actuation [H. Hasegawa et al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 43 (2004) 3197]. However, in this method, we need to apply external actuation to the subject. To simplify the measurement, we instead to obtain the frequency dependence of the elastic modulus from the change in arterial wall thickness spontaneously caused by the heartbeat because this change in thickness consists of frequency components up to 20-30 Hz. In this paper, the frequency dependence of the elastic modulus of a silicone rubber tube was investigated by applying frequency analysis to the change in wall thickness caused by the change in internal pressure simulating the actual arterial blood pressure.

Ultrasonic sensing for noninvasive characterization of oil-water-gas flow in a pipe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chillara, Vamshi Krishna; Sturtevant, Blake T.; Pantea, Cristian; Sinha, Dipen N.

2017-02-01

A technique for noninvasive ultrasonic characterization of multiphase crude oil-water-gas flow is discussed. The proposed method relies on determining the sound speed in the mixture. First, important issues associated with making real-time noninvasive measurements are discussed. Then, signal processing approach adopted to determine the sound speed in the multiphase mixture is presented. Finally, results from controlled experiments on crude oil-water mixture in both the presence and absence of gas are presented.

Defects and Materials Characterization by Analysis of Ultrasonic Signals. Study of a Technique to Measure Ultrasonic Attenuation

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-05-01

los M todos de Ensayos No Destructivos de Control de la Calidad de los Materiales ". Editado por Instituto Nacional de T6cnica AeroespaciaL...STUDY OF A TECH!4IUE TO MEASURE ULTRASONIC ATTENUATION. Carlos Valdecantos; Jos6 Miguel instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) Torrej6n de ...FORCE OFFICE OF SCIETIFIC RESEARCH Bolling AFB, D.C. 20332 ,: and EUJROPEAN OFFICE OF AEROSPACE .RESEARCH AND ,EZr--’. EN , London, England. 2

Molecular studies on di-sodium tartrate molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divya, P.; Jayakumar, S.; George, Preethamary; Shubashree, N. S.; Ahmed. M, Anees

2015-06-01

Structural characterization is important for the development of new material. The acoustical parameters such as Free Length, Internal Pressure have been measured from ultrasonic velocity, density for di sodium tartrate an optically active molecule at different temperatures using ultrasonic interferometer of frequency (2MHZ). The ultrasonic velocity increases with increase in concentration there is an increase in solute-solvent interaction. The stability constant had been calculated. SEM with EDAX studies has been done for Di-sodium tartrate an optically active molecule.

A clinical and SEM evaluation of the efficiency of sofscale gel and hand scaling and hand scaling alone.

PubMed

Thomas, K; Vandana, K L; Reddy, V Ramesh

2002-01-01

The purpose of this study is to compose between hand scaling with abd without the calculus solvent gel (sofscale) and ultrasonic instrumentation at clinical and SEM level. 30 patients belonging to the age group of 17-50 year were selected. Patients selected were subjected to three different scaling modalities namely hand scaling (control), hand scaling using sofscale (Experimental quadrant A) and ultrasonic scaling (Experimental quadrant B), in three different quadrants. Case report forms were used to document the tooth sensitivity, soft tissue pain after scaling, patient preference of instrumentation, ease of calculus removal, patient comfort, soft tissue irritation, time taken for scaling, Bleeding while scaling, pre and post operative sulcus bleeding index. In addition to the clinical criteria, the teeth treated were extracted and evaluated using the scanning electron microscope to show potential effects on cemntal surfaces. No difference in tooth sensitivity was appreciated between control and experimental quadrant A. There was a higher degree of tooth sensitivity when treated with ultrasonic. Patients in control group appreciated a higher degree of soft tissue pain. Hand scaling using softscale produced a lesser amount of pain and treatment with ultrasoincs was the least painful. Most of the patients preferred ultrasonic scaling (70%) Calculus removal was easier. Hand scaling using sofscale gel results in more patient comfort when compared to hand scaling alone. There was no significant difference in patient comfort between handscaling using sofscale and ultrasonic scaling. The percentage of reduction of sulcus bleeding index showed no difference between the 3 scaling modalities SEM evaluation revealed that there was no significant difference the 3 scaling modalities in relation to residual calculus, cleaning efficiency and damage to the root surface. This study concluded that treatment with sofscale gel appears to be safe and effective method for removal calculus as this did not damage cemental surfaces, nor did it cause any damage to soft tissue. "Your tratar is your calcified hate. Not only the microflora in your oral cavity but also your muddled thoughts, your obstinate squinting backward, the way you regree when you mean to progress, in other words, the tendency of your diseased gums to form germ catching pockets, all that, the sum of dental picture and psyche, betrays you, it is stored up violence, full of murdero us designs" Gunter Grass.

Guided ultrasonic waves for determining effective orthotropic material parameters of continuous-fiber reinforced thermoplastic plates.

PubMed

Webersen, Manuel; Johannesmann, Sarah; Düchting, Julia; Claes, Leander; Henning, Bernd

2018-03-01

Ultrasonic methods are widely established in the NDE/NDT community, where they are mostly used for the detection of flaws and structural damage in various components. A different goal, despite the similar technological approach, is non-destructive material characterization, i.e. the determination of parameters like Young's modulus. Only few works on this topic have considered materials with high damping and strong anisotropy, such as continuous-fiber reinforced plastics, but due to the increasing demand in the industry, appropriate methods are needed. In this contribution, we demonstrate the application of laser-induced ultrasonic Lamb waves for the characterization of fiber-reinforced plastic plates, providing effective parameters for a homogeneous, orthotropic material model. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of the stress wave factor technique for evaluation of composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duke, J. C., Jr.; Henneke, E. G., II; Kiernan, M. T.; Grosskopf, P. P.

1989-01-01

The acousto-ultrasonic approach for nondestructive evaluation provides a measurement procedure for quantifying the integrated effect of globally distributed damage characteristic of fiber reinforced composite materials. The evaluation procedure provides a stress wave factor that correlates closely with several material performance parameters. The procedure was investigated for a variety of materials including advanced composites, hybrid structure bonds, adhesive bonds, wood products, and wire rope. The research program focused primarily on development of fundamental understanding and applications advancements of acousto-ultrasonics for materials characterization. This involves characterization of materials for which detection, location, and identification of imperfections cannot at present be analyzed satisfactorily with mechanical performance prediction models. In addition to presenting definitive studies on application potentials, the understanding of the acousto-ultrasonic method as applied to advanced composites is reviewed.

Characterization of Delaminations and Transverse Matrix Cracks in Composite Laminates Using Multiple-Angle Ultrasonic Inspection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnston, Patrick H.; Appleget, Chelsea D.; Odarczenko, Michael T.

2012-01-01

Delaminations and transverse matrix cracks often appear concurrently in composite laminates. Normal-incidence ultrasound is excellent at detecting delaminations, but is not optimum for matrix cracks. Non-normal incidence, or polar backscattering, has been shown to optimally detect matrix cracks oriented perpendicular to the ultrasonic plane of incidence. In this work, a series of six composite laminates containing slots were loaded in tension to achieve various levels of delamination and ply cracking. Ultrasonic backscattering was measured over a range of incident polar and azimuthal angles, in order to characterize the relative degree of damage of the two types. Sweptpolar- angle measurements were taken with a curved phased array, as a step toward an array-based approach to simultaneous measurement of combined flaws.

Hydrodynamic cavitation kills prostate cells and ablates benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue.

PubMed

Itah, Zeynep; Oral, Ozlem; Perk, Osman Yavuz; Sesen, Muhsincan; Demir, Ebru; Erbil, Secil; Dogan-Ekici, A Isin; Ekici, Sinan; Kosar, Ali; Gozuacik, Devrim

2013-11-01

Hydrodynamic cavitation is a physical phenomenon characterized by vaporization and bubble formation in liquids under low local pressures, and their implosion following their release to a higher pressure environment. Collapse of the bubbles releases high energy and may cause damage to exposed surfaces. We recently designed a set-up to exploit the destructive nature of hydrodynamic cavitation for biomedical purposes. We have previously shown that hydrodynamic cavitation could kill leukemia cells and erode kidney stones. In this study, we analyzed the effects of cavitation on prostate cells and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue. We showed that hydrodynamic cavitation could kill prostate cells in a pressure- and time-dependent manner. Cavitation did not lead to programmed cell death, i.e. classical apoptosis or autophagy activation. Following the application of cavitation, we observed no prominent DNA damage and cells did not arrest in the cell cycle. Hence, we concluded that cavitation forces directly damaged the cells, leading to their pulverization. Upon application to BPH tissues from patients, cavitation could lead to a significant level of tissue destruction. Therefore similar to ultrasonic cavitation, we propose that hydrodynamic cavitation has the potential to be exploited and developed as an approach for the ablation of aberrant pathological tissues, including BPH.

Improved Ultrasonic Imaging of the Breast

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-08-01

benign and malignant masses often exhibit only subtle image differences. We have invented a new technique that uses modified ultrasound equipment to form images of ultrasonic angular scatter. This method provides a new source of image contrast and should enhance the detectability of MCs and improve the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. This method yields high resolution images with minimal statistical variability. In this first year 0 funding, we have formed images in tissue mimicking phantoms and found that

In Vivo Determination of the Complex Elastic Moduli of Cetacean Head Tissue

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-30

and with harvested tissue samples. In vivo testing will be conducted on Navy dolphins . Ultrasound parameters (peak negative pressure, time averaged...A synthetic material was developed which mimicks the ultrasonic properties of living bottlenose dolphin soft tissues. RESULTS 1. System...NIVMS) and with a laser doppler vibrometer (Polytec PDV-100). A variety of pulse drive levels, durations, and bandwidths for both ultrasound

Physics and Histologic Evaluation of Rotary, Ultrasonic, and Sonic Instruments.

PubMed

Ruga, Emanuele; Amerio, Ettore; Carbone, Vincenzo; Volante, Marco; Gandolfo, Sergio

2017-10-01

Rotary instruments (RIs) are the most commonly used to perform osteotomies in many fields of medicine. Owing to a new interest in performing a minimally invasive surgery, over last fifteen years new devices have been used in oral surgery such as ultrasonic instruments (UIs) and, lately, sonic instruments (SIs). Nowadays, bone preservation and regeneration are paramount in many clinical situations and, consequently, it is crucial to rely upon instruments, which cause the least tissue damage during the surgery. Concerning SIs, there is still few information about workload to be applied and related temperature increases; furthermore, there are no comparative in-vivo studies, which analyze the thermal and mechanical effects on bone. Thus, SIs have been compared with UIs and RIs in terms of heat generation, operating time, accuracy, and tissue damage. Decalcification and sectioning procedure resulted in no significant differences between the applied instruments in terms of bone damage. RIs resulted more efficient than UIs (P < 0.001), but demonstrated low accuracy (NRS 4.9), whereas SIs (P = 0.005) required more time to perform the osteotomy. The maximum temperature increase occurred in the ultrasonic group. Even though SI were the slowest, they have proved to be the most accurate (NRS 8.4) in comparison with UI (NRS 7.6) and RI (NRS 4.9). Within the limit of this study, sonic instruments could be considered a safe alternative to ultrasonic instruments.

Experimental and simulated ultrasonic characterization of complex damage in fused silica.

PubMed

Martin, L Peter; Chambers, David H; Thomas, Graham H

2002-02-01

The growth of a laser-induced, surface damage site in a fused silica window was monitored by the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique. The laser damage was grown using 12-ns pulses of 1.053-microm wavelength light at a fluence of approximately 27 J/cm2. The ultrasonic data were acquired after each pulse of the laser beam for 19 pulses. In addition, optical images of the surface and subsurface damage shape were recorded after each pulse of the laser. The ultrasonic signal amplitude exhibited variations with the damage size, which were attributed to the subsurface morphology of the damage site. A mechanism for the observed ultrasonic data based on the interaction of the ultrasound with cracks radiating from the damage site was tested using two-dimensional numerical simulations. The simulated results exhibit qualitatively similar characteristics to the experimental data and demonstrate the usefulness of numerical simulation as an aid for ultrasonic signal interpretation. The observed sensitivity to subsurface morphology makes the ultrasonic methodology a promising tool for monitoring laser damage in large aperture laser optics used in fusion energy research.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques Applied to the Quantitative Characterization of Textile Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1997-01-01

In this Progress Report, we describe our further development of advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods applied to the characterization of anisotropic materials. We present images obtained from experimental measurements of ultrasonic diffraction patterns transmitted through water only and transmitted through water and a thin woven composite. All images of diffraction patterns have been included on the accompanying CD-ROM in the JPEG format and Adobe TM Portable Document Format (PDF), in addition to the inclusion of hardcopies of the images contained in this report. In our previous semi-annual Progress Report (NAG 1-1848, December, 1996), we proposed a simple model to simulate the effect of a thin woven composite on an insonifying ultrasonic pressure field. This initial approach provided an avenue to begin development of a robust measurement method for nondestructive evaluation of anisotropic materials. In this Progress Report, we extend that work by performing experimental measurements on a single layer of a five-harness biaxial woven composite to investigate how a thin, yet architecturally complex, material interacts with the insonifying ultrasonic field. In Section 2 of this Progress Report we describe the experimental arrangement and methods for data acquisition of the ultrasonic diffraction patterns upon transmission through a thin woven composite. We also briefly describe the thin composite specimen investigated. Section 3 details the analysis of the experimental data followed by the experimental results in Section 4. Finally, a discussion of the observations and conclusions is found in Section 5.

Physical interpretation and development of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation techniques applied to the quantitative characterization of textile composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1995-01-01

In this Progress Report, the author describes the continuing research to explore the feasibility of implementing medical linear array imaging technology as a viable ultrasonic-based nondestructive evaluation method to inspect and characterize complex materials. Images obtained using an unmodified medical ultrasonic imaging system of a bonded aluminum plate sample with a simulated disbond region are presented. The disbond region was produced by adhering a piece of plain white paper to a piece of cellophane tape and applying the paper-tape combination to one of the aluminum plates. Because the area under the paper was not adhesively bonded to the aluminum plate, this arrangement more closely simulates a disbond. Images are also presented for an aluminum plate sample with an epoxy strip adhered to one side to help provide information for the interpretation of the images of the bonded aluminum plate sample containing the disbond region. These images are compared with corresponding conventional ultrasonic contact transducer measurements in order to provide information regarding the nature of the disbonded region. The results of this on-going investigation may provide a step toward the development of a rapid, real-time, and portable method of ultrasonic inspection and characterization based on linear array technology. In Section 2 of this Progress Report, the preparation of the aluminum plate specimens is described. Section 3 describes the method of linear array imaging. Sections 4 and 5 present the linear array images and results from contact transducer measurements, respectively. A discussion of the results are presented in Section 6.

A continuous-wave ultrasound system for displacement amplitude and phase measurement.

PubMed

Finneran, James J; Hastings, Mardi C

2004-06-01

A noninvasive, continuous-wave ultrasonic technique was developed to measure the displacement amplitude and phase of mechanical structures. The measurement system was based on a method developed by Rogers and Hastings ["Noninvasive vibration measurement system and method for measuring amplitude of vibration of tissue in an object being investigated," U.S. Patent No. 4,819,643 (1989)] and expanded to include phase measurement. A low-frequency sound source was used to generate harmonic vibrations in a target of interest. The target was simultaneously insonified by a low-power, continuous-wave ultrasonic source. Reflected ultrasound was phase modulated by the target motion and detected with a separate ultrasonic transducer. The target displacement amplitude was obtained directly from the received ultrasound frequency spectrum by comparing the carrier and sideband amplitudes. Phase information was obtained by demodulating the received signal using a double-balanced mixer and low-pass filter. A theoretical model for the ultrasonic receiver field is also presented. This model coupled existing models for focused piston radiators and for pulse-echo ultrasonic fields. Experimental measurements of the resulting receiver fields compared favorably with theoretical predictions.

The efficacy of selective calculus ablation at 400 nm: comparison to conventional calculus removal methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoenly, Joshua E.; Seka, Wolf; Romanos, Georgios; Rechmann, Peter

A desired outcome of scaling and root planing is the complete removal of calculus and infected root tissue and preservation of healthy cementum for rapid healing of periodontal tissues. Conventional periodontal treatments for calculus removal, such as hand instrument scaling and ultrasonic scaling, often deeply scrape the surface of the underlying hard tissue and may leave behind a smear layer. Pulsed lasers emitting at violet wavelengths (specifically, 380 to 400 nm) are a potential alternative treatment since they can selectively ablate dental calculus without ablating pristine hard tissue (i.e., enamel, cementum, and dentin). In this study, light and scanning electron microscopy are used to compare and contrast the efficacy of in vitro calculus removal for several conventional periodontal treatments (hand instruments, ultrasonic scaler, and Er:YAG laser) to calculus removal with a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire (λ = 400 nm). After calculus removal, enamel and cementum surfaces are investigated for calculus debris and damage to the underlying hard tissue surface. Compared to the smear layer, grooves, and unintentional hard tissue removal typically found using these conventional treatments, calculus removal using the 400-nm laser is complete and selective without any removal of pristine dental hard tissue. Based on these results, selective ablation from the 400-nm laser appears to produce a root surface that would be more suitable for successful healing of periodontal tissues.

Effect of nanofibers fraction on properties of the starch based biocomposite prepared in various ultrasonic powers.

PubMed

Abral, Hairul; Anugrah, Arya Satya; Hafizulhaq, Fadli; Handayani, Dian; Sugiarti, Eni; Muslimin, Ahmad Nove

2018-05-14

This paper reported the results of the characterization of jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) starch based biocomposite reinforced with varied nanofiber fractions, i.e. 35.4, 70.8 and 106.2 μg per 10 g of starch. The nanofiber was isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunches. During preparation, the biocomposite in form of gel was sonicated using an ultrasonic probe at various powers, i.e. 0, 480, 600, 720 watt at 20 kHz for 5 min. The results show that ultrasonication results in a significant improvement in biocomposite properties for each of the nanofiber fractions. The tensile strength, moisture resistance of the 35.4 μg nanofibers biocomposite increase significantly 278, 11% respectively after 600 watt ultrasonication. Field emission scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surface of the film showed ultrasonication resulted in it becoming smoother and more compact. These results indicate that ultrasonication improves the performance of the film. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic-assisted deacetylation of cellulose acetate nanofibers: A rapid method to produce cellulose nanofibers.

PubMed

Ahmed, Farooq; Ayoub Arbab, Alvira; Jatoi, Abdul Wahab; Khatri, Muzamil; Memon, Najma; Khatri, Zeeshan; Kim, Ick Soo

2017-05-01

Herein we report a rapid method for deacetylation of cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers in order to produce cellulose nanofibers using ultrasonic energy. The CA nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning thereby treated with NaOH and NaOH/EtOH solutions at various pH levels for 30, 60 and 90min assisted by ultrasonic energy. The nanofiber webs were optimized by degree of deacetylation (DD%) and wicking behavior. The resultant nanofibers were further characterized by FTIR, SEM, WAXD, DSC analysis. The DD% and FTIR results confirmed a complete conversion of CA nanofibers to cellulose nanofibers within 1h with substantial increase of wicking height. Nanofibers morphology under SEM showed slightly swelling and no damage of nanofibers observed by use of ultrasonic energy. The results of ultrasonic-assisted deacetylation are comparable with the conventional deacetylation. Our rapid method offers substantially reduced deacetylation time from 30h to just 1h, thanks to the ultrasonic energy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from bamboo using microwave liquefaction combined with chemical treatment and ultrasonication

Treesearch

Jiulong Xie; Chung Hse; Cornelis F. De Hoop; Tingxing Hu; Jinqiu Qi; Todd F. Shupe

2016-01-01

Cellulose nanofibers were successfully isolated from bamboo using microwave liquefaction combinedwith chemical treatment and ultrasonic nanofibrillation processes. The microwave liquefaction couldeliminate almost all the lignin in bamboo, resulting in high cellulose content residues within 7 min, andthe cellulose enriched residues could be readily purified by...

Ultrasonic Sensor Signals and Optimum Path Forest Classifier for the Microstructural Characterization of Thermally-Aged Inconel 625 Alloy

PubMed Central

de Albuquerque, Victor Hugo C.; Barbosa, Cleisson V.; Silva, Cleiton C.; Moura, Elineudo P.; Rebouças Filho, Pedro P.; Papa, João P.; Tavares, João Manuel R. S.

2015-01-01

Secondary phases, such as laves and carbides, are formed during the final solidification stages of nickel-based superalloy coatings deposited during the gas tungsten arc welding cold wire process. However, when aged at high temperatures, other phases can precipitate in the microstructure, like the γ” and δ phases. This work presents an evaluation of the powerful optimum path forest (OPF) classifier configured with six distance functions to classify background echo and backscattered ultrasonic signals from samples of the inconel 625 superalloy thermally aged at 650 and 950 °C for 10, 100 and 200 h. The background echo and backscattered ultrasonic signals were acquired using transducers with frequencies of 4 and 5 MHz. The potentiality of ultrasonic sensor signals combined with the OPF to characterize the microstructures of an inconel 625 thermally aged and in the as-welded condition were confirmed by the results. The experimental results revealed that the OPF classifier is sufficiently fast (classification total time of 0.316 ms) and accurate (accuracy of 88.75% and harmonic mean of 89.52) for the application proposed. PMID:26024416

Ultrasonic sensor signals and optimum path forest classifier for the microstructural characterization of thermally-aged inconel 625 alloy.

PubMed

de Albuquerque, Victor Hugo C; Barbosa, Cleisson V; Silva, Cleiton C; Moura, Elineudo P; Filho, Pedro P Rebouças; Papa, João P; Tavares, João Manuel R S

2015-05-27

Secondary phases, such as laves and carbides, are formed during the final solidification stages of nickel-based superalloy coatings deposited during the gas tungsten arc welding cold wire process. However, when aged at high temperatures, other phases can precipitate in the microstructure, like the γ'' and δ phases. This work presents an evaluation of the powerful optimum path forest (OPF) classifier configured with six distance functions to classify background echo and backscattered ultrasonic signals from samples of the inconel 625 superalloy thermally aged at 650 and 950 °C for 10, 100 and 200 h. The background echo and backscattered ultrasonic signals were acquired using transducers with frequencies of 4 and 5 MHz. The potentiality of ultrasonic sensor signals combined with the OPF to characterize the microstructures of an inconel 625 thermally aged and in the as-welded condition were confirmed by the results. The experimental results revealed that the OPF classifier is sufficiently fast (classification total time of 0.316 ms) and accurate (accuracy of 88.75%" and harmonic mean of 89.52) for the application proposed.

Theoretical analysis of transcranial Hall-effect stimulation based on passive cable model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yi; Li, Xiao-Li

2015-12-01

Transcranial Hall-effect stimulation (THS) is a new stimulation method in which an ultrasonic wave in a static magnetic field generates an electric field in an area of interest such as in the brain to modulate neuronal activities. However, the biophysical basis of simulating the neurons remains unknown. To address this problem, we perform a theoretical analysis based on a passive cable model to investigate the THS mechanism of neurons. Nerve tissues are conductive; an ultrasonic wave can move ions embedded in the tissue in a static magnetic field to generate an electric field (due to Lorentz force). In this study, a simulation model for an ultrasonically induced electric field in a static magnetic field is derived. Then, based on the passive cable model, the analytical solution for the voltage distribution in a nerve tissue is determined. The simulation results showthat THS can generate a voltage to stimulate neurons. Because the THS method possesses a higher spatial resolution and a deeper penetration depth, it shows promise as a tool for treating or rehabilitating neuropsychiatric disorders. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61273063 and 61503321), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2013M540215), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China (Grant No. F2014203161), and the Youth Research Program of Yanshan University, China (Grant No. 02000134).

Online monitoring of cartilage tissue in a novel bioreactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von der Burg, E.; von Buttlar, M.; Grill, W.

2011-04-01

Standard techniques for the analysis of biological tissues like immunohistochemical staining are typically invasive and lead to mortification of cells. Non-invasive monitoring is an important element of regenerative medicine because implants and components of implants should be 100% quality-checked with non-invasive and therefore also marker-free methods. We report on a new bioreactor for the production of collagen scaffolds seeded with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). It contains a computer controlled mechanical activation and ultrasonic online monitoring and has been constructed for the in situ determination of ultrasonic and rheological parameters. During the cultivation period of about two weeks the scaffold is periodically compressed by two movable pistons for improved differentiation of the MSCs. This periodic compression beneficially ensures the supply with nutrition even inside the sample. During the physiological stimuli, rheological properties are measured by means of highly sensitive load cells. In addition measurements of the speed of sound in the sample and in the culture medium, with frequencies up to 16 MHz, are performed continuously. Therefore piezoceramic transducers are attached to the pistons and emit and detect ultrasonic waves, travelling through the pistons, the sample and the culture medium. The time-of-flight (TOF) of the ultrasonic signals is determined in real time with the aid of chirped excitation and correlation procedures with a resolution of at least 10 ps. The implemented ultrasonic measurement scheme allows beside the speed of sound measurements the detection of the distance between the pistons with a resolution better than 100 nm. The developed monitoring delivers information on rigidity, fluid dynamics and velocity of sound in the sample and in the culture medium. The hermetically sealed bioreactor with its life support system provides a biocompatible environment for MSCs for long time cultivation.

Ultrasonic three-dimensional on-chip cell culture for dynamic studies of tumor immune surveillance by natural killer cells.

PubMed

Christakou, Athanasia E; Ohlin, Mathias; Önfelt, Björn; Wiklund, Martin

2015-08-07

We demonstrate a simple method for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture controlled by ultrasonic standing waves in a multi-well microplate. The method gently arranges cells in a suspension into a single aggregate in each well of the microplate and, by this, nucleates 3D tissue-like cell growth for culture times between two and seven days. The microplate device is compatible with both high-resolution optical microscopy and maintenance in a standard cell incubator. The result is a scaffold- and coating-free method for 3D cell culture that can be used for controlling the cellular architecture, as well as the cellular and molecular composition of the microenvironment in and around the formed cell structures. We demonstrate the parallel production of one hundred synthetic 3D solid tumors comprising up to thousands of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells, we characterize the tumor structure by high-resolution optical microscopy, and we monitor the functional behavior of natural killer (NK) cells migrating, docking and interacting with the tumor model during culture. Our results show that the method can be used for determining the collective ability of a given number of NK cells to defeat a solid tumor having a certain size, shape and composition. The ultrasound-based method itself is generic and can meet any demand from applications where it is advantageous to monitor cell culture from production to analysis of 3D tissue or tumor models using microscopy in one single microplate device.

Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of impact-damaged graphite fiber composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, J. H., Jr.; Lampert, N. R.

1980-01-01

Unidirectional Hercules AS/3501-6 graphite fiber epoxy composites were subjected to repeated controlled low-velocity drop weight impacts in the laminate direction. The degradation was ultrasonically monitored using through-thickness attenuation and a modified stress wave factor (SWF). There appears to be strong correlations between the number of drop-weight impacts, the residual tensile strength, the through-thickness attenuation, and the SWF. The results are very encouraging with respect to the NDE potential of both of these ultrasonic parameters to provide strength characterizations in virgin as well as impact-damaged fiber composite structures.

Dynamic characteristics of electric discharge in liquid under ultrasonic cavitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulychev, N. A.; Kazaryan, M. A.; Averyushkin, A. S.; Kirichenko, M. N.; Zakharyan, Robert; Chernov, A. A.

2018-04-01

The characteristics of electrical discharges in liquid media under the influence of intense ultrasonic vibrations are investigated and the difference in dynamic characteristics of discharges before cavitation and after cavitation begins. The experiments carried out during this work made it possible to establish that in a liquid in an intense ultrasonic field above the cavitation threshold there exists a special form of an electric discharge characterized by volumetric luminescence in the entire space between the electrodes and the current-voltage characteristic inherent in an anomalous glow discharge in a gas.

Wave propagation in composite media and material characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Datta, Subhendu K.; Shah, A. H.; Karunasena, W.

1990-01-01

Characteristics of wave propagation in an undamaged composite medium are influenced by many factors, the most important of which are: microstructure, constituent properties, interfaces, residual stress fields, and ply lay-ups. Measurements of wave velocities, attenuation, and dispersion provide a powerful tool for nondestructive evaluation of these properties. Recent developments are reviewed for modeling ultrasonic wave propagation in fiber and particle-reinforced composite media. Additionally, some modeling studies are reviewed for the effects of interfaces and layering on attenuation and dispersion. These studies indicate possible ways of characterizing material properties by ultrasonic means.

Ultrasonic characterization of solid liquid suspensions

DOEpatents

Panetta, Paul D.

2010-06-22

Using an ultrasonic field, properties of a solid liquid suspension such as through-transmission attenuation, backscattering, and diffuse field are measured. These properties are converted to quantities indicating the strength of different loss mechanisms (such as absorption, single scattering and multiple scattering) among particles in the suspension. Such separation of the loss mechanisms can allow for direct comparison of the attenuating effects of the mechanisms. These comparisons can also indicate a model most likely to accurately characterize the suspension and can aid in determination of properties such as particle size, concentration, and density of the suspension.

Ablation of synovial pannus using microbubble-mediated ultrasonic cavitation in antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits.

PubMed

Qiu, Li; Jiang, Yong; Zhang, Lingyan; Wang, Lei; Luo, Yan

2012-12-01

To investigate the ablative effectiveness of microbubble-mediated ultrasonic cavitation for treating synovial pannus and to determine a potential mechanism using the antigen-induced arthritis model (AIA). Ultrasonic ablation was performed on the knee joints of AIA rabbits using optimal ultrasonic ablative parameters. Rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis were randomly assigned to 4 groups: (1) the ultrasound (US) + microbubble group; (2) the US only group; (3) the microbubble only group, and (4) the control group. At 1 h and 14 days after the first ablation, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) monitoring and pathology synovitis score were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects. Synovial necrosis and microvascular changes were also measured. After the ablation treatment, the thickness of synovium and parameters of time intensity curve including derived peak intensity and area under curve were measured using CEUS, and the pathology synovitis score in the ultrasound + microbubble group was significantly lower than that found in the remaining groups. No damage was observed in the surrounding normal tissues. The mechanism underlying the ultrasonic ablation was related to microthrombosis and microvascular rupture that resulted in synovial necrosis. The results suggest that microbubble-mediated ultrasonic cavitation should be applied as a non-invasive strategy for the treatment of synovial pannus in arthritis under optimal conditions.

A compound scattering pdf for the ultrasonic echo envelope and its relationship to K and Nakagami distributions.

PubMed

Shankar, P Mohana

2003-03-01

A compound probability density function (pdf) is presented to describe the envelope of the backscattered echo from tissue. This pdf allows local and global variation in scattering cross sections in tissue. The ultrasonic backscattering cross sections are assumed to be gamma distributed. The gamma distribution also is used to model the randomness in the average cross sections. This gamma-gamma model results in the compound scattering pdf for the envelope. The relationship of this compound pdf to the Rayleigh, K, and Nakagami distributions is explored through an analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio of the envelopes and random number simulations. The three parameter compound pdf appears to be flexible enough to represent envelope statistics giving rise to Rayleigh, K, and Nakagami distributions.

Distributed fiber-optic laser-ultrasound generation based on ghost-mode of tilted fiber Bragg gratings.

PubMed

Tian, Jiajun; Zhang, Qi; Han, Ming

2013-03-11

Active ultrasonic testing is widely used for medical diagnosis, material characterization and structural health monitoring. Ultrasonic transducer is a key component in active ultrasonic testing. Due to their many advantages such as small size, light weight, and immunity to electromagnetic interference, fiber-optic ultrasonic transducers are particularly attractive for permanent, embedded applications in active ultrasonic testing for structural health monitoring. However, current fiber-optic transducers only allow effective ultrasound generation at a single location of the fiber end. Here we demonstrate a fiber-optic device that can effectively generate ultrasound at multiple, selected locations along a fiber in a controllable manner based on a smart light tapping scheme that only taps out the light of a particular wavelength for laser-ultrasound generation and allow light of longer wavelengths pass by without loss. Such a scheme may also find applications in remote fiber-optic device tuning and quasi-distributed biochemical fiber-optic sensing.

Supporting the potential of quantitative ultrasonic techniques for the evaluation of platelet concentration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villamarín, J. A.; Jiménez, Y. M.; Molano, L. Tatiana; Gutierrez, W. Edgar; Londoño, L. Fernando; Gutierrez, D. A.

2017-11-01

This article describes the results obtained by making use of a non-destructive, non-invasive ultrasonic system for the acoustic characterization of bovine plasma rich in platelets using digital signal processing techniques. This study includes computational methods based on acoustic spectrometry estimation and experimental measurements of the speed of sound in blood plasma from different samples analyzed, using an ultrasonic field with resonance frequency of 5 MHz. The results showed that the measurements on ultrasonic signals can contribute to the hematological predictions based on the linear regression model applied to the relationship between experimental ultrasonic parameters calculated and platelet concentration, indicating a growth rate of 1 m/s for each 0.90 x103 platelet per mm3. On the other hand, the attenuation coefficient presented changes of 20% in the platelet concentration using a resolution of 0.057 dB/cm MHz.

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques Applied to the Quantitative Characterization of Textile Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1997-01-01

In this Progress Report, we describe our recent developments of advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods applied to the characterization of anisotropic materials. We present images obtained from experimental measurements of ultrasonic diffraction patterns for a thin woven composite in an immersion setup. In addition, we compare apparent signal loss measurements of the thin woven composite for phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive detection methods. All images of diffraction patterns have been included on the accompanying CD-ROM in the Adobe(Trademark) Portable Document Format (PDF). Due to the extensive amount of data, however, hardcopies of only a small representative selection of the images are included within the printed report. This Progress Report presents experimental results that support successful implementation of single element as well as one and two-dimensional ultrasonic array technologies for the inspection of textile composite structures. In our previous reports, we have addressed issues regarding beam profiles of ultrasonic pressure fields transmitted through a water reference path and transmitted through a thin woven composite sample path. Furthermore, we presented experimental results of the effect of a thin woven composite on the magnitude of an insonifying ultrasonic pressure field. In addition to the study of ultrasonic beam profiles, we consider issues relevant to the application of single-element, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional array technologies towards probing the mechanical properties of advanced engineering composites and structures. We provide comparisons between phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive detection methods for determination of textile composite structure parameters. We also compare phase-sensitive and phase-insensitive - - ---- ----- apparent signal loss measurements in an effort to study the phenomenon of phase cancellation at the face of a finite-aperture single-element receiver. Furthermore, in this Progress Report we extend our work on ultrasonic beam profile issues through investigation of the phase fronts of the pressure field. In Section H of this Progress Report we briefly describe the experimental arrangement and methods for data acquisition of the ultrasonic diffraction patterns upon transmission through a thin woven composite. Section III details the analysis of the experimental data followed by the experimental results in Section IV. Finally, a discussion of the observations and conclusions is found in Section V.

Numerical and Experimental Characterization of a Composite Secondary Bonded Adhesive Lap Joint Using the Ultrasonics method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, M. R.; Ghosh, A.; Karuppannan, D.

2018-05-01

The construction of aircraft using advanced composites have become very popular during the past two decades, in which many innovative manufacturing processes, such as cocuring, cobonding, and secondary bonding processes, have been adopted. The secondary bonding process has become less popular than the other two ones because of nonavailability of process database and certification issues. In this article, an attempt is made to classify the quality of bonding using nondestructive ultrasonic inspection methods. Specimens were prepared and tested using the nondestructive ultrasonic Through Transmission (TT), Pulse Echo (PE), and air coupled guided wave techniques. It is concluded that the ultrasonic pulse echo technique is the best one for inspecting composite secondary bonded adhesive joints.

Nanoscale Visualization of Elastic Inhomogeneities at TiN Coatings Using Ultrasonic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidalgo, J. A.; Montero-Ocampo, C.; Cuberes, M. T.

2009-12-01

Ultrasonic force microscopy has been applied to the characterization of titanium nitride coatings deposited by physical vapor deposition dc magnetron sputtering on stainless steel substrates. The titanium nitride layers exhibit a rich variety of elastic contrast in the ultrasonic force microscopy images. Nanoscale inhomogeneities in stiffness on the titanium nitride films have been attributed to softer substoichiometric titanium nitride species and/or trapped subsurface gas. The results show that increasing the sputtering power at the Ti cathode increases the elastic homogeneity of the titanium nitride layers on the nanometer scale. Ultrasonic force microscopy elastic mapping on titanium nitride layers demonstrates the capability of the technique to provide information of high value for the engineering of improved coatings.

Ultrasonic characterization of microstructure in powder metal alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tittmann, B. R.; Ahlberg, L. A.; Fertig, K.

1986-01-01

The ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics were measured for IN-100, a powder metallurgy alloy used for aircraft engine components. This material was as a model system for testing the feasibility of characterizing the microstructure of a variety of inhomogeneous media including powder metals, ceramics, castings and components. The data were obtained for a frequency range from about 2 to 20 MHz and were statistically averaged over numerous volume elements of the samples. Micrographical examination provided size and number distributions for grain and pore structure. The results showed that the predominant source for the ultrasonic attenuation and backscatter was a dense (approx. 100/cubic mm) distribution of small micropores (approx. 10 micron radius). Two samples with different micropore densities were studied in detail to test the feasibility of calculating from observed microstructural parameters the frequency dependence of the microstructural backscatter in the regime for which the wavelength is much larger than the size of the individual scattering centers. Excellent agreement was found between predicted and observed values so as to demonstrate the feasibility of solving the forward problem. The results suggest a way towards the nondestructive detection and characterization of anomalous distributions of micropores when conventional ultrasonic imaging is difficult. The findings are potentially significant toward the application of the early detection of porosity during the materials fabrication process and after manufacturing of potential sites for stress induced void coalescence leading to crack initiation and subsequent failure.

Materials characterization of propellants using ultrasonics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Workman, Gary L.; Jones, David

1993-01-01

Propellant characteristics for solid rocket motors were not completely determined for its use as a processing variable in today's production facilities. A major effort to determine propellant characteristics obtainable through ultrasonic measurement techniques was performed in this task. The information obtained was then used to determine the uniformity of manufacturing methods and/or the ability to determine non-uniformity in processes.

Disk Refining and Ultrasonication Treated Sugarcane Bagasse Residues for Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Bio-composites

Treesearch

Qingzheng Cheng; Zhaohui Tong; Luisa Dempere; Lonnie Ingram; Letian Wang; J.Y. Zhu

2013-01-01

Disk refining and ultrasonication treated sugarcane bagasse residues reclaimed from the waste stream of a simplified bioethanol process after fermentation were used to fabricate biobased composites with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by film casting. The morphologies and the size distributions of residue particles were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy and...

Synergistic effect of microbubble emulsion and sonic or ultrasonic agitation on endodontic biofilm in vitro.

PubMed

Halford, Andrew; Ohl, Claus-Dieter; Azarpazhooh, Amir; Basrani, Bettina; Friedman, Shimon; Kishen, Anil

2012-11-01

Irrigation dynamics and antibacterial activity determine the efficacy of root canal disinfection. Sonic or ultrasonic agitation of irrigants is expected to improve irrigation dynamics. This study examined the effects of microbubble emulsion (ME) combined with sonic or ultrasonic agitation on irrigation dynamics and reduction of biofilm bacteria within root canal models. Two experiments were conducted. First, high-speed imaging was used to characterize the bubble dynamics generated in ME by sonic or ultrasonic agitation within canals of polymer tooth models. Second, 5.25% NaOCl irrigation or ME was sonically or ultrasonically agitated in canals of extracted teeth with 7-day-grown Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Dentinal shavings from canal walls were sampled at 1 mm and 3 mm from the apical terminus, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated. Mean log CFU/mL values were analyzed with analysis of variance and post hoc tests. High-speed imaging demonstrated strongly oscillating and vaporizing bubbles generated within ME during ultrasonic but not sonic agitation. Compared with CFU counts in controls, NaOCl-sonic and NaOCl-ultrasonic yielded significantly lower counts (P < .05) at both measurement levels. ME-sonic yielded significantly lower counts (P = .002) at 3 mm, whereas ME-ultrasonic yielded highly significantly lower counts (P = .000) at both measurement levels. At 3 mm, ME-ultrasonic yielded significantly lower CFU counts (P = .000) than ME-sonic, NaOCl-sonic, and NaOCl-ultrasonic. Enhanced bubble dynamics and reduced E. faecalis biofilm bacteria beyond the level achieved by sonic or ultrasonic agitation of NaOCl suggested a synergistic effect of ME combined with ultrasonic agitation. Copyright © 2012 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic characterization of pork fat crystallization during cold storage.

PubMed

Corona, Edith; García-Pérez, José V; Santacatalina, Juan V; Ventanas, Sonia; Benedito, José

2014-05-01

In this work, the feasibility of using ultrasonic velocity measurements for characterizing and differentiating the crystallization pattern in 2 pork backfats (Montanera and Cebo Iberian fats) during cold storage (0 °C, 2 °C, 5 °C, 7 °C, and 10 °C) was evaluated. The fatty acid profile, thermal behavior, and textural properties (hardness) of fat were also determined. Both fats became harder during cold storage (average hardness increase for both fats, 11.5 N, 8 N, and 1.8 N at 0, °C 2 °C, and 5 °C , respectively), showing a 2-step pattern related with the separate crystallization of the different existing triacylglycerols, which was well described using a modified Avrami equation (explained variance > 99%). Due to a greater content of saturated triacylglycerols, Cebo fat (45.1%) was harder than Montanera (41.8%). The ultrasonic velocity followed a similar 2-step pattern to hardness during cold storage, being found an average increase for both fats of 184, 161, and 150 m/s at 0 °C 2 °C, and 5 °C, respectively. Thus, ultrasonic measurements were useful both to characterize the textural changes taking place during cold storage and to differentiate between fats with different composition. The cold storage of dry-cured meat products during their distribution and retail sale exert an important effect on their textural properties and consumers' acceptance due to the crystallization of the fat fraction, which is greatly influenced by the type of fat. In this work, a nondestructive ultrasonic technique was used to identify the textural changes provoked by the crystallization during cold storage, and to differentiate between fats, which could be used for quality control purposes. © 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®

Ultrasonic Imaging Technology Helps American Manufacturer of Nondestructive Evaluation Equipment Become More Competitive in the Global Market

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

Sonix, Inc., of Springfield, Virginia, has implemented ultrasonic imaging methods developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center. These methods have heretofore been unavailable on commercial ultrasonic imaging systems and provide significantly more sensitive material characterization than conventional high-resolution ultrasonic c-scanning. The technology transfer is being implemented under a cooperative agreement between NASA and Sonix, and several invention disclosures have been submitted by Dr. Roth to protect Lewis interests. Sonix has developed ultrasonic imaging systems used worldwide for microelectronics, materials research, and commercial nondestructive evaluation (NDE). In 1993, Sonix won the U.S. Department of Commerce "Excellence in Exporting" award. Lewis chose to work with Sonix for two main reasons: (1) Sonix is an innovative leader in ultrasonic imaging systems, and (2) Sonix was willing to apply the improvements we developed with our in-house Sonix equipment. This symbiotic joint effort has produced mutual benefits. Sonix recognized the market potential of our new and highly sensitive methods for ultrasonic assessment of material quality. We, in turn, see the cooperative effort as an effective means for transferring our technology while helping to improve the product of a domestic firm.

Ultrasonic monitoring of Iberian fat crystallization during cold storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corona, E.; García-Pérez, J. V.; Santacatalina, J. V.; Peña, R.; Benedito, J.

2012-12-01

The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of ultrasonic measurements to characterize the crystallization process and to assess the textural changes of Iberian fat and Iberian ham during cold storage. The ultrasonic velocity was measured in two types of Iberian fats (Montanera and Cebo) during cold storage (0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 °C) and in vacuum packaged Iberian ham stored at 6°C for 120 days. The fatty acid profile, thermal behaviour and textural properties of fat were determined. The ultrasonic velocity and textural measurements showed a two step increase during cold storage, which was related with the separate crystallization of two fractions of triglycerides. It was observed that the harder the fat, the higher the ultrasonic velocity. Likewise, Cebo fat resulted harder than Montanera due to a higher content of saturated triglycerides. The ultrasonic velocity in Iberian ham showed an average increase of 55 m/s after 120 days of cold storage due to fat crystallization. Thus, non-destructive ultrasonic technique could be a reliable method to follow the crystallization of fats and to monitor the changes in the textural properties of Iberian ham during cold storage.

Synthesis of porous Cu-BTC with ultrasonic treatment: Effects of ultrasonic power and solvent condition.

PubMed

Israr, Farrukh; Kim, Duk Kyung; Kim, Yeongmin; Oh, Seung Jin; Ng, Kim Choon; Chun, Wongee

2016-03-01

Cu-BTC (BTC=1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) metal organic framework (MOF) was synthesized using different solvent conditions with ultrasonic treatment. Solvent mixtures of water/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), water/ethanol were used for the reactions with or without a variety of bases under 20 kHz ultrasonically treated conditions. Prepared crystals were purified through 30 min of sonication to remove unreacted chemicals. Treatment time and ultrasonic power effects were compared to get optimum synthetic condition. The characterization of MOF powders was performed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, infrared-spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and specific surface determination using the BET method. Isolated crystal yields varied with different solvent and applied ultrasonic power conditions. A high isolated crystal yield of 86% was obtained from water/ethanol/DMF solvent system after 120 min of ultrasonic treatment at 40% power of 750 W. Different solvent conditions led to the formation of Cu-BTC with different surface area, and an extremely high surface area of 1430 m(2)/g was obtained from the crystals taken with the solvent condition of water:DMF=70:30. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

New Approach to Ultrasonic Spectroscopy Applied to Flywheel Rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harmon, Laura M.; Baaklini, George Y.

2002-01-01

Flywheel energy storage devices comprising multilayered composite rotor systems are being studied extensively for use in the International Space Station. A flywheel system includes the components necessary to store and discharge energy in a rotating mass. The rotor is the complete rotating assembly portion of the flywheel, which is composed primarily of a metallic hub and a composite rim. The rim may contain several concentric composite rings. This article summarizes current ultrasonic spectroscopy research of such composite rings and rims and a flat coupon, which was manufactured to mimic the manufacturing of the rings. Ultrasonic spectroscopy is a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method for material characterization and defect detection. In the past, a wide bandwidth frequency spectrum created from a narrow ultrasonic signal was analyzed for amplitude and frequency changes. Tucker developed and patented a new approach to ultrasonic spectroscopy. The ultrasonic system employs a continuous swept-sine waveform and performs a fast Fourier transform on the frequency spectrum to create the spectrum resonance spacing domain, or fundamental resonant frequency. Ultrasonic responses from composite flywheel components were analyzed at Glenn to assess this NDE technique for the quality assurance of flywheel applications.

In and ex-vivo Myocardial Tissue Temperature Monitoring by Combined Infrared and Ultrasonic Thermometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engrand, C.; Laux, D.; Ferrandis, J.-Y.; Sinquet, J.-C.; Demaria, R.; Le Clézio, E.

The success of cardiac surgery essentially depends on tissue preservation during intervention. Consequently a hypothermic cardio-plegia is applied in order to avoid ischemia. However, myocardial temperature is not monitored during operation. The aim of this study is then to find a relevant and simple method for myocardial global temperature estimation in real time using both ultrasounds and infra-red thermography. In order to quantify the sensitivity of ultrasonic velocity to temperature, a 2.25 MHz ultrasonic probe was used for ex-vivo tests. Pig myocards (n=25) were placed in a thermostatically-controlled water bath and measurements of the ultrasound velocity were realized from 10 to 30 ˚C. The results of this study indicate that the specificity and sensitivity of the ultrasonic echo delay induced by the modification of temperature can be exploited for in-depth thermometry. In parallel, for TIR experiments, a bolometer was used to detect the myocardium surface thermal evolution during in-vivo pig heart experiments. Hypothermic cardioplegic solutions were injected and infra-red surface imaging was performed during one hour. In the near futur, the correlation of the ultrasound and the infrared measurements should allow the real time estimation of the global temperature of the heart. The final objective being to realize in vivo measurements on human hearts, this information may have a very high importance in terms of per-operation inspection as well as decision making process during medical interventions.

Scaling up the Single Transducer Thickness-Independent Ultrasonic Imaging Method for Accurate Characterization of Microstructural Gradients in Monolithic and Composite Tubular Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Carney, Dorothy V.; Baaklini, George Y.; Bodis, James R.; Rauser, Richard W.

1998-01-01

Ultrasonic velocity/time-of-flight imaging that uses back surface reflections to gauge volumetric material quality is highly suited for quantitative characterization of microstructural gradients including those due to pore fraction, density, fiber fraction, and chemical composition variations. However, a weakness of conventional pulse-echo ultrasonic velocity/time-of-flight imaging is that the image shows the effects of thickness as well as microstructural variations unless the part is uniformly thick. This limits this imaging method's usefulness in practical applications. Prior studies have described a pulse-echo time-of-flight-based ultrasonic imaging method that requires using a single transducer in combination with a reflector plate placed behind samples that eliminates the effect of thickness variation in the image. In those studies, this method was successful at isolating ultrasonic variations due to material microstructure in plate-like samples of silicon nitride, metal matrix composite, and polymer matrix composite. In this study, the method is engineered for inspection of more complex-shaped structures-those having (hollow) tubular/curved geometry. The experimental inspection technique and results are described as applied to (1) monolithic mullite ceramic and polymer matrix composite 'proof-of-concept' tubular structures that contain machined patches of various depths and (2) as-manufactured monolithic silicon nitride ceramic and silicon carbide/silicon carbide composite tubular structures that might be used in 'real world' applications.

Characterization of Heat Treated Titanium-Based Implants by Nondestructive Eddy Current and Ultrasonic Tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutlu, Ilven; Ekinci, Sinasi; Oktay, Enver

2014-06-01

This study presents nondestructive characterization of microstructure and mechanical properties of heat treated Ti, Ti-Cu, and Ti-6Al-4V titanium-based alloys and 17-4 PH stainless steel alloy for biomedical implant applications. Ti, Ti-Cu, and 17-4 PH stainless steel based implants were produced by powder metallurgy. Ti-6Al-4V alloy was investigated as bulk wrought specimens. Effects of sintering temperature, aging, and grain size on mechanical properties were investigated by nondestructive and destructive tests comparatively. Ultrasonic velocity in specimens was measured by using pulse-echo and transmission methods. Electrical conductivity of specimens was determined by eddy current tests. Determination of Young's modulus and strength is important in biomedical implants. Young's modulus of specimens was calculated by using ultrasonic velocities. Calculated Young's modulus values were compared and correlated with experimental values.

Using a heterodyne vibrometer in combination with pulse excitation for primary calibration of ultrasonic hydrophones in amplitude and phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, Martin; Wilkens, Volker

2017-08-01

A high-frequency vibrometer was used with ultrasonic pulse excitation in order to perform a primary hydrophone calibration. This approach enables the simultaneous characterization of the amplitude and phase transfer characteristic of ultrasonic hydrophones. The method allows a high frequency resolution in a considerably short time for the measurement. Furthermore, the uncertainty contributions of this approach were investigated and quantified. A membrane hydrophone was calibrated and the uncertainty budget for this measurement was determined. The calibration results are presented up to 70~\\text{MHz} . The measurement results show good agreement with the results obtained by sinusoidal burst excitation through the use of the vibrometer and by a homodyne laser interferometer, with RMS deviation of approximately 3% -4% in the frequency range from 1 to 60~\\text{MHz} . Further hydrophones were characterized up to 100~\\text{MHz} with this procedure to demonstrate the suitability for very high frequency calibration.

Digital ultrasonics signal processing: Flaw data post processing use and description

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buel, V. E.

1981-01-01

A modular system composed of two sets of tasks which interprets the flaw data and allows compensation of the data due to transducer characteristics is described. The hardware configuration consists of two main units. A DEC LSI-11 processor running under the RT-11 sngle job, version 2C-02 operating system, controls the scanner hardware and the ultrasonic unit. A DEC PDP-11/45 processor also running under the RT-11, version 2C-02, operating system, stores, processes and displays the flaw data. The software developed the Ultrasonics Evaluation System, is divided into two catagories; transducer characterization and flaw classification. Each category is divided further into two functional tasks: a data acquisition and a postprocessor ask. The flaw characterization collects data, compresses its, and writes it to a disk file. The data is then processed by the flaw classification postprocessing task. The use and operation of a flaw data postprocessor is described.

Nonlinear Characterization of Half and Full Wavelength Power Ultrasonic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathieson, Andrew; Cerisola, Niccolò; Cardoni, Andrea

It is well known that power ultrasonic devices whilst driven under elevated excitation levels exhibit nonlinear behaviors. If no attempt is made to understand and subsequently control these behaviors, these devices can exhibit poor performance or even suffer premature failure. This paper presents an experimental method for the dynamic characterization of a commercial ultrasonic transducer for bone cutting applications (Piezosurgery® Device) operated together with a variety of rod horns that are tuned to operate in a longitudinal mode of vibration. Near resonance responses, excited via a burst sine sweep method were used to identify nonlinear responses exhibited by the devices, while experimental modal analysis was performed to identify the modal parameters of the longitudinal modes of vibration of the assemblies between 0-80 kHz. This study tries to provide an understanding of the effects that geometry and material choices may have on the nonlinear behavior of a tuned device.

Phased laser diode array permits selective excitation of ultrasonic guided waves in coated bone-mimicking tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moilanen, Petro; Salmi, Ari; Kilappa, Vantte; Zhao, Zuomin; Timonen, Jussi; Hæggström, Edward

2017-10-01

This paper validates simulation predictions, which state that specific modes could be enhanced in quantitative ultrasonic bone testing. Tunable selection of ultrasonic guided wave excitation is useful in non-destructive testing since it permits the mediation of energy into diagnostically useful modes while reducing the energy mediated into disturbing contributions. For instance, it is often challenging to distinguish and extract the useful modes from ultrasound signals measured in bone covered by a soft tissue. We show that a laser diode array can selectively excite ultrasound in bone mimicking phantoms. A fiber-coupled diode array (4 elements) illuminated two solid tubes (2-3 mm wall thickness) embraced by an opaque soft-tissue mimicking elastomer coating (5 mm thick). A predetermined time delay matching the selected mode and frequency was employed between the outputs of the elements. The generated ultrasound was detected by a 215 kHz piezo receiver. Our results suggest that this array reduces the disturbances caused by the elastomer cover and so pave way to permit non-contacting in vivo guided wave ultrasound assessment of human bones. The implementation is small, inexpensive, and robust in comparison with the conventional pulsed lasers.

Multi-class biological tissue classification based on a multi-classifier: Preliminary study of an automatic output power control for ultrasonic surgical units.

PubMed

Youn, Su Hyun; Sim, Taeyong; Choi, Ahnryul; Song, Jinsung; Shin, Ki Young; Lee, Il Kwon; Heo, Hyun Mu; Lee, Daeweon; Mun, Joung Hwan

2015-06-01

Ultrasonic surgical units (USUs) have the advantage of minimizing tissue damage during surgeries that require tissue dissection by reducing problems such as coagulation and unwanted carbonization, but the disadvantage of requiring manual adjustment of power output according to the target tissue. In order to overcome this limitation, it is necessary to determine the properties of in vivo tissues automatically. We propose a multi-classifier that can accurately classify tissues based on the unique impedance of each tissue. For this purpose, a multi-classifier was built based on single classifiers with high classification rates, and the classification accuracy of the proposed model was compared with that of single classifiers for various electrode types (Type-I: 6 mm invasive; Type-II: 3 mm invasive; Type-III: surface). The sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of the multi-classifier by cross checks were determined. According to the 10-fold cross validation results, the classification accuracy of the proposed model was significantly higher (p<0.05 or <0.01) than that of existing single classifiers for all electrode types. In particular, the classification accuracy of the proposed model was highest when the 3mm invasive electrode (Type-II) was used (sensitivity=97.33-100.00%; PPV=96.71-100.00%). The results of this study are an important contribution to achieving automatic optimal output power adjustment of USUs according to the properties of individual tissues. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Noncontact Acousto-Ultrasonics for Material Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kautz, Harold E.

1998-01-01

A NdYAG 1064 nm, laser pulse was employed to produce ultrasonic waves in specimens of SiC/SiC and SiC/Ti 6-4 composites which are high temperature materials of interest for aerospace applications. Air coupled transducers were used to detect and collect the signals used for acousto-ultrasonic analysis. Conditions for detecting ultrasonic decay signals were examined. The results were compared to those determined on the same specimens with contact coupling. Some non-contact measurements were made employing conventional air focused detectors. Others were performed with a more novel micromachined capacitance transducer. Concerns of the laser-in technology include potential destructiveness of the laser pulse. Repeated laser pulsing at the same location does lead to deterioration of the ultrasonic signal in some materials, but seems to recover with time. Also, unlike contact AU, the frequency regime employed is a function of laser-material interaction rather than the choice of transducers. Concerns of the air coupled-out technology include the effect of air attenuation. This imposes a practical upper limit to frequency of detection. In the case of the experimental specimens studied ultrasonic decay signals could be imaged satisfactorily.

Lay-Up and Consolidation of a Composite Pipe by In Situ Ultrasonic Welding of a Thermoplastic Matrix Composite Tape.

PubMed

Dell'Anna, Riccardo; Lionetto, Francesca; Montagna, Francesco; Maffezzoli, Alfonso

2018-05-11

In this work, the potential of preformed thermoplastic matrix composite tapes for the manufacturing of composite pipes by filament winding assisted by in situ ultrasonic welding was evaluated. Unidirectional tapes of E-glass-reinforcedamorphous poly (ethylene terephthalate) were laid up and consolidated in a filament winding machine that was modified with a set-up enabling ultrasonic welding. The obtained composite specimens were characterized by means of morphological and dynamic mechanical analysis as well as void content evaluation, in order to correlate welding parameters to composite properties.

Development of ultrasonic atomizer and its application to S. I. engines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Namiyama, K.; Nakamura, H.; Kokubo, K.

1989-01-01

This paper describes a fuel atomizer developed for S.I. engines based on ultrasonic vibrations. As the spray is characterized by fine droplet size and low penetration, it facilitates fuel movement and the formation of a homogeneous mixture. The spray behavior of this atomizer is easily influenced by ambient air motion. Therefore, the spray is most effectively delivered to the cylinders by precise injection timing. The ultrasonic atomizer disperses a fine spray over a wide flow rate range. A single cylinder engine fitted with the atomizer showed advantages in combustion speed and transient response performance.

Lay-Up and Consolidation of a Composite Pipe by In Situ Ultrasonic Welding of a Thermoplastic Matrix Composite Tape

PubMed Central

Dell’Anna, Riccardo; Montagna, Francesco

2018-01-01

In this work, the potential of preformed thermoplastic matrix composite tapes for the manufacturing of composite pipes by filament winding assisted by in situ ultrasonic welding was evaluated. Unidirectional tapes of E-glass-reinforcedamorphous poly (ethylene terephthalate) were laid up and consolidated in a filament winding machine that was modified with a set-up enabling ultrasonic welding. The obtained composite specimens were characterized by means of morphological and dynamic mechanical analysis as well as void content evaluation, in order to correlate welding parameters to composite properties. PMID:29751693

Ultrasonic characterization of the nonlinear elastic properties of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prosser, William H.

1987-01-01

The theoretical treatment of linear and nonlinear elasticity in a unidirectionally fiber reinforced composite as well as measurements for a unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite (T300/5208) are presented. Linear elastic properties were measured by both ultrasonic and strain gage measurements. The nonlinear properties were determined by measuring changes in ultrasonic natural phase velocity with a pulsed phase locked loop interferometer as a function of stress and temperature. These measurements provide the basis for further investigations into the relationship between nonlinear elastic properties and other important properties such as strength and fiber-matrix interfacial stength in graphite/epoxy composites.

Characterization of C/Enhanced SiC Composite During Creep-Rupture Tests Using an Ultrasonic Guided Wave Scan System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Verrilli, Michael J.; Martin, Richard E.; Cosgriff, Laura M.

2004-01-01

An ultrasonic guided wave scan system was used to nondestructively monitor damage over time and position in a C/enhanced SiC sample that was creep tested to failure at 1200 C in air at a stress of 69 MPa (10 ksi). The use of the guided wave scan system for mapping evolving oxidation profiles (via porosity gradients resulting from oxidation) along the sample length and predicting failure location was explored. The creep-rupture tests were interrupted for ultrasonic evaluation every two hours until failure at approx. 17.5 cumulative hours.

Nondestructive evaluation of defects in wood pallet parts by ultrasonic scanning

Treesearch

M. Firoz Kabir; Philip A. Araman

2003-01-01

Ultrasonic scanning experiments were conducted for detecting defects in wood pallet parts using rolling transducers. The characterization of defects is important for sorting and grading pallet parts, as well as for manufacturing quality and durable pallets. This paper reports the scanning results for stringers and deckboards – the two main components of pallet for red...

Non-contact fluid characterization in containers using ultrasonic waves

DOEpatents

Sinha, Dipen N [Los Alamos, NM

2012-05-15

Apparatus and method for non-contact (stand-off) ultrasonic determination of certain characteristics of fluids in containers or pipes are described. A combination of swept frequency acoustic interferometry (SFAI), wide-bandwidth, air-coupled acoustic transducers, narrowband frequency data acquisition, and data conversion from the frequency domain to the time domain, if required, permits meaningful information to be extracted from such fluids.

Characterization of the Nonlinear Elastic Properties of Graphite/Epoxy Composites Using Ultrasound

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prosser, William H.; Green, Robert E., Jr.

1990-01-01

The normalized change in ultrasonic "natural" velocity as a function of stress and temperature was measured in a unidirectional laminate of T300/5208 graphite/epoxy composite using a pulsed phase locked loop ultrasonic interferometer. These measurements were used together with the linear (second order) elastic moduli to calculate some of the nonlinear (third order) moduli of this material.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction, structure and antitumor activity of polysaccharide from Polygonum multiflorum.

PubMed

Zhu, Weili; Xue, Xiaoping; Zhang, Zhanjun

2016-10-01

Polygonum multiflorum is a popular Chinese herbal medicine with various pharmacological functions. In this study, the ultrasonic-assisted extraction condition, structural characterization and antitumor activity of a polysaccharide from roots of P. multiflorum were investigated. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction condition was optimized by single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Results showed that the maximum extraction yield (5.49%) was obtained at ultrasonic power 158W, extraction temperature 62°C, extraction time 80min and ratio of water to material 20mL/g. The obtained crude polysaccharides were further purified to afford a neutral and an acidic fraction. The structure of the main neutral polysaccharide (named PPS with molecular weight of 3.26×10(5)Da) was characterized as a linear (1→6)-α-d-glucan by gas chromatography, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, methylation analysis, 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance. At the concentration of 400μg/mL, the inhibitory ratios of PPS on HepG-2 and BGC-823 cells were 53.35% and 38.58%, respectively. Results suggested this polysaccharide could be a potential natural antitumor agent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-destructive investigation of thermoplastic reinforced composites

DOE PAGES

Hassen, Ahmed; Taheri, Hossein; Vaidya, Uday

2016-05-09

This paper studies various manufacturing defects in glass fiber/Polypropylene (PP) composite parts and their methods of detection. Foreign Object Inclusion (FOI) of different shapes, sizes, and materials were placed in a glass fiber/PP panel made by compression molding. The paper aims to characterize the fiber orientation and fiber related defects such as fiber waviness in the composite specimen. Comprehensive investigation for different Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques, namely X-ray radiography and Ultrasonic Testing (UT) techniques to trace and characterize the embedded defects and the composite texture are presented. Conventional X-ray radiography successfully identified the fiber orientation in two dimension (2-D)more » plane; however, information for the sample depth was not captured. The radiography techniques showed low relative errors for the defect size measurements (maximum error was below 9.5%) when compared to the ultrasonic techniques. Ultrasonic techniques were able to map all the embedded artificial defects. Phase Array (PA) ultrasonic technique was able to precisely locate the FOI in the glass fiber/PP specimen. Nerveless, the shape and size of the defects were not accurately determined due to the high signal attenuation and distortion characteristics of the E-glass fiber.« less

Damage Characterization and Real-Time Health Monitoring of Aerospace Materials Using Innovative NDE Tools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matikas, Theodore E.

2010-07-01

The objective of this work is to characterize the damage and monitor in real-time aging structural components used in aerospace applications by means of advanced nondestructive evaluation techniques. Two novel experimental methodologies are used in this study, based on ultrasonic microscopy and nonlinear acoustics. It is demonstrated in this work that ultrasonic microscopy can be successfully utilized for local elastic property measurement, crack-size determination as well as for interfacial damage evaluation in high-temperature materials, such as metal matrix composites. Nonlinear acoustics enables real-time monitoring of material degradation in aerospace structures. When a sinusoidal ultrasonic wave of a given frequency and of sufficient amplitude is introduced into a nonharmonic solid, the fundamental wave distorts as it propagates, and therefore the second and higher harmonics of the fundamental frequency are generated. Measurements of the amplitude of these harmonics provide information on the coefficient of second- and higher-order terms of the stress-strain relation for a nonlinear solid. It is shown in this article that the material bulk nonlinear parameter for metallic alloy samples at different fatigue levels exhibits large changes compared to linear ultrasonic parameters, such as velocity and attenuation.

Ultrasonic biomicroscopy in ophthalmology and eye banking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenwasser, George O. D.

1999-06-01

Echography has become a valuable diagnostic tool in ophthalmology. Ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM) in particular may be applied to the evaluation of small lesions of the anterior segment of the eye. Disease processes such as conjunctival and iris melanoma, other forms of neoplasia, intraocular cysts, narrow angle glaucoma, and intraocular foreign bodies can be diagnostically evaluated and followed longitudinally by UBM. Combining UBM with spectroscopy may become useful in determining cell type origins of a variety of tumors. Eye banking also has an increased need for UBM in corneal tissue banking. The recent development of the Laser In Situ Keratomileusis procedure has allowed corneal surgeries to create a partial thickness flap of tissue in the cornea, remove tissue from the base of the cornea with excimer laser ablation, and replace the hinged flap. This causes a substantial change in refractive error while thinning the cornea and leaving an interface within the corneal stroma. The ability to detect this type of surgery is essential in eye banking. Ultrasonic pachymetry to determine central thickness and biomicroscopy to detect the presence of an interface are essential in avoiding the use of these corneas for transplantation purposes. Determining the topography of the preserved corneas is another potential application for ultrasonography. Using this information to reduce optical aberration after transplant is crucial in improving visual performance post transplantation. A review of the anatomy of the eye, pathology of ocular diseases relevant to UBM, and principles of eye banking will be presented.

Plastic Foam Porosity Characterization by Air-Borne Ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffrén, H.; Karppinen, T.; Hæggström, E.

2006-03-01

We continue to develop an ultrasonic burst-reflection method for estimating porosity and tortuosity of solid materials. As a first step we report on method design considerations and measurements on polyurethane foams (Sylomer® vibration dampener) with well-defined porosity. The ultrasonic method is experimentally tested by measuring 235 kHz and 600 kHz air-borne ultrasound reflection from a foam surface at two incidence angles. The reflected sound wave from different foam samples (32% - 64% porosity) was compared to a wave that had traveled from the transmitter to the detector without reflection. The ultrasonically estimated sample porosities coincided within 8% with the porosity estimates obtained by a gravimetric reference method. This parallels the uncertainty of the gravimetric method, 8%. The repeatability of the ultrasonic porosity measurements was better than 5%.

Ultrasonic nondestructive materials characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, R. E., Jr.

1986-01-01

A brief review of ultrasonic wave propagation in solid materials is presented with consideration of the altered behavior in anisotropic and nonlinear elastic materials in comparison with isotropic and linear elastic materials. Some experimental results are described in which ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements give insight into materials microstructure and associated mechanical properties. Recent developments with laser beam non-contact generation and detection of ultrasound are presented. The results of several years of experimental measurements using high-power ultrasound are discussed, which provide substantial evidence of the inability of presently accepted theories to fully explain the interaction of ultrasound with solid materials. Finally, a special synchrotron X-ray topographic system is described which affords the possibility of observing direct interaction of ultrasonic waves with the microstructural features of real crystalline solid materials for the first time.

Simulation of transducer-couplant effects on broadband ultrasonic signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.

1980-01-01

The increasing use of broadband, pulse-echo ultrasonics in nondestructive evaluation of flaws and material properties has generated a need for improved understanding of the way signals are modified by coupled and bonded thin-layer interfaces associated with transducers. This understanding is most important when using frequency spectrum analyses for characterizing material properties. In this type of application, signals emanating from material specimens can be strongly influenced by couplant and bond-layers in the acoustic path. Computer synthesized waveforms were used to simulate a range of interface conditions encountered in ultrasonic transducer systems operating in the 20 to 80 MHz regime. The adverse effects of thin-layer multiple reflections associated with various acoustic impedance conditions are demonstrated. The information presented is relevant to ultrasonic transducer design, specimen preparation, and couplant selection.

Ultrasonic Sound Field Mapping Through Coarse Grained Cast Austenitic Stainless Steel Components

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crawford, Susan L.; Prowant, Matthew S.; Cinson, Anthony D.

2014-08-01

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been involved with nondestructive examination (NDE) of coarse-grained cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) components for over 30 years. More recent work has focused on mapping the ultrasonic sound fields generated by low-frequency phased array probes that are typically used for the evaluation of CASS materials for flaw detection and characterization. The casting process results in the formation of large grained material microstructures that are nonhomogeneous and anisotropic. The propagation of ultrasonic energy for examination of these materials results in scattering, partitioning and redirection of these sound fields. The work reported here provides anmore » assessment of sound field formation in these materials and provides recommendations on ultrasonic inspection parameters for flaw detection in CASS components.« less

Quantitative broadband ultrasonic backscatter - An approach to nondestructive evaluation in acoustically inhomogeneous materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odonnell, M.; Miller, J. G.

1981-01-01

The use of a broadband backscatter technique to obtain the frequency dependence of the longitudinal-wave ultrasonic backscatter coefficient from a collection of scatterers in a solid is investigated. Measurements of the backscatter coefficient were obtained over the range of ultrasonic wave vector magnitude-glass sphere radius product between 0.1 and 3.0 from model systems consisting of dilute suspensions of randomly distributed crown glass spheres in hardened polyester resin. The results of these measurements were in good agreement with theoretical prediction. Consequently, broadband measurements of the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient may represent a useful approach toward characterizing the physical properties of scatterers in intrinsically inhomogeneous materials such as composites, metals, and ceramics, and may represent an approach toward nondestructive evaluation of these materials.

Time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing for deep-tissue optogenetic modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brake, Joshua; Ruan, Haowen; Robinson, J. Elliott; Liu, Yan; Gradinaru, Viviana; Yang, Changhuei

2018-02-01

The problem of optical scattering was long thought to fundamentally limit the depth at which light could be focused through turbid media such as fog or biological tissue. However, recent work in the field of wavefront shaping has demonstrated that by properly shaping the input light field, light can be noninvasively focused to desired locations deep inside scattering media. This has led to the development of several new techniques which have the potential to enhance the capabilities of existing optical tools in biomedicine. Unfortunately, extending these methods to living tissue has a number of challenges related to the requirements for noninvasive guidestar operation, speed, and focusing fidelity. Of existing wavefront shaping methods, time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing is well suited for applications in living tissue since it uses ultrasound as a guidestar which enables noninvasive operation and provides compatibility with optical phase conjugation for high-speed operation. In this paper, we will discuss the results of our recent work to apply TRUE focusing for optogenetic modulation, which enables enhanced optogenetic stimulation deep in tissue with a 4-fold spatial resolution improvement in 800-micron thick acute brain slices compared to conventional focusing, and summarize future directions to further extend the impact of wavefront shaping technologies in biomedicine.

Additive Manufacturing of Thermoplastic Matrix Composites Using Ultrasonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, Meghan

Advanced composite materials have great potential for facilitating energy efficient product design and their manufacture if improvements are made to current composite manufacturing processes. This thesis focuses on the development of a novel manufacturing process for thermoplastic composite structures entitled Laser-Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing ('LUAM'), which is intended to combine the benefits of laser processing technology, developed by Automated Dynamics Inc., with ultrasonic bonding technology that is used commercially for unreinforced polymers. These technologies used together have the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption and void content of thermoplastic composites made using Automated Fiber Placement (AFP). To develop LUAM in a methodical manner with minimal risk, a staged approach was devised whereby coupon-level mechanical testing and prototyping utilizing existing equipment was accomplished. Four key tasks have been identified for this effort: Benchmarking, Ultrasonic Compaction, Laser Assisted Ultrasonic Compaction, and Demonstration and Characterization of LUAM. This thesis specifically addresses Tasks 1 and 2, i.e. Benchmarking and Ultrasonic Compaction, respectively. Task 1, fabricating test specimens using two traditional processes (autoclave and thermal press) and testing structural performance and dimensional accuracy, provide results of a benchmarking study by which the performance of all future phases will be gauged. Task 2, fabricating test specimens using a non-traditional process (ultrasonic conpaction) and evaluating in a similar fashion, explores the the role of ultrasonic processing parameters using three different thermoplastic composite materials. Further development of LUAM, although beyond the scope of this thesis, will combine laser and ultrasonic technology and eventually demonstrate a working system.

[Periodontitis treatment by "vector" system].

PubMed

Vadachkoriia, N R; Mandzhavidze, N A; Gumberidze, N Sh

2008-11-01

Periodontal therapy by means of Vector device directly effects an environment of the tooth. It allows removing sub gingival dental plaque destroying pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins, washing out periodontal pockets carefully and polishing teeth roots. During treatment the hard tissues are not injured and the gum is not injured as well. Efficiency of a new ultrasonic technique in the complex treatment of periodontal diseases was declared. Periodontal therapy with the ultrasonic device leads to clinical improvements. It was found that Vector treatment was effective in the treatment of patients suffering from periodontitis.

Non-contact photoacoustic tomography and ultrasonography for brain imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rousseau, Guy; Blouin, Alain; Monchalin, Jean-Pierre

2012-02-01

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and ultrasonography (US) of biological tissues usually rely on transducer arrays for the detection of ultrasound. Obtaining the best sensitivity requires a physical contact with the tissue using an intermediate coupling fluid (water or gel). This type of contact is a major drawback for several applications such as neurosurgery. Laser-ultrasonics is an established optical technique for the non-contact generation and detection of ultrasound in industrial materials. In this paper, the non-contact detection scheme used in laser-ultrasonics is adapted to allow probing of ultrasound in biological tissues while remaining below laser exposure safety limits. Both non-contact PAT (NCPAT) and non-contact US (NCUS) are demonstrated experimentally using a single-frequency detection laser emitting suitably shaped pulses and a confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer. It is shown that an acceptable sensitivity is obtained while remaining below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) of biological tissues. Results obtained ex vivo with a calf brain specimen show that sub-mm endogenous and exogenous inclusions can be detected at depths exceeding 1 cm. When fully developed, the technique could be a unique diagnostic tool in neurosurgery providing deep imaging of blood vessels, blood clots and blood oxygenation.

Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals

PubMed Central

Kazys, Rymantas J.; Sliteris, Reimondas; Sestoke, Justina

2017-01-01

Air-coupled ultrasonic techniques are being increasingly used for material characterization, non-destructive evaluation of composite materials using guided waves as well as for distance measurements. Application of those techniques is mainly limited by the big losses of ultrasonic signals due to attenuation and mismatch of the acoustic impedances of ultrasonic transducers and air. One of the ways to solve this problem is by application of novel more efficient piezoelectric materials like lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) type crystals. The objective of this research was the development and investigation of low frequency (<50 kHz) wide band air-coupled ultrasonic transducers and arrays with an improved performance using PMN-32%PT crystals. Results of finite element modelling and experimental investigations of the developed transducers and arrays are presented. For improvement of the performance strip-like matching elements made of low acoustic impedance, materials such as polystyrene foams were applied. It allowed to achieve transduction losses for one single element transducer −11.4 dB, what is better than of commercially available air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. Theoretical and experimental investigations of the acoustic fields radiated by the eight element ultrasonic array demonstrated not only a good performance of the array in a pulse mode, but also very good possibilities to electronically focus and steer the ultrasonic beam in space. PMID:28067807

Introduction to nonlinear acoustics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bjørnø, Leif

2010-01-01

A brief review of the basic principles of fluid mechanics needed for development of linear and nonlinear ultrasonic concepts will be given. The fundamental equations of nonlinear ultrasonics will be derived and their physical properties explained. It will be shown how an originally monochromatic finite-amplitude ultrasonic wave, due to nonlinear effects, will distort during its propagation in time and space to form higher harmonics to its fundamental frequency. The concepts of shock formation will be presented. The material nonlinearity, described by the nonlinearity parameter B/A of the material, and the convective nonlinearity, described by the ultrasonic Mach Number, will be explained. Two procedures for determination of B/A will briefly be described and some B/A-values characterizing biological materials will be presented. Shock formation, described by use of the Goldberg Number,and Ultrasonic Saturation will be discussed.. An introduction to focused ultrasonic fields will be given and it will be shown how the ultrasonic intensity will vary axially and laterally in and near the focal region and how the field parameters of interest to biomedical applications may be described by use of the KZK-Model. Finally, an introduction will be given to the parametric acoustic array formed by mixing and interaction of two monochromatic, finite-amplitude ultrasonic waves in a liquid and the potentials of this mixing process in biomedical ultrasound will briefly be mentioned.

A teaching phantom for sonographers.

PubMed

Zagzebski, J A; Madsen, E L; Frank, G R

1991-01-01

An anthropomorphic torso section phantom is described that is intended for use during initial stages of ultrasonographer training. The phantom represents a section of the upper abdomen, with simulated ribs, liver, kidney with fat pad, gallbladder, aorta, and bowel gas. Positioned in the liver are ten simulated soft tissue masses, which produce a variety of typical echographic patterns. All simulated soft tissue components are formed of tissue-mimicking materials that match their corresponding tissue counterparts in terms of speed of sound, ultrasonic attenuation, and density. Construction details are presented and examples of images are shown.

Estimation of viscoelastic parameters in Prony series from shear wave propagation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jung, Jae-Wook; Hong, Jung-Wuk, E-mail: j.hong@kaist.ac.kr, E-mail: jwhong@alum.mit.edu; Lee, Hyoung-Ki

2016-06-21

When acquiring accurate ultrasonic images, we must precisely estimate the mechanical properties of the soft tissue. This study investigates and estimates the viscoelastic properties of the tissue by analyzing shear waves generated through an acoustic radiation force. The shear waves are sourced from a localized pushing force acting for a certain duration, and the generated waves travel horizontally. The wave velocities depend on the mechanical properties of the tissue such as the shear modulus and viscoelastic properties; therefore, we can inversely calculate the properties of the tissue through parametric studies.

Ultrasonic Characterization of Fatigue Cracks in Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Workman, Gary L.; Watson, Jason; Johnson, Devin; Walker, James; Russell, Sam; Thom, Robert (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Microcracking in composite structures due to combined fatigue and cryogenic loading can cause leakage and failure of the structure and can be difficult to detect in-service. In aerospace systems, these leaks may lead to loss of pressure/propellant, increased risk of explosion and possible cryo-pumping. The success of nondestructive evaluation to detect intra-ply microcracking in unlined pressure vessels fabricated from composite materials is critical to the use of composite structures in future space systems. The work presented herein characterizes measurements of intraply fatigue cracking through the thickness of laminated composite material by means of correlation with ultrasonic resonance. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy provides measurements which are sensitive to both the microscopic and macroscopic properties of the test article. Elastic moduli, acoustic attenuation, and geometry can all be probed. The approach is based on the premise of half-wavelength resonance. The method injects a broadband ultrasonic wave into the test structure using a swept frequency technique. This method provides dramatically increased energy input into the test article, as compared to conventional pulsed ultrasonics. This relative energy increase improves the ability to measure finer details in the materials characterization, such as microcracking and porosity. As the microcrack density increases, more interactions occur with the higher frequency (small wavelength) components of the signal train causing the spectrum to shift toward lower frequencies. Several methods are under investigation to correlate the degree of microcracking from resonance ultrasound measurements on composite test articles including self organizing neural networks, chemometric techniques used in optical spectroscopy and other clustering algorithms.

Novel approach of wavelet analysis for nonlinear ultrasonic measurements and fatigue assessment of jet engine components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bunget, Gheorghe; Tilmon, Brevin; Yee, Andrew; Stewart, Dylan; Rogers, James; Webster, Matthew; Farinholt, Kevin; Friedersdorf, Fritz; Pepi, Marc; Ghoshal, Anindya

2018-04-01

Widespread damage in aging aircraft is becoming an increasing concern as both civil and military fleet operators are extending the service lifetime of their aircraft. Metallic components undergoing variable cyclic loadings eventually fatigue and form dislocations as precursors to ultimate failure. In order to characterize the progression of fatigue damage precursors (DP), the acoustic nonlinearity parameter is measured as the primary indicator. However, using proven standard ultrasonic technology for nonlinear measurements presents limitations for settings outside of the laboratory environment. This paper presents an approach for ultrasonic inspection through automated immersion scanning of hot section engine components where mature ultrasonic technology is used during periodic inspections. Nonlinear ultrasonic measurements were analyzed using wavelet analysis to extract multiple harmonics from the received signals. Measurements indicated strong correlations of nonlinearity coefficients and levels of fatigue in aluminum and Ni-based superalloys. This novel wavelet cross-correlation (WCC) algorithm is a potential technique to scan for fatigue damage precursors and identify critical locations for remaining life prediction.

Input-output characterization of an ultrasonic testing system by digital signal analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karaguelle, H.; Lee, S. S.; Williams, J., Jr.

1984-01-01

The input/output characteristics of an ultrasonic testing system used for stress wave factor measurements were studied. The fundamentals of digital signal processing are summarized. The inputs and outputs are digitized and processed in a microcomputer using digital signal processing techniques. The entire ultrasonic test system, including transducers and all electronic components, is modeled as a discrete-time linear shift-invariant system. Then the impulse response and frequency response of the continuous time ultrasonic test system are estimated by interpolating the defining points in the unit sample response and frequency response of the discrete time system. It is found that the ultrasonic test system behaves as a linear phase bandpass filter. Good results were obtained for rectangular pulse inputs of various amplitudes and durations and for tone burst inputs whose center frequencies are within the passband of the test system and for single cycle inputs of various amplitudes. The input/output limits on the linearity of the system are determined.

Threshold Setting for Likelihood Function for Elasticity-Based Tissue Classification of Arterial Walls by Evaluating Variance in Measurement of Radial Strain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuzuki, Kentaro; Hasegawa, Hideyuki; Kanai, Hiroshi; Ichiki, Masataka; Tezuka, Fumiaki

2008-05-01

Pathologic changes in arterial walls significantly influence their mechanical properties. We have developed a correlation-based method, the phased tracking method [H. Kanai et al.: IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 43 (1996) 791], for measurement of the regional elasticity of the arterial wall. Using this method, elasticity distributions of lipids, blood clots, fibrous tissue, and calcified tissue were measured in vitro by experiments on excised arteries (mean±SD: lipids 89±47 kPa, blood clots 131 ±56 kPa, fibrous tissue 1022±1040 kPa, calcified tissue 2267 ±1228 kPa) [H. Kanai et al.: Circulation 107 (2003) 3018; J. Inagaki et al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44 (2005) 4593]. It was found that arterial tissues can be classified into soft tissues (lipids and blood clots) and hard tissues (fibrous tissue and calcified tissue) on the basis of their elasticity. However, there are large overlaps between elasticity distributions of lipids and blood clots and those of fibrous tissue and calcified tissue. Thus, it was difficult to differentiate lipids from blood clots and fibrous tissue from calcified tissue by simply thresholding elasticity value. Therefore, we previously proposed a method by classifying the elasticity distribution in each region of interest (ROI) (not a single pixel) in an elasticity image into lipids, blood clots, fibrous tissue, or calcified tissue based on a likelihood function for each tissue [J. Inagaki et al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44 (2006) 4732]. In our previous study, the optimum size of an ROI was determined to be 1,500 µm in the arterial radial direction and 1,500 µm in the arterial longitudinal direction [K. Tsuzuki et al.: Ultrasound Med. Biol. 34 (2008) 573]. In this study, the threshold for the likelihood function used in the tissue classification was set by evaluating the variance in the ultrasonic measurement of radial strain. The recognition rate was improved from 50 to 54% by the proposed thresholding.

Quantitative Ultrasound Comparison of MAT and 4T1 Mammary Tumors in Mice and Rats Across Multiple Imaging Systems.

PubMed

Wirtzfeld, Lauren A; Ghoshal, Goutam; Rosado-Mendez, Ivan M; Nam, Kibo; Park, Yeonjoo; Pawlicki, Alexander D; Miller, Rita J; Simpson, Douglas G; Zagzebski, James A; Oelze, Michael L; Hall, Timothy J; O'Brien, William D

2015-08-01

Quantitative ultrasound estimates such as the frequency-dependent backscatter coefficient (BSC) have the potential to enhance noninvasive tissue characterization and to identify tumors better than traditional B-mode imaging. Thus, investigating system independence of BSC estimates from multiple imaging platforms is important for assessing their capabilities to detect tissue differences. Mouse and rat mammary tumor models, 4T1 and MAT, respectively, were used in a comparative experiment using 3 imaging systems (Siemens, Ultrasonix, and VisualSonics) with 5 different transducers covering a range of ultrasonic frequencies. Functional analysis of variance of the MAT and 4T1 BSC-versus-frequency curves revealed statistically significant differences between the two tumor types. Variations also were found among results from different transducers, attributable to frequency range effects. At 3 to 8 MHz, tumor BSC functions using different systems showed no differences between tumor type, but at 10 to 20 MHz, there were differences between 4T1 and MAT tumors. Fitting an average spline model to the combined BSC estimates (3-22 MHz) demonstrated that the BSC differences between tumors increased with increasing frequency, with the greatest separation above 15 MHz. Confining the analysis to larger tumors resulted in better discrimination over a wider bandwidth. Confining the comparison to higher ultrasonic frequencies or larger tumor sizes allowed for separation of BSC-versus-frequency curves from 4T1 and MAT tumors. These constraints ensure that a greater fraction of the backscattered signals originated from within the tumor, thus demonstrating that statistically significant tumor differences were detected. © 2015 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Monopolar electrocautery versus ultrasonic dissection of the gallbladder from the gallbladder bed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial

PubMed Central

Mahabaleshwar, Varun; Kaman, Lileswar; Iqbal, Javid; Singh, Rajinder

2012-01-01

Background Ultrasonic dissection has been suggested as an alternative to monopolar electrocautery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy because it generates less tissue damage and may have a lower incidence of gallbladder perforation. We compared the 2 methods to determine the incidence of gallbladder perforation and its intraoperative consequences. Methods We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial between July 2008 and December 2009 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease who were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly assigned before administration of anesthesia to electrocautery or ultrasonic dissection. Both groups were compared for incidence of gallbladder perforation during dissection, bile leak, stones spillage, lens cleaning, duration of surgery and estimation of risk of gall-bladder in the presence of complicating factors. Results We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, preoperative ultrasonography findings and intraoperative complications. The overall incidence of gallbladder perforation was 28.3% (40.0% in the electrocautery v. 16.7% in the ultrasonic dissection group, p = 0.045). Bile leak occurred in 40.0% of patients in the electrocautery group and 16.7% of patients in ultrasonic group (p = 0.045). Lens cleaning time (p = 0.015) and duration of surgery (p = 0.001) were longer in the electrocautery than the ultrasonic dissection group. There was no statistical difference in stone spillage between the groups (p = 0.62). Conclusion Ultrasonic dissection is safe and effective, and it improves the operative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by reducing the incidence of gallbladder perforation. PMID:22854110

Ultrasonic dissection versus electrocautery in mastectomy for breast cancer - a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Currie, A; Chong, K; Davies, G L; Cummins, R S

2012-10-01

Electrocautery has advanced the practice of mastectomy but significant morbidity, such as seroma and blood loss, remains a concern. This has led to newer forms of dissection being introduced including the ultrasonic dissection devices, which are thought to reduce tissue damage. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the outcomes after mastectomy using novel ultrasonic dissection or standard electrocautery in published trials. Medline, Embase, trial registries, conference proceedings and reference lists were searched for comparative trials of ultrasonic dissection versus electrocautery for mastectomy. The primary outcomes were total postoperative drainage, seroma development and intra-operative blood loss. Secondary outcomes were operative time and wound complications. Odds ratios were calculated for categorical outcomes and standardised mean differences for continuous outcomes. Six trials were included in the analysis of 287 mastectomies. There was no effect in total postoperative drainage (pooled analysis weight mean difference: -0.21 (95% CI: -0.70-0.29); p = 0.41) or seroma development (pooled analysis odds ratio: 0.77 (95% CIs 0.43-1.37); p = 0.37). Intra-operative blood was slightly less for ultrasonic dissection compared to standard electrocautery (pooled analysis weight mean difference: -1.04 (95% CI: -2.00 to -0.08); p = 0.03). Ultrasonic dissection and standard electrocautery had similar outcomes with regard to operative time and wound complications. Ultrasonic dissection and standard electrocautery appear to deliver similar results in the mastectomy setting. Further cost-effectiveness analysis may guide surgeon selection in the use of new technologies for mastectomy. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monopolar electrocautery versus ultrasonic dissection of the gallbladder from the gallbladder bed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Mahabaleshwar, Varun; Kaman, Lileswar; Iqbal, Javid; Singh, Rajinder

2012-10-01

Ultrasonic dissection has been suggested as an alternative to monopolar electrocautery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy because it generates less tissue damage and may have a lower incidence of gallbladder perforation. We compared the 2 methods to determine the incidence of gallbladder perforation and its intraoperative consequences. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial between July 2008 and December 2009 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease who were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly assigned before administration of anesthesia to electrocautery or ultrasonic dissection. Both groups were compared for incidence of gallbladder perforation during dissection, bile leak, stones spillage, lens cleaning, duration of surgery and estimation of risk of gallbladder in the presence of complicating factors. We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, preoperative ultrasonography findings and intraoperative complications. The overall incidence of gallbladder perforation was 28.3% (40.0% in the electrocautery v. 16.7% in the ultrasonic dissection group, p = 0.045). Bile leak occurred in 40.0% of patients in the electrocautery group and 16.7% of patients in ultrasonic group (p = 0.045). Lens cleaning time (p = 0.015) and duration of surgery (p = 0.001) were longer in the electrocautery than the ultrasonic dissection group. There was no statistical difference in stone spillage between the groups (p = 0.62). Ultrasonic dissection is safe and effective, and it improves the operative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by reducing the incidence of gallbladder perforation.

Assessment of lamb carcass composition from live animal measurement of bioelectrical impedance or ultrasonic tissue depths.

PubMed

Berg, E P; Neary, M K; Forrest, J C; Thomas, D L; Kauffman, R G

1996-11-01

Market weight lambs, average weight 52.5 kg (+/-6.1), were used to evaluate nontraditional live animal measurements as predictors of carcass composition. The sample population (n = 106) represented U.S. market lambs and transcended geographic location, breed, carcass weight, yield grade, and production system. Realtime ultrasonic (RU) measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were used for development and evaluation of prediction equations for % boneless, closely trimmed primal cuts (BCTPC), weight or % of dissected lean tissue (TDL), and chemically derived weight or % fat-free lean (FFL). Longitudinal ultrasonic images were obtained parallel to the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), positioning the last costae in the center of the transducer head. Images were saved and fat and LTL depths were derived from printed images of the ultrasonic scans. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was administered via a four-terminal impedance plethysmograph operating at 800 microA at 50 kHz. Impedance measurements of whole-body resistance and reactance were recorded. Prediction equations including common linear measurements of live weight, heart girth, hindsaddle length, and shoulder height were also evaluated. All measurements were taken just before slaughter. Bioelectrical impedance measurements (as compared to RU and linear measurements) provided equations for %BCTPC, TDL, %TDL, FFL and %FFL with the highest R2 and lowest root mean square error. Even though BIA provided the best equations of the three methodologies tested, prediction of proportional yield (%BCTPC, %TDL, and %FFL) was marginal (R2 = .296, .551, and .551, respectively). Equations combining BIA, RU, and linear measurements greatly improved equations for prediction of proportional lean yield.

Applications of ultrasound in dentistry.

PubMed

Walmsley, A D

1988-01-01

An ultrasonic descaler working at kHz frequencies is used in dentistry to remove attached deposits from the teeth. Such devices offer many advantages over conventional hand instruments by reducing both the work and time involved in the clinical descaling process. Although it is a recognised clinical instrument, there has been little attempt to standardise its acoustic power output. A parameter which may characterise adequately the acoustic emission from these instruments is the displacement amplitude of the probe tip. Modification of the ultrasonic descaler generator has led to the further use of the instrument in other dental areas. Diagnostic applications of MHz ultrasound is limited by the structure and arrangement of the dental tissues. Therapeutic ultrasound has been used to treat a variety of dentally related ailments, and ultrasonic cleaning baths are used to clean both dental instruments and materials.

A novel ultrasound assisted method in synthesis of NZVI particles.

PubMed

Jamei, Mir Roozbeh; Khosravi, Mohamad Reza; Anvaripour, Bagher

2014-01-01

This research is about a novel ultrasound assisted method for synthesis of nano zero valent iron particles (NZVI). The materials were characterized using TEM, FESEM, XRD, BET and acoustic PSA. The effect of ultrasonic power, precursor/reductant concentration (NaBH4, FeSO4·7H2O) and delivery rate of NaBH4 on NZVI characteristics were investigated. Under high ultrasonic power the morphology of nano particles changed from spherical type to plate and needle type. Also, when high precursor/reductant and high ultrasonic power was used the particle size of NZVI decreased. The surface area of NZVI particles synthesized by ultrasonic method was increased when compared by the other method. From the XRD patterns it was found also the crystallinity of particles was poor. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Transducer Irradiation Test Results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daw, Joshua; Palmer, Joe; Ramuhalli, Pradeep

2015-02-01

Ultrasonic technologies offer the potential for high-accuracy and -resolution in-pile measurement of a range of parameters, including geometry changes, temperature, crack initiation and growth, gas pressure and composition, and microstructural changes. Many Department of Energy-Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) programs are exploring the use of ultrasonic technologies to provide enhanced sensors for in-pile instrumentation during irradiation testing. For example, the ability of small diameter ultrasonic thermometers (UTs) to provide a temperature profile in candidate metallic and oxide fuel would provide much needed data for validating new fuel performance models. Other ongoing efforts include an ultrasonic technique to detect morphology changesmore » (such as crack initiation and growth) and acoustic techniques to evaluate fission gas composition and pressure. These efforts are limited by the lack of identified ultrasonic transducer materials capable of long term performance under irradiation test conditions. For this reason, the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) was awarded an ATR NSUF project to evaluate the performance of promising magnetostrictive and piezoelectric transducers in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITR) up to a fast fluence of at least 10 21 n/cm 2. The goal of this research is to characterize and demonstrate magnetostrictive and piezoelectric transducer operation during irradiation, enabling the development of novel radiation-tolerant ultrasonic sensors for use in Material Testing Reactors (MTRs). As such, this test is an instrumented lead test and real-time transducer performance data is collected along with temperature and neutron and gamma flux data. The current work bridges the gap between proven out-of-pile ultrasonic techniques and in-pile deployment of ultrasonic sensors by acquiring the data necessary to demonstrate the performance of ultrasonic transducers. To date, one piezoelectric transducer and two magnetostrictive transducers have demonstrated reliable operation under irradiation. The irradiation is ongoing.« less

Irradiation Testing of Ultrasonic Transducers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daw, Joshua; Tittmann, Bernhard; Reinhardt, Brian

2014-07-30

Ultrasonic technologies offer the potential for high accuracy and resolution in-pile measurement of a range of parameters, including geometry changes, temperature, crack initiation and growth, gas pressure and composition, and microstructural changes. Many Department of Energy-Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) programs are exploring the use of ultrasonic technologies to provide enhanced sensors for in-pile instrumentation during irradiation testing. For example, the ability of single, small diameter ultrasonic thermometers (UTs) to provide a temperature profile in candidate metallic and oxide fuel would provide much needed data for validating new fuel performance models. Other efforts include an ultrasonic technique to detect morphologymore » changes (such as crack initiation and growth) and acoustic techniques to evaluate fission gas composition and pressure. These efforts are limited by the lack of existing knowledge of ultrasonic transducer material survivability under irradiation conditions. For this reason, the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) was awarded an Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility (ATR NSUF) project to evaluate promising magnetostrictive and piezoelectric transducer performance in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITR) up to a fast fluence of at least 1021 n/cm2 (E> 0.1 MeV). The goal of this research is to characterize magnetostrictive and piezoelectric transducer survivability during irradiation, enabling the development of novel radiation tolerant ultrasonic sensors for use in Material and Test Reactors (MTRs). As such, this test will be an instrumented lead test and real-time transducer performance data will be collected along with temperature and neutron and gamma flux data. The current work bridges the gap between proven out-of-pile ultrasonic techniques and in-pile deployment of ultrasonic sensors by acquiring the data necessary to demonstrate the performance of ultrasonic transducers.« less

(abstract) Oblique Insonification Ultrasonic NDE of Composite Materials for Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bar-Cohen, Y.; Lih, S. S.; Mal, A. K.

1997-01-01

In recent years, a great deal of research has been exerted to developing NDE methods for the characterization of the material properties of composites as well as other space structural materials. The need for information about such parameters as the elastic properties, density, and thickness are critical to the safe design and operation of such structural materials. Ultrasonics using immersion methods has played an important role in these efforts due to its capability, cost effectiveness, and ease of use. The authors designed a series of ultrasonic oblique insonification experiments in order to develop a practical field applicable NDE method for space structures.

Rapid and Quiet Drill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherrit, Stewart; Badescu, Mircea; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Chang, Zensheu; Bao, Xiaoqi

2007-01-01

This describes aspects of the rapid and quiet drill (RAQD), which is a prototype apparatus for drilling concrete or bricks. The design and basic principle of operation of the RAQD overlap, in several respects, with those of ultrasonic/ sonic drilling and coring apparatuses described in a number of previous NASA Tech Briefs articles. The main difference is that whereas the actuation scheme of the prior apparatuses is partly ultrasonic and partly sonic, the actuation scheme of the RAQD is purely ultrasonic. Hence, even though the RAQD generates considerable sound, it is characterized as quiet because most or all of the sound is above the frequency range of human hearing.

Synthesis of Calcite Nano Particles from Natural Limestone assisted with Ultrasonic Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handayani, M.; Sulistiyono, E.; Firdiyono, F.; Fajariani, E. N.

2018-03-01

This article represents a precipitation method assisted with ultrasonic process to synthesize precipitated calcium carbonate nano particles from natural limestone. The synthesis of nanoparticles material of precipitated calcium carbonate from commercial calcium carbonate was done for comparison. The process was performed using ultrasonic waves at optimum condition, that is, at temperature of 80oC for 10 minutes with various amplitudes. Synthesized precipitated calcium carbonate nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). The result of PSA measurements showed that precipitated calcium carbonate nano particles was obtained with the average size of 109 nm.

A Study of the Potential to Detect Caries Lesions at the White-Spot Stage Using V(Z) Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakulin, E. Y.; Denisova, L. A.; Maev, R. Gr.

Current wide-spread methods of non-destructive methods of caries diagnostics, such as X-ray techniques, do not provide the possibility to efficiently detect enamel caries lesions at the beginning ("white-spot") stage, when the tooth tissue is only slightly altered and no loss of the tissue occurs. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop new, more sensitive methods of caries diagnostics. In this paper, certain aspects of the ultrasonic approach to the problem are discussed - in particular, detection of the enamel's surface caries at the white-spot stage with a focused ultrasonic sensor positioned in front of the caries lesion (without cross-sectioning the tooth). Theoretical model using V(z) approach for layered media was applied to perform computer simulations resulting in V(z) curves for the different parameters of carious tissue and the degree of degradation. The curves were analyzed and it was shown that, comparing to a short-pulse/echo technique, V(z) approach provides much better distinction between sound and carious enamel and even makes possible to evaluate the degree of demineralization.

Non-contact biomedical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rousseau, Guy; Gauthier, Bruno; Blouin, Alain; Monchalin, Jean-Pierre

2012-06-01

The detection of ultrasound in photoacoustic tomography (PAT) usually relies on ultrasonic transducers in contact with the biological tissue through a coupling medium. This is a major drawback for important potential applications such as surgery. Here we report the use of a remote optical method, derived from industrial laser-ultrasonics, to detect ultrasound in tissues. This approach enables non-contact PAT (NCPAT) without exceeding laser exposure safety limits. The sensitivity of the method is based on the use of suitably shaped detection laser pulses and a confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer in differential configuration. Reliable image reconstruction is obtained by measuring remotely the surface profile of the tissue with an optical coherence tomography system. The proposed method also allows non-contact ultrasound imaging (US) by applying a second reconstruction algorithm to the data acquired for NCPAT. Endogenous and exogenous inclusions exhibiting optical and acoustic contrasts were detected ex vivo in chicken breast and calf brain specimens. Inclusions down to 0.3 mm in size were detected at depths exceeding 1 cm. The method could expand the scope of photoacoustic and US to in-vivo biomedical applications where contact is impractical.

Focused fluorescence excitation with time-reversed ultrasonically encoded light and imaging in thick scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Puxiang; Suzuki, Yuta; Xu, Xiao; Wang, Lihong V.

2013-07-01

Scattering dominates light propagation in biological tissue, and therefore restricts both resolution and penetration depth in optical imaging within thick tissue. As photons travel into the diffusive regime, typically 1 mm beneath human skin, their trajectories transition from ballistic to diffusive due to the increased number of scattering events, which makes it impossible to focus, much less track, photon paths. Consequently, imaging methods that rely on controlled light illumination are ineffective in deep tissue. This problem has recently been addressed by a novel method capable of dynamically focusing light in thick scattering media via time reversal of ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) diffused light. Here, using photorefractive materials as phase conjugate mirrors, we show a direct visualization and dynamic control of optical focusing with this light delivery method, and demonstrate its application for focused fluorescence excitation and imaging in thick turbid media. These abilities are increasingly critical for understanding the dynamic interactions of light with biological matter and processes at different system levels, as well as their applications for biomedical diagnosis and therapy.

Simultaneous functional photoacoustic and ultrasonic endoscopy of internal organs in vivo.

PubMed

Yang, Joon-Mo; Favazza, Christopher; Chen, Ruimin; Yao, Junjie; Cai, Xin; Maslov, Konstantin; Zhou, Qifa; Shung, K Kirk; Wang, Lihong V

2012-08-01

At present, clinicians routinely apply ultrasound endoscopy in a variety of interventional procedures that provide treatment solutions for diseased organs. Ultrasound endoscopy not only produces high-resolution images, but also is safe for clinical use and broadly applicable. However, for soft tissue imaging, its mechanical wave-based image contrast fundamentally limits its ability to provide physiologically specific functional information. By contrast, photoacoustic endoscopy possesses a unique combination of functional optical contrast and high spatial resolution at clinically relevant depths, ideal for imaging soft tissues. With these attributes, photoacoustic endoscopy can overcome the current limitations of ultrasound endoscopy. Moreover, the benefits of photoacoustic imaging do not come at the expense of existing ultrasound functions; photoacoustic endoscopy systems are inherently compatible with ultrasound imaging, thereby enabling multimodality imaging with complementary contrast. Here we present simultaneous photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode endoscopy and show its ability to image internal organs in vivo, thus illustrating its potential clinical application.

Simultaneous functional photoacoustic and ultrasonic endoscopy of internal organs in vivo

PubMed Central

Yang, Joon-Mo; Favazza, Christopher; Chen, Ruimin; Yao, Junjie; Cai, Xin; Maslov, Konstantin; Zhou, Qifa; Shung, K. Kirk; Wang, Lihong V.

2013-01-01

Presently, clinicians routinely apply ultrasound endoscopy in a variety of interventional procedures which provide treatment solutions for diseased organs. Ultrasound endoscopy not only produces high resolution images, it is also safe for clinical use and broadly applicable. However, for soft tissue imaging, its mechanical wave-based image contrast fundamentally limits its ability to provide physiologically-specific functional information. By contrast, photoacoustic endoscopy possesses a unique combination of functional optical contrast and high spatial resolution at clinically-relevant depths, ideal for soft tissue imaging. With these attributes, photoacoustic endoscopy can overcome the current limitations of ultrasound endoscopy. Moreover, the benefits of photoacoustic imaging do not come at the expense of existing ultrasound functions; photoacoustic endoscopy systems are inherently compatible with ultrasound imaging, enabling multi-modality imaging with complementary contrast. Here, we present simultaneous photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode endoscopy and demonstrate its ability to image internal organs in vivo, illustrating its potential clinical application. PMID:22797808

Development of a Multi-modal Tissue Diagnostic System Combining High Frequency Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging with Lifetime Fluorescence Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Sun, Yang; Stephens, Douglas N.; Park, Jesung; Sun, Yinghua; Marcu, Laura; Cannata, Jonathan M.; Shung, K. Kirk

2010-01-01

We report the development and validate a multi-modal tissue diagnostic technology, which combines three complementary techniques into one system including ultrasound backscatter microscopy (UBM), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS). UBM enables the reconstruction of the tissue microanatomy. PAI maps the optical absorption heterogeneity of the tissue associated with structure information and has the potential to provide functional imaging of the tissue. Examination of the UBM and PAI images allows for localization of regions of interest for TR-LIFS evaluation of the tissue composition. The hybrid probe consists of a single element ring transducer with concentric fiber optics for multi-modal data acquisition. Validation and characterization of the multi-modal system and ultrasonic, photoacoustic, and spectroscopic data coregistration were conducted in a physical phantom with properties of ultrasound scattering, optical absorption, and fluorescence. The UBM system with the 41 MHz ring transducer can reach the axial and lateral resolution of 30 and 65 μm, respectively. The PAI system with 532 nm excitation light from a Nd:YAG laser shows great contrast for the distribution of optical absorbers. The TR-LIFS system records the fluorescence decay with the time resolution of ~300 ps and a high sensitivity of nM concentration range. Biological phantom constructed with different types of tissues (tendon and fat) was used to demonstrate the complementary information provided by the three modalities. Fluorescence spectra and lifetimes were compared to differentiate chemical composition of tissues at the regions of interest determined by the coregistered high resolution UBM and PAI image. Current results demonstrate that the fusion of these techniques enables sequentially detection of functional, morphological, and compositional features of biological tissue, suggesting potential applications in diagnosis of tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. PMID:21894259

Development of a Multi-modal Tissue Diagnostic System Combining High Frequency Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging with Lifetime Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Sun, Yang; Stephens, Douglas N; Park, Jesung; Sun, Yinghua; Marcu, Laura; Cannata, Jonathan M; Shung, K Kirk

2008-01-01

We report the development and validate a multi-modal tissue diagnostic technology, which combines three complementary techniques into one system including ultrasound backscatter microscopy (UBM), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS). UBM enables the reconstruction of the tissue microanatomy. PAI maps the optical absorption heterogeneity of the tissue associated with structure information and has the potential to provide functional imaging of the tissue. Examination of the UBM and PAI images allows for localization of regions of interest for TR-LIFS evaluation of the tissue composition. The hybrid probe consists of a single element ring transducer with concentric fiber optics for multi-modal data acquisition. Validation and characterization of the multi-modal system and ultrasonic, photoacoustic, and spectroscopic data coregistration were conducted in a physical phantom with properties of ultrasound scattering, optical absorption, and fluorescence. The UBM system with the 41 MHz ring transducer can reach the axial and lateral resolution of 30 and 65 μm, respectively. The PAI system with 532 nm excitation light from a Nd:YAG laser shows great contrast for the distribution of optical absorbers. The TR-LIFS system records the fluorescence decay with the time resolution of ~300 ps and a high sensitivity of nM concentration range. Biological phantom constructed with different types of tissues (tendon and fat) was used to demonstrate the complementary information provided by the three modalities. Fluorescence spectra and lifetimes were compared to differentiate chemical composition of tissues at the regions of interest determined by the coregistered high resolution UBM and PAI image. Current results demonstrate that the fusion of these techniques enables sequentially detection of functional, morphological, and compositional features of biological tissue, suggesting potential applications in diagnosis of tumors and atherosclerotic plaques.

Production of ultrasonic vocalizations by Peromyscus mice in the wild

PubMed Central

Kalcounis-Rueppell, Matina C; Metheny, Jackie D; Vonhof, Maarten J

2006-01-01

Background There has been considerable research on rodent ultrasound in the laboratory and these sounds have been well quantified and characterized. Despite the value of research on ultrasound produced by mice in the lab, it is unclear if, and when, these sounds are produced in the wild, and how they function in natural habitats. Results We have made the first recordings of ultrasonic vocalizations produced by two free-living species of mice in the genus Peromyscus (P. californicus and P. boylii) on long term study grids in California. Over 6 nights, we recorded 65 unique ultrasonic vocalization phrases from Peromyscus. The ultrasonic vocalizations we recorded represent 7 different motifs. Within each motif, there was considerable variation in the acoustic characteristics suggesting individual and contextual variation in the production of ultrasound by these species. Conclusion The discovery of the production of ultrasonic vocalizations by Peromyscus in the wild highlights an underappreciated component in the behavior of these model organisms. The ability to examine the production of ultrasonic vocalizations in the wild offers excellent opportunities to test hypotheses regarding the function of ultrasound produced by rodents in a natural context. PMID:16507093

Ultrasonic degradation of aqueous phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) in the presence of nano-Fe/H2O2.

PubMed

Ayanda, Olushola S; Nelana, Simphiwe M; Naidoo, Eliazer B

2018-10-01

In this study, nano iron (nano-Fe) was successfully synthesized by sodium borohydride reduction of ferric chloride solution to enhance the ultrasonic degradation of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP). The nano-Fe was characterized by scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area determination. Experimental results demonstrated that a combined ultrasonic/nano-Fe/H 2 O 2 system was more effective for PSP removal in combination than they were individually and there was a significant difference between the combined and single processes. The ultrasonic/nano-Fe/H 2 O 2 degradation follows the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic model. The addition of nano-Fe and H 2 O 2 to the ultrasonic reactor greatly accelerated the degradation of PSP (25 mg/L) from 12.5% up to 96.5%. These findings indicated that ultrasonic degradation in the presence of nano-Fe and H 2 O 2 is a promising and efficient technique for the elimination of emerging micropollutants from aqueous solution. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Piezosurgery for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion under local anesthesia].

PubMed

Sun, Hao; Li, Biao; Sun, Hao; Liu, Zhixu; Wang, Xudong

2014-08-01

This study evaluates piezosurgery for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) under local anesthesia. SARME was performed on adults with maxillary transverse deficiency under local anesthesia with a piezosurgical device. Fourteen patients (six males and eight females) underwent lateral maxillary osteotomies, midpalatal osteotomies, and bilateral pterygomaxillary disjunction. The feelings of patients during the operation were determined through questionnaires. All patients underwent SARME in the out-patient operating room. The surgical procedures were completed under local anesthesia. All patients exhibited satisfactory tolerance. Ultrasonic bone-cutting surgery was recently introduced as a feasible alternative to the conventional tools of cranio-maxillofacial surgery for its technical characteristics of precision and safety. The device used was unique in that cutting action occurred when the tool was employed on mineralized tissues, but stoped on soft tissues. The results of the questionnaires showed that eight (57.14%) patients felt a mild sensation of ultrasonic vibration, tweleve (85.7 1%) felt mild tolerable pain and tooth soreness during surgery, and eleven (78.57%) felt little fear and hardly heard the ultrasonic sound. Preoperative and postoperative six months later measurements showed an evident effect of expansion. Piezosurgery enabled patients to undergo all the steps of SARME under local anesthesia, but more cases and longer follow-up are needed to verif ' the results.

Trans-skull ultrasonic Doppler system aided by fuzzy logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Yutaka; Nakamura, Masato; Yagi, Naomi; Ishikawa, Tomomoto

2012-06-01

This paper describes a trans-skull ultrasonic Doppler system for measuring the blood flow direction in brain under skull. In this system, we use an ultrasonic array probe with the center frequency of 1.0 MHz. The system determines the fuzzy degree of blood flow by Doppler Effect, thereby it locates blood vessel. This Doppler Effect is examined by the center of gravity shift of the frequency magnitudes. In in-vitro experiment, a cow bone was employed as the skull, and three silicon tubes were done as blood vessels, and bubble in water as blood. We received the ultrasonic waves through a protein, the skull and silicon tubes in order. In the system, fuzzy degrees are determined with respect to the Doppler shift, amplitude of the waves and attenuation of the tissues. The fuzzy degrees of bone and blood direction are calculated by them. The experimental results showed that the system successfully visualized the skull and flow direction, compared with the location and flow direction of the phantom. Thus, it detected the flow direction by Doppler Effect under skull, and automatically extracted the region of skull and blood vessel.

A plane wave source with minimal harmonic distortion for investigating nonlinear acoustic properties

PubMed Central

Lloyd, Christopher W.; Wallace, Kirk D.; Holland, Mark R.; Miller, James G.

2008-01-01

The objective of this investigation is to introduce and validate a practical ultrasound source to be used in the investigation of the nonlinear material properties of liquids and soft tissues studied in vitro. Methods based on the progressive distortion of finite amplitude ultrasonic waves in the low megahertz frequency-range are most easily implemented under the assumption of plane wave propagation. However, achieving an approximately planar ultrasonic field over substantial propagation distances can be challenging. Furthermore, undesired harmonic distortion of the ultrasonic field prior to insonification of the specified region of interest represents another serious limitation. This paper introduces an approach based on the use of the ultrasonic field emanating from a stainless-steel delay line. Both simulation and direct experimental measurement demonstrate that such a field exhibits relatively planar wavefronts to a good approximation (such that a 3 mm diameter receiver would be exposed to no more than 3 dB of loss across its face) and is free from the significant harmonic distortion that would occur in a conventional water path. PMID:17614467

Towards multifocal ultrasonic neural stimulation: pattern generation algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hertzberg, Yoni; Naor, Omer; Volovick, Alexander; Shoham, Shy

2010-10-01

Focused ultrasound (FUS) waves directed onto neural structures have been shown to dynamically modulate neural activity and excitability, opening up a range of possible systems and applications where the non-invasiveness, safety, mm-range resolution and other characteristics of FUS are advantageous. As in other neuro-stimulation and modulation modalities, the highly distributed and parallel nature of neural systems and neural information processing call for the development of appropriately patterned stimulation strategies which could simultaneously address multiple sites in flexible patterns. Here, we study the generation of sparse multi-focal ultrasonic distributions using phase-only modulation in ultrasonic phased arrays. We analyse the relative performance of an existing algorithm for generating multifocal ultrasonic distributions and new algorithms that we adapt from the field of optical digital holography, and find that generally the weighted Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm leads to overall superior efficiency and uniformity in the focal spots, without significantly increasing the computational burden. By combining phased-array FUS and magnetic-resonance thermometry we experimentally demonstrate the simultaneous generation of tightly focused multifocal distributions in a tissue phantom, a first step towards patterned FUS neuro-modulation systems and devices.

Ultrasonic-assisted chemical reduction synthesis and structural characterization of copper nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anh-Nga, Nguyen T.; Tuan-Anh, Nguyen; Thanh-Quoc, Nguyen; Ha, Do Tuong

2018-04-01

Copper nanoparticles, due to their special properties, small dimensions and low-cost preparation, have many potential applications such as in optical, electronics, catalysis, sensors, antibacterial agents. In this study, copper nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction method with different conditions in order to investigate the optimum conditions which gave the smallest (particle diameter) dimensions. The synthesis step used copper (II) acetate salt as precursor, ascorbic acid as reducing agent, glycerin and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as protector and stabilizer. The assistance of ultrasonic was were considered as the significant factor affecting the size of the synthesized particles. The results showed that the copper nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized with the diameter as small as 20-40 nm and the conditions of ultrasonic waves were 48 kHz of frequency, 20 minutes of treated time and 65-70 °C of temperature. The synthesized copper nanoparticles were characterized by optical absorption spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry.

Nondestructive characterization of UHMWPE armor materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiou, Chien-Ping; Margetan, Frank J.; Barnard, Daniel J.; Hsu, David K.; Jensen, Terrence; Eisenmann, David

2012-05-01

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a material increasingly used for fabricating helmet and body armor. In this work, plate specimens consolidated from thin fiber sheets in series 3124 and 3130 were examined with ultrasound, X-ray and terahertz radiation. Ultrasonic through-transmission scans using both air-coupled and immersion modes revealed that the 3130 series material generally had much lower attenuation than the 3124 series, and that certain 3124 plates had extremely high attenuation. Due to the relatively low inspection frequencies used, pulse-echo immersion ultrasonic testing could not detect distinct flaw echoes from the interior. To characterize the nature of the defective condition that was responsible for the high ultrasonic attenuation, terahertz radiation in the time-domain spectroscopy mode were used to image the flaws. Terahertz scan images obtained on the high attenuation samples clearly showed a distribution of a large number of defects, possibly small planar delaminations, throughout the volume of the interior. Their precise nature and morphology are to be verified by optical microscopy of the sectioned surface.

Processing and characterization of powdered silk micro- and nanofibers by ultrasonication.

PubMed

Wang, Hai-Yan; Chen, Yun-Yun; Zhang, Yu-Qing

2015-03-01

Silk derived from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons was degummed in an aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and the resulting silk fibroin fibers were placed in an acidic aqueous solution and were treated with ultrasonication to obtain powdered micro- and nanofibers. The morphologies and spectral characteristics of these powdered silk fibers were investigated in detail. The shape, surface and structural features of the powdered fibers were affected by the ultrasonic power and media. Increasing the acidity of the ultrasonic solution and increasing the ultrasonic power increased the fiber breakage speed, resulting in shorter fiber lengths. Powdered microfibers could not be obtained in a formic acid solution, while powdered nanofibers whose diameter below 1μm were obtained in a combined formic acid and hydrochloric acid ultrasonication solution. Observation via SEM and optical microscopy revealed that the microfiber diameters were approximately 5-10μm, and those of the nanofibers were approximately 30-120nm. The analysis of laser sizer showed that the microfiber sizes ranged mainly from 20 to 100μm. FT-IR and XRD spectra demonstrated that the relative amount of β-sheets increased after the ultrasonic treatment. The ε-amino group content on the surface of the micro- and nanofibers increased significantly. These studies provide reliable methods for the preparation of nano-scale silk fibroin fibers by ultrasonication and open new avenues for the development of powdered silk fibers as advanced functional biomaterials. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic-assisted conversion of limestone into needle-like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles.

PubMed

Klinkaewnarong, Jutharatana; Utara, Songkot

2018-09-01

Needle-like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a reaction between calcium oxide (CaO) that was obtained from calcined limestone and orthophosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) under ultrasonic irradiation at 25 °C. The reaction systems were exposed to ultrasonic waves of 20 kHz for various times ranging from 0 to 4 h. The initial and final pH values of the mixtures of CaO and H 3 PO 4 solution were continuously observed (pH < 4.0) after ultrasonic irradiation. The powder was then dried at 60 °C and calcined at 300 °C for 3 h (3 °C/min). The products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the formation of needle-like hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles was substantially accelerated compared with the reaction without ultrasonic irradiation. The HAp phase was increasingly visible with longer ultrasonic irradiation time compared with the monetite phase (CaHPO 4 ). This suggests that ultrasonic waved induced a phase transition from the monetite to HAp phase. A smaller needle-like structure of HAp (diameter ∼ 7.4 nm) with a lower contamination of monetite phase was obtained following sonication for 3 h. This study shows that Thai limestone can used as a starting material for synthesizing needle-like HAp nanoparticles with the aid of ultrasonic methods. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multilayered tissue mimicking skin and vessel phantoms with tunable mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties

PubMed Central

Chen, Alvin I.; Balter, Max L.; Chen, Melanie I.; Gross, Daniel; Alam, Sheikh K.; Maguire, Timothy J.; Yarmush, Martin L.

2016-01-01

Purpose: This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characterization of multilayered tissue mimicking skin and vessel phantoms with tunable mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties. The phantoms comprise epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis skin layers, blood vessels, and blood mimicking fluid. Each tissue component may be individually tailored to a range of physiological and demographic conditions. Methods: The skin layers were constructed from varying concentrations of gelatin and agar. Synthetic melanin, India ink, absorbing dyes, and Intralipid were added to provide optical absorption and scattering in the skin layers. Bovine serum albumin was used to increase acoustic attenuation, and 40 μm diameter silica microspheres were used to induce acoustic backscatter. Phantom vessels consisting of thin-walled polydimethylsiloxane tubing were embedded at depths of 2–6 mm beneath the skin, and blood mimicking fluid was passed through the vessels. The phantoms were characterized through uniaxial compression and tension experiments, rheological frequency sweep studies, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and ultrasonic pulse-echo measurements. Results were then compared to in vivo and ex vivo literature data. Results: The elastic and dynamic shear behavior of the phantom skin layers and vessel wall closely approximated the behavior of porcine skin tissues and human vessels. Similarly, the optical properties of the phantom tissue components in the wavelength range of 400–1100 nm, as well as the acoustic properties in the frequency range of 2–9 MHz, were comparable to human tissue data. Normalized root mean square percent errors between the phantom results and the literature reference values ranged from 1.06% to 9.82%, which for many measurements were less than the sample variability. Finally, the mechanical and imaging characteristics of the phantoms were found to remain stable after 30 days of storage at 21 °C. Conclusions: The phantoms described in this work simulate the mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties of human skin tissues, vessel tissue, and blood. In this way, the phantoms are uniquely suited to serve as test models for multimodal imaging techniques and image-guided interventions. PMID:27277058

On the Relation of Setting and Early-Age Strength Development to Porosity and Hydration in Cement-Based Materials

PubMed Central

Lootens, Didier; Bentz, Dale P.

2016-01-01

Previous research has demonstrated a linear relationship between compressive strength (mortar cubes and concrete cylinders) and cumulative heat release normalized per unit volume of (mixing) water for a wide variety of cement-based mixtures at ages of 1 d and beyond. This paper utilizes concurrent ultrasonic reflection and calorimetry measurements to further explore this relationship from the time of specimen casting to 3 d. The ultrasonic measurements permit a continuous evaluation of thickening, setting, and strength development during this time period for comparison with the ongoing chemical reactions, as characterized by isothermal calorimetry measurements. Initially, the ultrasonic strength-heat release relation depends strongly on water-to-cement ratio, as well as admixture additions, with no universal behavior. Still, each individual strength-heat release curve is consistent with a percolation-based view of the cement setting process. However, beyond about 8 h for the systems investigated in the present study, the various strength-heat release curves merge towards a single relationship that broadly characterizes the development of strength as a function of heat released (fractional space filled), demonstrating that mortar and/or concrete strength at early ages can be effectively monitored using either ultrasonic or calorimetry measurements on small paste or mortar specimens. PMID:27046956

On the Relation of Setting and Early-Age Strength Development to Porosity and Hydration in Cement-Based Materials.

PubMed

Lootens, Didier; Bentz, Dale P

2016-04-01

Previous research has demonstrated a linear relationship between compressive strength (mortar cubes and concrete cylinders) and cumulative heat release normalized per unit volume of (mixing) water for a wide variety of cement-based mixtures at ages of 1 d and beyond. This paper utilizes concurrent ultrasonic reflection and calorimetry measurements to further explore this relationship from the time of specimen casting to 3 d. The ultrasonic measurements permit a continuous evaluation of thickening, setting, and strength development during this time period for comparison with the ongoing chemical reactions, as characterized by isothermal calorimetry measurements. Initially, the ultrasonic strength-heat release relation depends strongly on water-to-cement ratio, as well as admixture additions, with no universal behavior. Still, each individual strength-heat release curve is consistent with a percolation-based view of the cement setting process. However, beyond about 8 h for the systems investigated in the present study, the various strength-heat release curves merge towards a single relationship that broadly characterizes the development of strength as a function of heat released (fractional space filled), demonstrating that mortar and/or concrete strength at early ages can be effectively monitored using either ultrasonic or calorimetry measurements on small paste or mortar specimens.

Noninvasive transcranial focused ultrasonic-magnetic stimulation for modulating brain oscillatory activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yi; Chen, Yudong; Li, Xiaoli

2016-02-01

A novel technique, transcranial focused ultrasonic-magnetic stimulation (tFUMS), has been developed for noninvasive brain modulation in vivo. tFUMS has a higher spatial resolution (<2 mm) and a higher penetration depth than other noninvasive neuromodulation methods. The in vivo animal experimental results show that tFUMS can not only increase the power of local field potentials and the firing rate of the neurons, but also enhance the effect of transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation on the neuromodulation. The results demonstrate that tFUMS can modulate brain oscillatory activities by stimulating brain tissues.

Coupling apparatus for ultrasonic medical diagnostic system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frazer, R. E. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

An apparatus for the ultrasonic scanning of a breast or other tissue is reported that contains a cavity for receiving the breast, a vacuum for drawing the breast into intimate contact with the walls of the cavity, and transducers coupled through a fluid to the cavity to transmit sound waves through the breast. Each transducer lies at the end of a tapered chamber which has flexible walls and which is filled with fluid, so that the transducer can be moved in a raster pattern while the chamber walls flex accordingly, with sound transmission always occurring through the fluid.

Physical Principles Pertaining to Ultrasonic and Mechanical Properties of Anisotropic Media and Their Application to Nondestructive Evaluation of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handley, Scott Michael

The central theme of this thesis is to contribute to the physics underlying the mechanical properties of highly anisotropic materials. Our hypothesis is that a fundamental understanding of the physics involved in the interaction of interrogating ultrasonic waves with anisotropic media will provide useful information applicable to quantitative ultrasonic measurement techniques employed for the determination of material properties. Fiber-reinforced plastics represent a class of advanced composite materials that exhibit substantial anisotropy. The desired characteristics of practical fiber -reinforced composites depend on average mechanical properties achieved by placing fibers at specific angles relative to the external surfaces of the finished part. We examine the physics underlying the use of ultrasound as an interrogation probe for determination of ultrasonic and mechanical properties of anisotropic materials such as fiber-reinforced composites. Fundamental constituent parameters, such as elastic stiffness coefficients (c_{rm IJ}), are experimentally determined from ultrasonic time-of-flight measurements. Mechanical moduli (Poisson's ratio, Young's and shear modulus) descriptive of the anisotropic mechanical properties of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites are obtained from the ultrasonically determined stiffness coefficients. Three-dimensional visualizations of the anisotropic ultrasonic and mechanical properties of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites are generated. A related goal of the research is to strengthen the connection-between practical ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods and the physics underlying quantitative ultrasonic measurements for the assessment of manufactured fiber-reinforced composites. Production defects such as porosity have proven to be of substantial concern in the manufacturing of composites. We investigate the applicability of ultrasonic interrogation techniques for the detection and characterization of porosity in graphite/epoxy laminates. Complementary ultrasonic parameters based on the frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation and integrated polar backscatter are investigated. In summary, the approach taken in this thesis is to examine the physical mechanisms in terms of a continuum mechanics framework and a linear elastic description of ultrasonic wave propagation in anisotropic media with specific application to the nondestructive evaluation of advanced composite materials.

Ultrasonic Percutaneous Tenotomy for Recalcitrant Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: Sustainability and Sonographic Progression at 3 Years.

PubMed

Seng, Chusheng; Mohan, P Chandra; Koh, Suang Bee Joyce; Howe, Tet Sen; Lim, Yee Gen; Lee, Brian P; Morrey, Bernard F

2016-02-01

A previously published study found positive outcomes for a novel technique for ultrasound-guided percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy, showing good tolerability, safety, and early efficacy within an office setting. In this follow-up study, all 20 members of the original cohort were contacted after 3 years to explore the sustainability of symptomatic relief, functional improvement, and sonographic soft tissue response for percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. All 20 subjects of the clinical trial that was performed from June to November 2011 were further assessed at 36 months after the procedure in terms of visual analog scale for pain, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)-Compulsory/Work scores, need for adjunct procedures, and overall satisfaction. Importantly, all 20 were reassessed with ultrasound imaging at 36 months, and evidence of the common extensor tendon response was assessed in terms of tendon hypervascularity, tendon thickness, and the progress of the hypoechoic scar tissue. A 100% clinical follow-up was achieved, inclusive of ultrasonographic assessment. None of the subjects required further treatment procedures, and 100% expressed satisfaction. Previous improvements in visual analog scale (current median ± SD, 0 ± 0.9; range, 0-3) and DASH-Work scores (current median, 0 ± 0) were sustained with conformity to a linear pattern on polynomial measures. There was further reduction in DASH-Compulsory scores to a median of 0 ± 0.644 (range, 0-2) with a significant decrease on repeated measures (P = .008). Tendon hypervascularity was resolved in 94% of patients, and 100% had reduction in tendon thickness. Overall reduction in the hypoechoic scar tissue was observed in all subjects, with a 90% response achieved by 6 months. Between 6 and 36 months, further reduction in the scar was observed in around 60% of patients, with 20% of patients having complete resolution of the hypoechoic scar. Minimally invasive percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy provided sustained pain relief and functional improvement for recalcitrant tennis elbow at 3-year follow-up. It is one of the few procedures to demonstrate positive sonographic evidence of tissue-healing response and is an attractive alternative to surgical intervention for definitive treatment of recalcitrant elbow tendinopathy. © 2015 The Author(s).

Effect of Non-speckle Echo Signals on Tissue Characteristics for Liver Fibrosis using Probability Density Function of Ultrasonic B-mode image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Shohei; Hirata, Shinnosuke; Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Hachiya, Hiroyuki

To develop a quantitative diagnostic method for liver fibrosis using an ultrasound B-mode image, a probability imaging method of tissue characteristics based on a multi-Rayleigh model, which expresses a probability density function of echo signals from liver fibrosis, has been proposed. In this paper, an effect of non-speckle echo signals on tissue characteristics estimated from the multi-Rayleigh model was evaluated. Non-speckle signals were determined and removed using the modeling error of the multi-Rayleigh model. The correct tissue characteristics of fibrotic tissue could be estimated with the removal of non-speckle signals.

Ultrasonic technique for imaging tissue vibrations: preliminary results.

PubMed

Sikdar, Siddhartha; Beach, Kirk W; Vaezy, Shahram; Kim, Yongmin

2005-02-01

We propose an ultrasound (US)-based technique for imaging vibrations in the blood vessel walls and surrounding tissue caused by eddies produced during flow through narrowed or punctured arteries. Our approach is to utilize the clutter signal, normally suppressed in conventional color flow imaging, to detect and characterize local tissue vibrations. We demonstrate the feasibility of visualizing the origin and extent of vibrations relative to the underlying anatomy and blood flow in real-time and their quantitative assessment, including measurements of the amplitude, frequency and spatial distribution. We present two signal-processing algorithms, one based on phase decomposition and the other based on spectral estimation using eigen decomposition for isolating vibrations from clutter, blood flow and noise using an ensemble of US echoes. In simulation studies, the computationally efficient phase-decomposition method achieved 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity for vibration detection and was robust to broadband vibrations. Somewhat higher sensitivity (98%) and specificity (99%) could be achieved using the more computationally intensive eigen decomposition-based algorithm. Vibration amplitudes as low as 1 mum were measured accurately in phantom experiments. Real-time tissue vibration imaging at typical color-flow frame rates was implemented on a software-programmable US system. Vibrations were studied in vivo in a stenosed femoral bypass vein graft in a human subject and in a punctured femoral artery and incised spleen in an animal model.

Modeling ultrasonic transient scattering from biological tissues including their dispersive properties directly in the time domain.

PubMed

Norton, G V; Novarini, J C

2007-06-01

Ultrasonic imaging in medical applications involves propagation and scattering of acoustic waves within and by biological tissues that are intrinsically dispersive. Analytical approaches for modeling propagation and scattering in inhomogeneous media are difficult and often require extremely simplifying approximations in order to achieve a solution. To avoid such approximations, the direct numerical solution of the wave equation via the method of finite differences offers the most direct tool, which takes into account diffraction and refraction. It also allows for detailed modeling of the real anatomic structure and combination/layering of tissues. In all cases the correct inclusion of the dispersive properties of the tissues can make the difference in the interpretation of the results. However, the inclusion of dispersion directly in the time domain proved until recently to be an elusive problem. In order to model the transient signal a convolution operator that takes into account the dispersive characteristics of the medium is introduced to the linear wave equation. To test the ability of this operator to handle scattering from localized scatterers, in this work, two-dimensional numerical modeling of scattering from an infinite cylinder with physical properties associated with biological tissue is calculated. The numerical solutions are compared with the exact solution synthesized from the frequency domain for a variety of tissues having distinct dispersive properties. It is shown that in all cases, the use of the convolutional propagation operator leads to the correct solution for the scattered field.

Ultrasonic characterization of granites obtained from industrial quarries of Extremadura (Spain).

PubMed

del Río, L M; López, F; Esteban, F J; Tejado, J J; Mota, M; González, I; San Emeterio, J L; Ramos, A

2006-12-22

The industry of ornamental rocks, such as granites, represents one of the most important industrial activities in the region of Extremadura, SW Spain. A detailed knowledge of the intrinsic properties of this natural stone and its environmental evolution is a required goal in order to fully characterize its quality. In this work, two independent NDT acoustic techniques have been used to measure the acoustic velocity of longitudinal waves in different prismatic granitic-samples of industrial quarries. A low-frequency transceiver set-up, based on a high-voltage BPV Steinkamp instrument and two 50 kHz probes, has been used to measure pulse travel times by ultrasonic through-transmission testing. In complementary fashion, an Erudite MK3 test equipment with an electromagnetic vibrator and two piezoelectric sensors has also been employed to measure ultrasonic velocity by means of a resonance-based method, using the same types of granite varieties. In addition, a comprehensive set of physical/mechanical properties have also been analyzed, according to Spanish regulations in force, by means of alternative methods including destructive techniques such as strength, porosity, absorption, etc. A large number of samples, representing the most important varieties of granites from quarries of Extremadura, have been analyzed using the above-mentioned procedures. Some results obtained by destructive techniques have been correlated with those found using ultrasonic techniques. Our experimental setting allowed a complementary characterization of granite samples and a thorough validation of the different techniques employed, thus providing the industry of ornamental rocks with a non-destructive tool that will facilitate a more detailed insight on the properties of the rocks under study.

Advanced DPSM approach for modeling ultrasonic wave scattering in an arbitrary geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Susheel K.; Banerjee, Sourav; Kundu, Tribikram

2011-04-01

Several techniques are used to diagnose structural damages. In the ultrasonic technique structures are tested by analyzing ultrasonic signals scattered by damages. The interpretation of these signals requires a good understanding of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and structures. Therefore, researchers need analytical or numerical techniques to have a clear understanding of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and structural damage. However, modeling of wave scattering phenomenon by conventional numerical techniques such as finite element method requires very fine mesh at high frequencies necessitating heavy computational power. Distributed point source method (DPSM) is a newly developed robust mesh free technique to simulate ultrasonic, electrostatic and electromagnetic fields. In most of the previous studies the DPSM technique has been applied to model two dimensional surface geometries and simple three dimensional scatterer geometries. It was difficult to perform the analysis for complex three dimensional geometries. This technique has been extended to model wave scattering in an arbitrary geometry. In this paper a channel section idealized as a thin solid plate with several rivet holes is formulated. The simulation has been carried out with and without cracks near the rivet holes. Further, a comparison study has been also carried out to characterize the crack. A computer code has been developed in C for modeling the ultrasonic field in a solid plate with and without cracks near the rivet holes.

CuY zeolite catalysts prepared by ultrasonication-assisted ion-exchange for oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate.

PubMed

Woo, Je-Min; Seo, Jung Yoon; Kim, Hyunuk; Lee, Dong-Ho; Park, Young Cheol; Yi, Chang-Keun; Park, Yeong Seong; Moon, Jong-Ho

2018-06-01

The influence of ultrasonication treatment on the catalytic performance of CuY zeolite catalysts was investigated for the liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The deammoniation method of NH 4 Y into HY zeolites was optimized and characterized by elemental analyzer, derivative thermogravimetry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyzer, and powder X-ray diffractometry, revealing that the HY zeolite deammoniated at 400 °C presented the highest surface area, complete ammonium/proton ion exchange, and no structure collapse, rendering it the best support from all the prepared zeolites. CuY zeolites were prepared via aqueous phase ion exchange with the aid of ultrasonication. Upon ultrasonication, the Cu + active centers were uniformly dispersed in the Y zeolites, penetrating the core of the zeolite particles in a very short time. In addition to enhancing the Cu dispersity, the ultrasonication treatment influenced the BET surface area, acid amount, Cu + /Cu 2+ ratio, and also had a relatively small impact on the Cu loading. Consequently, adequate exposure to ultrasonication was able to increase the conversion rate of methanol into dimethyl carbonate up to 11.4% with a comparable DMC selectivity of 23.7%. This methanol conversion is 2.65 times higher than that obtained without the ultrasonication treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preliminary study of ultrasonic structural quality control of Swiss-type cheese.

PubMed

Eskelinen, J J; Alavuotunki, A P; Haeggström, E; Alatossava, T

2007-09-01

There is demand for a new nondestructive cheese-structure analysis method for Swiss-type cheese. Such a method would provide the cheese-making industry the means to enhance process control and quality assurance. This paper presents a feasibility study on ultrasonic monitoring of the structural quality of Swiss cheese by using a single-transducer 2-MHz longitudinal mode pulse-echo setup. A volumetric ultrasonic image of a cheese sample featuring gas holes (cheese-eyes) and defects (cracks) in the scan area is presented. The image is compared with an optical reference image constructed from dissection images of the same sample. The results show that the ultrasonic method is capable of monitoring the gas-solid structure of the cheese during the ripening process. Moreover, the method can be used to detect and to characterize cheese-eyes and cracks in ripened cheese. Industrial application demands were taken into account when conducting the measurements.

Thermal-Independent Properties of PIN-PMN-PT Single-Crystal Linear-Array Ultrasonic Transducers

PubMed Central

Chen, Ruimin; Wu, Jinchuan; Lam, Kwok Ho; Yao, Liheng; Zhou, Qifa; Tian, Jian; Han, Pengdi; Shung, K. Kirk

2013-01-01

In this paper, low-frequency 32-element linear-array ultrasonic transducers were designed and fabricated using both ternary Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)–Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)–PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) and binary Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)–PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) single crystals. Performance of the array transducers was characterized as a function of temperature ranging from room temperature to 160°C. It was found that the array transducers fabricated using the PIN-PMN-PT single crystal were capable of satisfactory performance at 160°C, having a −6-dB bandwidth of 66% and an insertion loss of 37 dB. The results suggest that the potential of PIN-PMN-PT linear-array ultrasonic transducers for high-temperature ultrasonic transducer applications is promising. PMID:23221227

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Depth of Surface Cracks Using Ultrasonic Frequency Analysis

PubMed Central

Her, Shiuh-Chuan; Lin, Sheng-Tung

2014-01-01

Ultrasonic is one of the most common uses of a non-destructive evaluation method for crack detection and characterization. The effectiveness of the acoustic-ultrasound Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technique for the determination of the depth of the surface crack was presented. A method for ultrasonic sizing of surface cracks combined with the time domain and frequency spectrum was adopted. The ultrasonic frequency spectrum was obtained by Fourier transform technique. A series of test specimens with various depths of surface crack ranging from 1 mm to 8 mm was fabricated. The depth of the surface crack was evaluated using the pulse-echo technique. In this work, three different longitudinal waves with frequencies of 2.25 MHz, 5 MHz and 10 MHz were employed to investigate the effect of frequency on the sizing detection of surface cracks. Reasonable accuracies were achieved with measurement errors less than 7%. PMID:25225875

Development and Implementation of an Ultrasonic Method to Characterize Acoustic and Mechanical Fingernail Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vacarescu, Rares Anthony

The human fingernail is a vital organ used by humans on a daily basis and can provide an immense supply of information based on the biological feedback of the body. By studying the quantitative mechanical and acoustic properties of fingernails, a better understanding of the scarcely-investigated field of ungual research can be explored. Investigating fingernail properties with the use of pulse-echo ultrasound is the aim of this thesis. This thesis involves the application of a developed portable ultrasonic device in a hospital-based data collection and the advancement of ultrasonic methodology to include the calculation of acoustic impedance, density and elasticity. The results of the thesis show that the reflectance method can be utilized to determine fingernail properties with a maximum 17% deviation from literature. Repeatability of measurements fell within a 95% confidence interval. Thus, the ultrasonic reflectance method was validated and may have potential clinical and cosmetic applications.

Influence of gas law on ultrasonic behaviour of porous media under pressure.

PubMed

Griffiths, S; Ayrault, C

2010-06-01

This paper deals with the influence of gas law on ultrasonic behaviour of porous media when the saturating fluid is high pressured. Previous works have demonstrated that ultrasonic transmission through a porous sample with variations of the static pressure (up to 18 bars) of the saturating fluid allows the characterization of high damping materials. In these studies, the perfect gas law was used to link static pressure and density, which is disputable for high pressures. This paper compares the effects of real and perfect gas laws on modeled transmission coefficient for porous foams at these pressures. Direct simulations and a mechanical parameters estimation from minimization show that results are very similar in both cases. The real gas law is thus not necessary to describe the acoustic behaviour of porous media at low ultrasonic frequencies (100 kHz) up to 20 bars. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Research on cleaning rate of the C-shaped canal treated by manual or rotary endodontic file combined with ultrasonic rinsing].

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Gao, Yan; Wang, Qing-shan; Zhang, Yan; Rong, Li; Wang, Jiu

2014-08-01

To evaluate the cleaning effect of the C-shaped canal treated by manual K file and ProTaper rotary endodontic file combined with ultrasonic cleaning, and find a better cleaning program for the C-shaped root canal. Fifty mandibular second molars were randomly divided into 5 groups: K file group, K file+ultrasonic rinsing group, ProTaper group, ProTaper+ultrasonic rinsing group and the control group. After initial shaping and cleaning, the mandibular second molars were soaked in formalin and stained. Under microscopy, the cleaning rate of necrotic tissue and cutting area were observed and analyzed. The data was processed with SPSS 17.0 software package. The cleaning rates of the treated groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05); In each treatment group, the cleaning rate of the apex was significantly lower than that of the crown and central part (P<0.05); The cutting score of ProTaper+ultrasonic cleaning group was lower than that of the other treatment groups; The cutting score of the K file+ultrasonic rinsing group was significantly lower than that of the K file group (P<0.05); The cutting score and cleaning rate were negatively correlated (r=-0.712, P=0.000 ), the linear regression was the cleaning rate =98.325-4.325 × wall cutting score (R=0.454, P<0.05). In the process of shaping and cleaning of C-shaped canal, it is recommended that the ProTaper nickel-titanium rotary endodontic file should be chosen to clean the top of the taproot pipe and combined with ultrasonic rinsing to achieve better results.

Augmentation of the In Vivo Elastic Properties Measurement System to Include Bulk Properties

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

stranded animals. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this project is to develop an ultrasound -based system for non-invasive determination of in...wherein ultrasound is used to both generate and observe low frequency vibration in soft tissues. While current methods have been successfully applied...pattern. A second ultrasonic transducer monitors the tissue displacement along the ultrasound beam axis, and supports an enhanced embodiment of an

Photoacoustic Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lihong V.

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) refers to imaging that is based on the photoacoustic effect. Although the photoacoustic effect as a physical phenomenon was first reported on by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880 [1], PAT as an imaging technology was developed only after the advent of ultrasonic transducers, computers, and lasers [2-31]. A review on biomedical photoacoustics is available [32]. The motivation for PAT is to combine optical-absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution for deep imaging in the optical quasi-diffusive or diffusive regime. In PAT, the tissue is irradiated by usually a short-pulsed laser beam to achieve a thermal and acoustic impulse response (Fig. 19.1). Locally absorbed light is converted into heat, which is further converted to a pressure rise via thermo-elastic expansion. The initial pressure rise - determined by the local optical absorption coefficient (μ â ), fluence (ψ) and other thermal and mechanical properties - propagates as an ultrasonic wave, which is referred to as a photoacoustic wave.

A feasiblity study of an ultrasonic test phantom arm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Philip

This thesis is a feasibility study for the creation of a test phantom that replicates the physiological features, from an acoustic and mechanical standpoint, of that of a human arm. Physiological feature set includes; Heart, Arteries, Veins, Bone, Muscle, Fat, Skin, and Dermotographic Features (finger prints). Mechanical Aspects include, vascular compression and distention, elasticity of tissue layers, mechanics of human heart. The end goal of which to have a working understanding of each component in order to create a controllable, real time, physiologically accurate, test phantom for a wide range of ultrasonic based applications. These applications can range from devices like wearable technologies to medical training, to biometric "Liveness" detection methods. The proposed phantom would allow for a number of natural bodily functions to be measured including but not limited to vascular mapping, blood pressure, heart rate, subdermal imaging, and general ultrasonic imaging.

Nde of Lumber and Natural Fiber Based Products with Air Coupled Ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, David K.; Utrata, David; Kuo, Monlin

2010-02-01

Due to the porous nature of wood and natural fiber based products, conventional fluid or gel coupled ultrasonic inspection is unsuitable. Air-coupled ultrasonic transmission scanning, being non-contact, is ideally suited for inspecting lumber, wood and natural fiber based products. We report here several successful applications of air-coupled ultrasound for the inspection of wood. Air-coupled ultrasonic scan at 120 kHz can easily detect "sinker-stock" lumber in which bacterial damage of ray tissue cells had occurred during anaerobic pond storage. Channels in ash lumber board caused by insect bore were imaged in transmission scan. Delamination and material inhomogeneities were mapped out in manufactured wood and natural fiber products including medium density fiberboards, compression molded shredded waste wood with formaldehyde resin, and acoustic panels molded with kenaf fibers. The study has demonstrated some of the capabilities of air-coupled ultrasound in the NDE of forest products.

Novel tissue phantom for testing a dual-modality diagnostic system: time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and high frequency ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yang; Liao, Kuo-Chih; Sun, Yinghua; Park, Jesung; Marcu, Laura

2008-02-01

A unique tissue phantom is reported here that mimics the optical and acoustical properties of biological tissue and enables testing and validation of a dual-modality clinical diagnostic system combining time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) and ultrasound backscatter microscopy (UBM). The phantom consisted of contrast agents including silicon dioxide particles with a range of diameters from 0.5 to 10 μm acting as optical and acoustical scatterers, and FITC-conjugated dextran mimicking the endogenous fluorophore in tissue. The agents were encapsulated in a polymer bead attached to the end of an optical fiber with a 200 μm diameter using a UV-induced polymerization technique. A set of beads with fibers were then implanted into a gel-based matrix with controlled patterns including a design with lateral distribution and a design with successively changing depth. The configuration presented here allowed the validation of the hybrid fluorescence spectroscopic and ultrasonic system by detecting the lateral and depth distribution of the contrast agents, as well as for coregistration of the ultrasonic image with spectroscopic data. In addition, the depth of the beads in the gel matrix was changed to explore the effect of different concentration ratio of the mixture on the fluorescence signal emitted.

A k-space method for large-scale models of wave propagation in tissue.

PubMed

Mast, T D; Souriau, L P; Liu, D L; Tabei, M; Nachman, A I; Waag, R C

2001-03-01

Large-scale simulation of ultrasonic pulse propagation in inhomogeneous tissue is important for the study of ultrasound-tissue interaction as well as for development of new imaging methods. Typical scales of interest span hundreds of wavelengths; most current two-dimensional methods, such as finite-difference and finite-element methods, are unable to compute propagation on this scale with the efficiency needed for imaging studies. Furthermore, for most available methods of simulating ultrasonic propagation, large-scale, three-dimensional computations of ultrasonic scattering are infeasible. Some of these difficulties have been overcome by previous pseudospectral and k-space methods, which allow substantial portions of the necessary computations to be executed using fast Fourier transforms. This paper presents a simplified derivation of the k-space method for a medium of variable sound speed and density; the derivation clearly shows the relationship of this k-space method to both past k-space methods and pseudospectral methods. In the present method, the spatial differential equations are solved by a simple Fourier transform method, and temporal iteration is performed using a k-t space propagator. The temporal iteration procedure is shown to be exact for homogeneous media, unconditionally stable for "slow" (c(x) < or = c0) media, and highly accurate for general weakly scattering media. The applicability of the k-space method to large-scale soft tissue modeling is shown by simulating two-dimensional propagation of an incident plane wave through several tissue-mimicking cylinders as well as a model chest wall cross section. A three-dimensional implementation of the k-space method is also employed for the example problem of propagation through a tissue-mimicking sphere. Numerical results indicate that the k-space method is accurate for large-scale soft tissue computations with much greater efficiency than that of an analogous leapfrog pseudospectral method or a 2-4 finite difference time-domain method. However, numerical results also indicate that the k-space method is less accurate than the finite-difference method for a high contrast scatterer with bone-like properties, although qualitative results can still be obtained by the k-space method with high efficiency. Possible extensions to the method, including representation of absorption effects, absorbing boundary conditions, elastic-wave propagation, and acoustic nonlinearity, are discussed.

Ultrasonic modulation of tissue optical properties in ex vivo porcine skin to improve transmitted transdermal laser intensity.

PubMed

Whiteside, Paul J D; Qian, Chenxi; Golda, Nicholas; Hunt, Heather K

2017-09-01

Applications of light-based energy devices involving optical targets within the dermis frequently experience negative side-effects resultant from surface scattering and excess optical absorption by epidermal melanin. As a broadband optical absorber, melanin decreases the efficacy of light-based treatments throughout the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectra while also generating additional heat within the surface tissue that can lead to inflammation or tissue damage. Consequently, procedures may be performed using greater energy densities to ensure that the target receives a clinically relevant dose of light; however, such practices are limited, as doing so tends to exacerbate the detrimental complications resulting from melanin absorption of treatment light. The technique presented herein represents an alternative method of operation aimed at increasing epidermal energy fluence while mitigating excess absorption by unintended chromophores. The approach involves the application of continuously pulsed ultrasound to modulate the tissue's optical properties and thereby improve light transmission through the epidermis. To demonstrate the change in optical properties, pulsed light at a wavelength of 532 nm from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was transmitted into 4 mm thick samples of porcine skin, comprised of both epidermal and dermal tissue. The light was transmitted using an optical waveguide, which allowed for an ultrasonic transducer to be incorporated for simultaneous paraxial pulsation in parallel with laser operation. Light transmitted through the tissue was measured by a photodiode attached to an integrating sphere. Increasing the driving voltage of ultrasonic pulsation resulted in an increase in mean transmitted optical power of up to a factor of 1.742 ± 0.0526 times the control, wherein no ultrasound was applied, after which the optical power increase plateaued to an average amplification factor of 1.733 ± 0.549 times the control. The increase implies a reduction in light either back-scattered or absorbed within the tissue, which would allow for a greater proportion of incident energy to be delivered to the clinical target, thereby improving procedural efficacy and potentially reducing the severity of detrimental side-effects. Apparatus Lasers Surg. Med. 49:666-674, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

System and technique for characterizing fluids using ultrasonic diffraction grating spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Greenwood, Margaret S.

2005-04-12

A system for determining a property of a fluid based on ultrasonic diffraction grating spectroscopy includes a diffraction grating on a solid in contact with the fluid. An interrogation device delivers ultrasound through the solid and a captures a reflection spectrum from the diffraction grating. The reflection spectrum including a diffraction order equal to zero exhibits a peak whose location is used to determine speed of sound in the fluid. A separate measurement of the acoustic impedance is combined with the determined speed of sound to yield a measure of fluid density. A system for determining acoustic impedance includes an ultrasonic transducer on a first surface of a solid member, and an opposed second surface of the member is in contact with a fluid to be monitored. A longitudinal ultrasonic pulse is delivered through the solid member, and a multiplicity of pulse echoes caused by reflections of the ultrasonic pulse between the solid-fluid interface and the transducer-solid interface are detected. The decay rate of the detected echo amplitude as a function of echo number is used to determine acoustic impedance.

Analytical ultrasonics for characterization of metallurgical microstructures and transformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosen, M.

1986-01-01

The application of contact (piezoelectric) and noncontact (laser generation and detection) ultrasonic techniques for dynamic investigation of precipitation hardening processes in aluminum alloys, as well as crystallization and phase transformation in rapidly solidified amorphous and microcrystalline alloys is discussed. From the variations of the sound velocity and attenuation the precipitation mechanism and kinetics were determined. In addition, a correlation was established between the observed changes in the velocity and attenuation and the mechanical properties of age-hardenable aluminum alloys. The behavior of the elastic moduli, determined ultrasonically, were found to be sensitive to relaxation, crystallization and phase decomposition phenomena in rapidly solidified metallic glasses. Analytical ultrasonics enables determination of the activation energies and growth parameters of the reactions. Therefrom theoretical models can be constructed to explain the changes in mechanical and physical properties upon heat treatment of glassy alloys. The composition dependence of the elastic moduli in amorphous Cu-Zr alloys was found to be related to the glass transition temperature, and consequently to the glass forming ability of these alloys. Dynamic ultrasonic analysis was found to be feasible for on-line, real-time, monitoring of metallurgical processes.

Polymer subtrates for dry-coupled ultrasonic transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komsky, Igor N.

2003-07-01

Dry-coupled inspection techniques are very important for applications on components with non-uniform surfaces and for inspections of advanced materials or coatings that are porous or otherwise sensitive to the application of water, gel, or some other ultrasonic couplants. To overcome the problems associated with the liquid coupling medium, a number of polymer films have been developed to transmit the ultrasound through a dry interface. These materials are very flexible so even low pressure loading is sufficient to adapt the films to the irregular inspection surfaces. Several polymer films have been evaluated to develop dry-coupled substrates for transducer modules. The modules will be utilized to detect and characterize fatigue cracks and corrosion spots in the aircraft structures. Ultrasonic properties of the polymer films were measured and compared with the properties of plastic or rubber-like materials commonly used for ultrasonic applications. Experiments have been carried out to analyze propagation of longitudinal and shear waves in the films. Two different types of the ultrasonic modules with the flexible polymer substrates are being developed. The influence of the surface condition on the module performance was evaluated for both types of the modules.

Ultrasonic-assisted production of biodiesel from transesterification of palm oil over ostrich eggshell-derived CaO catalysts.

PubMed

Chen, Guanyi; Shan, Rui; Shi, Jiafu; Yan, Beibei

2014-11-01

In this study, waste ostrich eggshell-derived calcium oxide (denoted as CaO(OE)) particles were synthesized and explored as cost-effective catalysts for the ultrasonic-assisted transesterification of palm oil. The physicochemical properties of the resultant catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, XRF and Hammett indicator, while the catalytic activity was evaluated through transesterification of palm oil with methanol under ultrasonic conditions. More specifically, the CaO(OE) showed comparable catalytic activity to the one derived from commercial calcium carbonate (denoted as CaO(Lab)). Moreover, under ultrasonic conditions, the catalytic activity of CaO(OE) could be enhanced significantly. The maximum yield of fatty acid methyl esters could reach 92.7% under the optimal condition of reaction time of 60 min with ultrasonic power of 60% (120 W), methanol-to-oil ratio of 9:1, and catalyst loading of 8 wt.%. The results indicated that the CaO(OE) catalysts showed good catalytic performance and reusability, and may potentially reduce the cost of biodiesel production. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of the Order of Passes of AN Austenitic Weld by Optimization of AN Inversion Process of Ultrasound Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gueudré, C.; Marrec, L. Le; Chekroun, M.; Moysan, J.; Chassignole, B.; Corneloup, G.

2011-06-01

Multipass welds made in austenitic stainless steel, in the primary circuit of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors, are characterized by an anisotropic and heterogeneous structure that disturbs the ultrasonic propagation and challenge the ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The simulation in this type of structure is now possible thanks to the MINA code which allows the grain orientation modeling taking into account the welding process, and the ATHENA code to exactly simulate the ultrasonic propagation. We propose studying the case where the order of the passes is unknown to estimate the possibility of reconstructing this important parameter by ultrasound measures. The first results are presented.

Lactic acid as an invaluable green solvent for ultrasound-assisted scalable synthesis of pyrrole derivatives.

PubMed

Wang, Shi-Fan; Guo, Chao-Lun; Cui, Ke-Ke; Zhu, Yan-Ting; Ding, Jun-Xiong; Zou, Xin-Yue; Li, Yi-Hang

2015-09-01

Lactic acid has been used as a bio-based green solvent to study the ultrasound-assisted scale-up synthesis. We report here, for the first time, on the novel and scalable process for synthesis of pyrrole derivatives in lactic acid solvent under ultrasonic radiation. Eighteen pyrrole derivatives have been synthesized in lactic acid solvent under ultrasonic radiation and characterized by (1)H NMR, IR, ESI MS. The results show, under ultrasonic radiation, lactic acid solvent can overcome the scale-up challenges and exhibited many advantages, such as bio-based origin, shorter reaction time, lower volatility, higher yields, and ease of isolating the products. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Flowmeter evaluation for on-orbit operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baird, R. S.

1988-01-01

Various flowmetering concepts were flow tested to characterize the relative capabilities and limitations for on-orbit fluid-transfer operations. Performance results and basic operating principles of each flowmetering concept tested are summarized, and basic considerations required to select the best flowmeter(s) for fluid system application are discussed. Concepts tested were clamp-on ultrasonic, area averaging ultrasonic, offset ultrasonic, coriolis mass, vortex shedding, universal venturi tube, turbine, bearingless turbine, turbine/turbine differential-pressure hybrid, dragbody, and dragbody/turbine hybrid flowmeters. Fluid system flowmeter selection considerations discussed are flowmeter performance, fluid operating conditions, systems operating environments, flowmeter packaging, flowmeter maintenance, and flowmeter technology. No one flowmetering concept tested was shown to be best for all on-orbit fluid systems.

Implementation of efficient trajectories for an ultrasonic scanner using chaotic maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeda, A.; Baltazar, A.; Treesatayapun, C.; Mijarez, R.

2012-05-01

Typical ultrasonic methodology for nondestructive scanning evaluation uses systematic scanning paths. In many cases, this approach is time inefficient and also energy and computational power consuming. Here, a methodology for the scanning of defects using an ultrasonic echo-pulse scanning technique combined with chaotic trajectory generation is proposed. This is implemented in a Cartesian coordinate robotic system developed in our lab. To cover the entire search area, a chaotic function and a proposed mirror mapping were incorporated. To improve detection probability, our proposed scanning methodology is complemented with a probabilistic approach of discontinuity detection. The developed methodology was found to be more efficient than traditional ones used to localize and characterize hidden flaws.

The synthesis, characterisation and in vivo study of a bioceramic for potential tissue regeneration applications

PubMed Central

Poinern, Gérrard Eddy Jai; Brundavanam, Ravi Krishna; Thi Le, Xuan; Nicholls, Philip K.; Cake, Martin A.; Fawcett, Derek

2014-01-01

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a biocompatible ceramic that is currently used in a number of current biomedical applications. Recently, nanometre scale forms of HAP have attracted considerable interest due to their close similarity to the inorganic mineral component of the bone matrix found in humans. In this study ultrafine nanometre scale HAP powders were prepared via a wet precipitation method under the influence of ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting powders were compacted and sintered to form a series of ceramic pellets with a sponge-like structure with varying density and porosity. The crystalline structure, size and morphology of the powders and the porous ceramic pellets were investigated using advanced characterization techniques. The pellets demonstrated good biocompatibility, including mixed cell colonisation and matrix deposition, in vivo following surgical implantation into sheep M. latissimus dorsi. PMID:25168046

US Air Force 1989 Research Initiation Program. Volume 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-25

like x - ray and hole-drilling are not applicable to the plastics used for transparent enclosures. ThL above research has raised questions about the curre...Techniques . . . . . ... 2.4.1.1 Visual Inspection. . . . . . .... 2.4.1.2 Ultrasonic C-scan. . . . . . .... 2.4.1.3 X - Ray Radiography...Characterization. ............ 4.8.1 Ultrasonic C-scan Results of Damage .... 4.8.2 Deply Results of Damaged Plates . . .... 4.8.3 X - Ray Radiography Results of

Content and Face Validation of a Curriculum for Ultrasonic Propulsion of Calculi in a Human Renal Model

PubMed Central

Dunmire, Barbrina; Cunitz, Bryan W.; He, Xuemei; Sorensen, Mathew D.; Harper, Jonathan D.; Bailey, Michael R.; Lendvay, Thomas S.

2014-01-01

Abstract Purpose: Ultrasonic propulsion to reposition urinary tract calculi requires knowledge about ultrasound image capture, device manipulation, and interpretation. The purpose of this study was to validate a cognitive and technical skills curriculum to teach urologists ultrasonic propulsion to reposition kidney stones in tissue phantoms. Materials and Methods: Ten board-certified urologists recruited from a single institution underwent a didactic session on renal ultrasound imaging. Subjects completed technical skills modules in tissue phantoms, including kidney imaging, pushing a stone through a translucent maze, and repositioning a lower pole calyceal stone. Objective cognitive and technical performance metrics were recorded. Subjects completed a questionnaire to ascertain face and content validity on a five-point Likert scale. Results: Eight urologists (80%) had never attended a previous ultrasound course, and nine (90%) performed renal ultrasounds less frequently than every 6 months. Mean cognitive skills scores improved from 55% to 91% (p<0.0001) on pre- and post-didactic tests. In the kidney phantom, 10 subjects (100%) repositioned the lower pole calyceal stone to at least the lower pole infundibulum, while 9 (90%) successfully repositioned the stone to the renal pelvis. A mean±SD (15.7±13.3) pushes were required to complete the task over an average of 4.6±2.2 minutes. Urologists rated the curriculum's effectiveness and realism as a training tool at a mean score of 4.6/5.0 and 4.1/5.0, respectively. Conclusions: The curriculum for ultrasonic propulsion is effective and useful for training urologists with limited ultrasound proficiency in stone repositioning technique. Further studies in animate and human models will be required to assess predictive validity. PMID:24228719

Content and face validation of a curriculum for ultrasonic propulsion of calculi in a human renal model.

PubMed

Hsi, Ryan S; Dunmire, Barbrina; Cunitz, Bryan W; He, Xuemei; Sorensen, Mathew D; Harper, Jonathan D; Bailey, Michael R; Lendvay, Thomas S

2014-04-01

Ultrasonic propulsion to reposition urinary tract calculi requires knowledge about ultrasound image capture, device manipulation, and interpretation. The purpose of this study was to validate a cognitive and technical skills curriculum to teach urologists ultrasonic propulsion to reposition kidney stones in tissue phantoms. Ten board-certified urologists recruited from a single institution underwent a didactic session on renal ultrasound imaging. Subjects completed technical skills modules in tissue phantoms, including kidney imaging, pushing a stone through a translucent maze, and repositioning a lower pole calyceal stone. Objective cognitive and technical performance metrics were recorded. Subjects completed a questionnaire to ascertain face and content validity on a five-point Likert scale. Eight urologists (80%) had never attended a previous ultrasound course, and nine (90%) performed renal ultrasounds less frequently than every 6 months. Mean cognitive skills scores improved from 55% to 91% (p<0.0001) on pre- and post-didactic tests. In the kidney phantom, 10 subjects (100%) repositioned the lower pole calyceal stone to at least the lower pole infundibulum, while 9 (90%) successfully repositioned the stone to the renal pelvis. A mean±SD (15.7±13.3) pushes were required to complete the task over an average of 4.6±2.2 minutes. Urologists rated the curriculum's effectiveness and realism as a training tool at a mean score of 4.6/5.0 and 4.1/5.0, respectively. The curriculum for ultrasonic propulsion is effective and useful for training urologists with limited ultrasound proficiency in stone repositioning technique. Further studies in animate and human models will be required to assess predictive validity.

High-Performance Acousto-Ultrasonic Scan System Being Developed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Martin, Richard E.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Kautz, Harold E.

2003-01-01

Acousto-ultrasonic (AU) interrogation is a single-sided nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique employing separated sending and receiving transducers. It is used for assessing the microstructural condition and distributed damage state of the material between the transducers. AU is complementary to more traditional NDE methods, such as ultrasonic cscan, x-ray radiography, and thermographic inspection, which tend to be used primarily for discrete flaw detection. Throughout its history, AU has been used to inspect polymer matrix composites, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, and even monolithic metallic materials. The development of a high-performance automated AU scan system for characterizing within-sample microstructural and property homogeneity is currently in a prototype stage at NASA. This year, essential AU technology was reviewed. In addition, the basic hardware and software configuration for the scanner was developed, and preliminary results with the system were described. Mechanical and environmental loads applied to composite materials can cause distributed damage (as well as discrete defects) that plays a significant role in the degradation of physical properties. Such damage includes fiber/matrix debonding (interface failure), matrix microcracking, and fiber fracture and buckling. Investigations at the NASA Glenn Research Center have shown that traditional NDE scan inspection methods such as ultrasonic c-scan, x-ray imaging, and thermographic imaging tend to be more suited to discrete defect detection rather than the characterization of accumulated distributed micro-damage in composites. Since AU is focused on assessing the distributed micro-damage state of the material in between the sending and receiving transducers, it has proven to be quite suitable for assessing the relative composite material state. One major success story at Glenn with AU measurements has been the correlation between the ultrasonic decay rate obtained during AU inspection and the mechanical modulus (stiffness) seen during fatigue experiments with silicon carbide/silicon carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite samples. As shown in the figure, ultrasonic decay increased as the modulus decreased for the ceramic matrix composite tensile fatigue samples. The likely microstructural reason for the decrease in modulus (and increase in ultrasonic decay) is the matrix microcracking that commonly occurs during fatigue testing of these materials. Ultrasonic decay has shown the capability to track the pattern of transverse cracking and fiber breakage in these composites.

High-Performance Acousto-Ultrasonic Scan System Being Developed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Martin, Richard E.; Cosgriff, Laura M.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Kautz, Harold E.

2003-01-01

Acousto-ultrasonic (AU) interrogation is a single-sided nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique employing separated sending and receiving transducers. It is used for assessing the microstructural condition and distributed damage state of the material between the transducers. AU is complementary to more traditional NDE methods, such as ultrasonic cscan, x-ray radiography, and thermographic inspection, which tend to be used primarily for discrete flaw detection. Throughout its history, AU has been used to inspect polymer matrix composites, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, and even monolithic metallic materials. The development of a high-performance automated AU scan system for characterizing within-sample microstructural and property homogeneity is currently in a prototype stage at NASA. This year, essential AU technology was reviewed. In addition, the basic hardware and software configuration for the scanner was developed, and preliminary results with the system were described. Mechanical and environmental loads applied to composite materials can cause distributed damage (as well as discrete defects) that plays a significant role in the degradation of physical properties. Such damage includes fiber/matrix debonding (interface failure), matrix microcracking, and fiber fracture and buckling. Investigations at the NASA Glenn Research Center have shown that traditional NDE scan inspection methods such as ultrasonic c-scan, x-ray imaging, and thermographic imaging tend to be more suited to discrete defect detection rather than the characterization of accumulated distributed microdamage in composites. Since AU is focused on assessing the distributed microdamage state of the material in between the sending and receiving transducers, it has proven to be quite suitable for assessing the relative composite material state. One major success story at Glenn with AU measurements has been the correlation between the ultrasonic decay rate obtained during AU inspection and the mechanical modulus (stiffness) seen during fatigue experiments with silicon carbide/silicon carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite samples. As shown in the figure, ultrasonic decay increased as the modulus decreased for the ceramic matrix composite tensile fatigue samples. The likely microstructural reason for the decrease in modulus (and increase in ultrasonic decay) is the matrix microcracking that commonly occurs during fatigue testing of these materials. Ultrasonic decay has shown the capability to track the pattern of transverse cracking and fiber breakage in these composites.

Experiments on Ultrasonic Lubrication Using a Piezoelectrically-assisted Tribometer and Optical Profilometer

PubMed Central

Dong, Sheng; Dapino, Marcelo

2015-01-01

Friction and wear are detrimental to engineered systems. Ultrasonic lubrication is achieved when the interface between two sliding surfaces is vibrated at a frequency above the acoustic range (20 kHz). As a solid-state technology, ultrasonic lubrication can be used where conventional lubricants are unfeasible or undesirable. Further, ultrasonic lubrication allows for electrical modulation of the effective friction coefficient between two sliding surfaces. This property enables adaptive systems that modify their frictional state and associated dynamic response as the operating conditions change. Surface wear can also be reduced through ultrasonic lubrication. We developed a protocol to investigate the dependence of friction force reduction and wear reduction on the linear sliding velocity between ultrasonically lubricated surfaces. A pin-on-disc tribometer was built which differs from commercial units in that a piezoelectric stack is used to vibrate the pin at 22 kHz normal to the rotating disc surface. Friction and wear metrics including effective friction force, volume loss, and surface roughness are measured without and with ultrasonic vibrations at a constant pressure of 1 to 4 MPa and three different sliding velocities: 20.3, 40.6, and 87 mm/sec. An optical profilometer is utilized to characterize the wear surfaces. The effective friction force is reduced by 62% at 20.3 mm/sec. Consistently with existing theories for ultrasonic lubrication, the percent reduction in friction force diminishes with increasing speed, down to 29% friction force reduction at 87 mm/sec. Wear reduction remains essentially constant (49%) at the three speeds considered. PMID:26436691

Graphite Microstructural Characterization Using Time-Domain and Correlation-Based Ultrasonics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Spicer, James

Among techniques that have been used to determine elastic modulus in nuclear graphites, ultrasonic methods have enjoyed wide use and standards using contacting piezoelectric tranducers have been developed to ensure repeatability of these types of measurements. However, the use of couplants and the pressures used to effectively couple transducers to samples can bias measurements and produce results that are not wholly related to the properties of the graphite itself. In this work, we have investigated the use of laser ultrasonic methods for making elastic modulus measurements in nuclear graphites. These methods use laser-based transmitters and receivers to gather data andmore » do not require use of ultrasonic couplants or mechanical contact with the sample. As a result, information directly related to the elastic responses of graphite can be gathered even if the graphite is porous, brittle and compliant. In particular, we have demonstrated the use of laser ultrasonics for the determination of both Young’s modulus and shear modulus in a range of nuclear graphites including those that are being considered for use in future nuclear reactors. These results have been analyzed to assess the contributions of porosity and microcracking to the elastic responses of these graphites. Laser-based methods have also been used to assess the moduli of NBG-18 and IG-110 where samples of each grade were oxidized to produce specific changes in porosity. These data were used to develop new models for the elastic responses of nuclear graphites and these models have been used to infer specific changes in graphite microstructure that occur during oxidation that affect elastic modulus. Specifically, we show how ultrasonic measurements in oxidized graphites are consistent with nano/microscale oxidation processes where basal plane edges react more readily than basal plane surfaces. We have also shown the use of laser-based methods to perform shear-wave birefringence measurements and have shown how these measurements can be used to assess elastic anisotropy in nuclear graphites. Using models developed in this program, ultrasonic data were interpreted to extract orientation distribution coefficients that could be used to represent anisotropy in these materials. This demonstration showed the use of ultrasonic methods to quantify anisotropy and how these methods provide more detailed information than do measurements of thermal expansion – a technique commonly used for assessing anisotropy in nuclear graphites. Finally, we have employed laser-based, ultrasonic-correlation techniques in attempts to quantify aspects of graphite microstructure such as pore size and distribution. Results of these measurements indicate that additional work must be performed to make this ultrasonic approach viable for quantitative microstructural characterization.« less

Preparation and characterization of CNTs/UHMWPE nanocomposites via a novel mixer under synergy of ultrasonic wave and extensional deformation.

PubMed

Yin, Xiaochun; Li, Sai; He, Guangjian; Feng, Yanhong; Wen, Jingsong

2018-05-01

In this work, design and development of a new melt mixing method and corresponding mixer for polymer materials were reported. Effects of ultrasonic power and sonication time on the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites were experimentally studied. Transmission Electron Microscopy images showed that homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in intractable UHMWPE matrix is successfully realized due to the synergetic effect of ultrasonic wave and extensional deformation without any aid of other additives or solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry results revealed an increase in crystallinity and crystallization rate due to the finer dispersion of the CNTs in the matrix which act as nucleating point. Composites' complex viscosity and storage modulus decreased sharply at first and then leveled off with the increase of sonication time or the ultrasonic power. The thermal stability and the tensile strength of the CNTs/UHMWPE nanocomposites improved by using this novel mixing method. This is the first method that combined the ultrasonic wave and the extensional deformation in which the elongation rate, sonication time and ultrasonic power can be adjusted simultaneously during mixing. The novel mixer offers several advantages such as environment-friendly, high mixing efficiency, self-cleaning and wide adaptability to materials. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Resonance Spectroscopy of Composite Rims for Flywheel Rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harmon, Laura M.; Baaklini, George Y.

2002-01-01

Flywheel energy storage devices comprising multilayered composite rotor systems are being studied extensively for utilization in the International Space Station. These composite material systems were investigated with a recently developed ultrasonic resonance spectroscopy technique. The ultrasonic system employs a continuous swept-sine waveform and performs a fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the frequency response spectrum. In addition, the system is capable of equalizing the amount of energy at each frequency. Equalization of the frequency spectrum, along with interpretation of the second FFT, aids in the evaluation of the fundamental frequency. The frequency responses from multilayered material samples, with and without known defects, were analyzed to assess the capabilities and limitations of this nondestructive evaluation technique for material characterization and defect detection. Amplitude and frequency changes were studied from ultrasonic responses of thick composite rings and a multiring composite rim. A composite ring varying in thickness was evaluated to investigate the full thickness resonance. The frequency response characteristics from naturally occurring voids in a composite ring were investigated. Ultrasonic responses were compared from regions with and without machined voids in a composite ring and a multiring composite rim. Finally, ultrasonic responses from the multiring composite rim were compared before and after proof spin testing to 63,000 rpm.

Fundamental study of microelectronic chip response under laser ultrasonic-interferometric inspection using C-scan method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Lei; Gong, Jie; Ume, I. Charles

2014-02-01

In modern surface mount packaging technologies, such as flip chips, chip scale packages, and ball grid arrays(BGA), chips are attached to the substrates/printed wiring board (PWB) using solder bump interconnections. The quality of solder bumps between the chips and the substrate/board is difficult to inspect. Laser ultrasonic-interferometric technique was proved to be a promising approach for solder bump inspection because of its noncontact and nondestructive characteristics. Different indicators extracted from received signals have been used to predict the potential defects, such as correlation coefficient, error ratio, frequency shifting, etc. However, the fundamental understanding of the chip behavior under laser ultrasonic inspection is still missing. Specifically, it is not sure whether the laser interferometer detected out-of-plane displacements were due to wave propagation or structural vibration when the chip was excited by pulsed laser. Plus, it is found that the received signals are chip dependent. Both challenges impede the interpretation of acquired signals. In this paper, a C-scan method was proposed to study the underlying phenomenon during laser ultrasonic inspection. The full chip was inspected. The response of the chip under laser excitation was visualized in a movie resulted from acquired signals. Specifically, a BGA chip was investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. By characterizing signals using discrete wavelet transform(DWT), both ultrasonic wave propagation and vibration were observed. Separation of them was successfully achieved using ideal band-pass filter and visualized in resultant movies, too. The observed ultrasonic waves were characterized and their respective speeds were measured by applying 2-D FFT. The C-scan method, combined with different digital signal processing techniques, was proved to be an very effective methodology to learn the behavior of chips under laser excitation. This general procedure can be applied to any unknown chip before inspection. A wealth of information can be provided by this learning procedure, which greatly benefits the interpretation of inspection signals afterwards.

Characterization of Ultrasound Energy Diffusion Due to Small-Size Damage on an Aluminum Plate Using Piezoceramic Transducers

PubMed Central

Lu, Guangtao; Feng, Qian; Li, Yourong; Wang, Hao; Song, Gangbing

2017-01-01

During the propagation of ultrasonic waves in structures, there is usually energy loss due to ultrasound energy diffusion and dissipation. The aim of this research is to characterize the ultrasound energy diffusion that occurs due to small-size damage on an aluminum plate using piezoceramic transducers, for the future purpose of developing a damage detection algorithm. The ultrasonic energy diffusion coefficient is related to the damage distributed in the medium. Meanwhile, the ultrasonic energy dissipation coefficient is related to the inhomogeneity of the medium. Both are usually employed to describe the characteristics of ultrasound energy diffusion. The existence of multimodes of Lamb waves in metallic plate structures results in the asynchronous energy transport of different modes. The mode of Lamb waves has a great influence on ultrasound energy diffusion as a result, and thus has to be chosen appropriately. In order to study the characteristics of ultrasound energy diffusion in metallic plate structures, an experimental setup of an aluminum plate with a through-hole, whose diameter varies from 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm, is used as the test specimen with the help of piezoceramic transducers. The experimental results of two categories of damages at different locations reveal that the existence of damage changes the energy transport between the actuator and the sensor. Also, when there is only one dominate mode of Lamb wave excited in the structure, the ultrasound energy diffusion coefficient decreases approximately linearly with the diameter of the simulated damage. Meanwhile, the ultrasonic energy dissipation coefficient increases approximately linearly with the diameter of the simulated damage. However, when two or more modes of Lamb waves are excited, due to the existence of different group velocities between the different modes, the energy transport of the different modes is asynchronous, and the ultrasonic energy diffusion is not strictly linear with the size of the damage. Therefore, it is recommended that only one dominant mode of Lamb wave should be excited during the characterization process, in order to ensure that the linear relationship between the damage size and the characteristic parameters is maintained. In addition, the findings from this paper demonstrate the potential of developing future damage detection algorithms using the linear relationships between damage size and the ultrasound energy diffusion coefficient or ultrasonic energy dissipation coefficient when a single dominant mode is excited. PMID:29207530

Sub-micron elastic property characterization of materials using a near-field scanning optical microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blodgett, David W.; Spicer, James B.

2001-12-01

The ability to characterize the sub-surface mechanical properties of a bulk or thin film material at the sub-micron level has applications in the microelectronics and thin film industries. In the microelectronics industry, with the decrease of line widths and the increase of component densities, sub-surface voids have become increasingly detrimental. Any voids along an integrated circuit (IC) line can lead to improper electrical connections between components and can cause failure of the device. In the thin film industry, the detection of impurities is also important. Any impurities can detract from the film's desired optical, electrical, or mechanical properties. Just as important as the detection of voids and impurities, is the measurement of the elastic properties of a material on the nanometer scale. These elastic measurements provide insight into the microstructural properties of the material. We have been investigating a technique that couples the high-resolution surface imaging capabilities of the apertureless near-field scanning optical microscope (ANSOM) with the sub-surface characterization strengths of high-frequency ultrasound. As an ultrasonic wave propagates, the amplitude decreases due to geometrical spreading, attenuation from absorption, and scattering from discontinuities. Measurement of wave speeds and attenuation provides the information needed to quantify the bulk or surface properties of a material. The arrival of an ultrasonic wave at or along the surface of a material is accompanied with a small surface displacement. Conventional methods for the ultrasound detection rely on either a contact transducer or optical technique (interferometric, beam deflection, etc.). However, each of these methods is limited by the spatial resolution dictated by the detection footprint. As the footprint size increases, variations across the ultrasonic wavefront are effectively averaged, masking the presence of any nanometer-scale sub-surface or surface mechanical property variations. The use of an ANSOM for sensing ultrasonic wave arrivals reduces the detection footprint allowing any nanometer scale variations in the microstructure of a material to be detected. In an ANSOM, the ultrasonic displacement is manifested as perturbations on the near-field signal due to the small variations in the tip-sample caused by the wave arrival. Due to the linear dependence of the near-field signal on tip-sample separation, these perturbations can be interpreted using methods identical to those for conventional ultrasonic techniques. In this paper, we report results using both contact transducer (5 MHz) and laser-generated ultrasound.

Production and characterization of a novel long-acting Herceptin-targeted nanobubble contrast agent specific for Her-2-positive breast cancers.

PubMed

Jiang, Qiongchao; Hao, Shaoyun; Xiao, Xiaoyun; Yao, Jiyi; Ou, Bing; Zhao, Zizhuo; Liu, Fengtao; Pan, Xin; Luo, Baoming; Zhi, Hui

2016-05-01

There is an unmet need for specific and sensitive imaging techniques to assess the efficacy of breast cancer therapy, particularly Her-2-expressing cancers. Ultrasonic microbubbles are being developed for use as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. However, nanobubbles circulate longer, are smaller, and diffuse into extravascular tissue to specifically bind target molecules. Here, we characterize a novel Herceptin-conjugated nanobubble for use against Her-2-expressing tumors. Phospholipid-shelled nanobubbles conjugated with Herceptin (NBs-Her) were fabricated using a thin-film hydration method and characterized in vitro in breast cancer cell lines and in vivo in a mouse model. The average size of the unconjugated nanobubbles (NBs-Blank) and NBs-Her was 447.1 ± 18.4 and 613.0 ± 25.4 nm, respectively. In cell culture, the NBs-Her adhered to Her-2-positive cells significantly better than to Her-2-negative cells (p < 0.05). In vivo, the peak intensity and the half-time to washout of the NBs-Her were significantly greater than those of the NBs-Blank (p < 0.05). In addition, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging quality was improved through the use of the NBs-Her. The nanobubbles were able to penetrate into tumor tissue to allow extravascular imaging, but did not penetrate normal skeletal muscle. The Herceptin-conjugated nanobubble had many properties that made it useful for in vivo imaging, including longer circulation time and better tumor selectivity. This platform may be able to provide targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs or genes.

Metabolomic analysis using porcine skin: a pilot study of analytical techniques.

PubMed

Wu, Julie; Fiehn, Oliver; Armstrong, April W

2014-06-15

Metabolic byproducts serve as indicators of the chemical processes and can provide valuable information on pathogenesis by measuring the amplified output. Standardized techniques for metabolome extraction of skin samples serve as a critical foundation to this field but have not been developed. We sought to determine the optimal cell lysage techniques for skin sample preparation and to compare GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-QTOF-MS for metabolomic analysis. Using porcine skin samples, we pulverized the skin via various combinations of mechanical techniques for cell lysage. After extraction, the samples were subjected to GC-TOF-MS and/or UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Signal intensities from GC-TOF-MS analysis showed that ultrasonication (2.7x107) was most effective for cell lysage when compared to mortar-and-pestle (2.6x107), ball mill followed by ultrasonication (1.6x107), mortar-and-pestle followed by ultrasonication (1.4x107), and homogenization (trial 1: 8.4x106; trial 2: 1.6x107). Due to the similar signal intensities, ultrasonication and mortar-and-pestle were applied to additional samples and subjected to GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Ultrasonication yielded greater signal intensities than mortar-and-pestle for 92% of detected metabolites following GC-TOF-MS and for 68% of detected metabolites following UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Overall, ultrasonication is the preferred method for efficient cell lysage of skin tissue for both metabolomic platforms. With standardized sample preparation, metabolomic analysis of skin can serve as a powerful tool in elucidating underlying biological processes in dermatological conditions.

Minimizing complications of ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty: an initial experience with no related complications.

PubMed

Tebbetts, J B

1998-10-01

Numerous complications and increased operating times were reported with ultrasonically assisted lipoplasty in the first several months after introduction of the technology in the United States. The purpose of this study was to review early reported complications and management regimens, evaluate possible causes of problems, and apply indications and techniques to attempt to minimize complications during an initial experience with this technique beginning in January of 1997. Seven specific indications and modifications of existing techniques were developed and applied to an initial clinical series of 70 consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound-assisted suction lipoplasty between January 10, 1997, and August 1, 1997. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 7 months. No perioperative or postoperative complication occurred in any patient in this series. In this series of ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty cases, application of the following criteria resulted in a series of 70 patients with 1 to 7-month follow-up without complications: (1) selecting patients with well localized fat deposits who were no more than 20 percent above their ideal body weight; (2) infusing a solution of Ringer's Lactate containing 1 cc of 1:1000 epinephrine per 1000 cc into the area of fat removal, stopping infusion when the tissues first become firm, not infusing to marked tissue turgor or skin induration; (3) restricting the level of energy application to a minimum of 1 cm from the undersurface of the dermis; (4) limiting ultrasonic energy application in each area to approximately 1 minute per estimated 100 cc of total aspirate in a wet to superwet environment; (5) not performing ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty in the same area as another procedure that could potentially compromise tissue vascularity; (6) using a Lysonix 2000 generator and 5-mm golf tee tip probe at a power setting of 8 to apply ultrasonic energy to the area of fat removal, ceasing energy application when tissue resistance to the passage of the probe decreases and moving the cannula as rapidly as tissue resistance allows; and (7) using a standard elastic garment without adherent foam or other materials for 2 weeks postoperatively, encouraging all normal activity immediately, and restricting aerobic activities for 2 weeks.

Modal analysis and nonlinear characterization of an airborne power ultrasonic transducer with rectangular plate radiator.

PubMed

Andrés, R R; Acosta, V M; Lucas, M; Riera, E

2018-01-01

Some industrial processes like particle agglomeration or food dehydration among others can be enhanced by the use of power ultrasonic technologies. These technologies are based on an airborne power ultrasonic transducer (APUT) constituted by a pre-stressed Langevin-type transducer, a mechanical amplifier and an extensive plate radiator. In order to produce the desired effects in industrial processing, the transducer has to vibrate in an extensional mode driving an extensive radiator in the desired flexural mode with high amplitude displacements. Due to the generation of these high amplitude displacements in the radiator surfaces, non-linear effects like frequency shifts, hysteresis or modal interactions, among others, may be produced in the transducer behavior. When any nonlinear effect appears, when applying power, the stability and efficiency of this ultrasonic technology decreases, and the transducer may be damaged depending on the excitation power level and the nature of the nonlinearity. In this paper, an APUT with flat rectangular radiator is presented, as the active part of an innovative system with stepped reflectors. The nonlinear behavior of the APUT has been characterized numerically and experimentally in case of the modal analysis and experimentally in the case of dynamic analysis. According to the results obtained after the experiments, no modal interactions are expected, nor do other nonlinear effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of microstructure stability at the interfaces of Al-6061 welds fabricated using ultrasonic additive manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sridharan, Niyanth S.; Gussev, Maxim N.; Parish, Chad M.

Here, ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) is a solid-state additive manufacturing process that uses fundamental principles of ultrasonic welding and sequential layering of tapes to fabricate complex three-dimensional (3-D) components. One of the factors limiting the use of this technology is the poor tensile strength along the z-axis. Recent work has demonstrated the improvement of the z-axis properties after post-processing treatments. The abnormally high stability of the grains at the interface during post-weld heat treatments is, however, not yet well understood. In this work we use multiscale characterization to understand the stability of the grains during post-weld heat treatments. Aluminum alloymore » (6061) builds, fabricated using ultrasonic additive manufacturing, were post-weld heat treated at 180, 330 and 580 °C. The grains close to the tape interfaces are stable during post-weld heat treatments at high temperatures (i.e., 580 °C). This is in contrast to rapid grain growth that takes place in the bulk. Transmission electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography display a significant enrichment of oxygen and magnesium near the stable interfaces. Based on the detailed characterization, two mechanisms are proposed and evaluated: nonequilibrium nano-dispersed oxides impeding the grain growth due to grain boundary pinning, or grain boundary segregation of magnesium and oxygen reducing the grain boundary energy.« less

Evaluation of microstructure stability at the interfaces of Al-6061 welds fabricated using ultrasonic additive manufacturing

DOE PAGES

Sridharan, Niyanth S.; Gussev, Maxim N.; Parish, Chad M.; ...

2018-03-06

Here, ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) is a solid-state additive manufacturing process that uses fundamental principles of ultrasonic welding and sequential layering of tapes to fabricate complex three-dimensional (3-D) components. One of the factors limiting the use of this technology is the poor tensile strength along the z-axis. Recent work has demonstrated the improvement of the z-axis properties after post-processing treatments. The abnormally high stability of the grains at the interface during post-weld heat treatments is, however, not yet well understood. In this work we use multiscale characterization to understand the stability of the grains during post-weld heat treatments. Aluminum alloymore » (6061) builds, fabricated using ultrasonic additive manufacturing, were post-weld heat treated at 180, 330 and 580 °C. The grains close to the tape interfaces are stable during post-weld heat treatments at high temperatures (i.e., 580 °C). This is in contrast to rapid grain growth that takes place in the bulk. Transmission electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography display a significant enrichment of oxygen and magnesium near the stable interfaces. Based on the detailed characterization, two mechanisms are proposed and evaluated: nonequilibrium nano-dispersed oxides impeding the grain growth due to grain boundary pinning, or grain boundary segregation of magnesium and oxygen reducing the grain boundary energy.« less

Examination of the Spatial Correlation of Statistics Information in the Ultrasonic Echo from Diseased Liver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Hachiya, Hiroyuki; Kamiyama, Naohisa; Moriyasu, Fuminori

2002-05-01

To realize a quantitative diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, we have been analyzing the characteristics of echo amplitude in B-mode images. Realizing the distinction between liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis is required in the field of medical ultrasonics. In this study, we examine the spatial correlation, with the coefficient of correlation between the frames and the amplitude characteristics of each frame, using the volumetric data of RF echo signals from normal and diseased liver. It is found that there is a relationship between the tissue structure of liver and the spatial correlation of echo information.

Chemical coloring on stainless steel by ultrasonic irradiation.

PubMed

Cheng, Zuohui; Xue, Yongqiang; Ju, Hongbin

2018-01-01

To solve the problems of high temperature and non-uniformity of coloring on stainless steel, a new chemical coloring process, applying ultrasonic irradiation to the traditional chemical coloring process, was developed in this paper. The effects of ultrasonic frequency and power density (sound intensity) on chemical coloring on stainless steel were studied. The uniformity of morphology and colors was observed with the help of polarizing microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the surface compositions were characterized by X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), meanwhile, the wear resistance and the corrosion resistance were investigated, and the effect mechanism of ultrasonic irradiation on chemical coloring was discussed. These results show that in the process of chemical coloring on stainless steel by ultrasonic irradiation, the film composition is the same as the traditional chemical coloring, and this method can significantly enhance the uniformity, the wear and corrosion resistances of the color film and accelerate the coloring rate which makes the coloring temperature reduced to 40°C. The effects of ultrasonic irradiation on the chemical coloring can be attributed to the coloring rate accelerated and the coloring temperature reduced by thermal-effect, the uniformity of coloring film improved by dispersion-effect, and the wear and corrosion resistances of coloring film enhanced by cavitation-effect. Ultrasonic irradiation not only has an extensive application prospect for chemical coloring on stainless steel but also provides an valuable reference for other chemical coloring. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Feasibility on Ultrasonic Velocity using Contact and Non-Contact Nondestructive Techniques for Carbon/Carbon Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Im, K. H.; Chang, M.; Hsu, D. K.; Song, S. J.; Cho, H.; Park, J. W.; Kweon, Y. S.; Sim, J. K.; Yang, I. Y.

2007-03-01

Advanced materials are to be required to have specific functions associated with extremely environments. One of them is carbon/carbon(C/C) composite material, which has obvious advantages over conventional materials. The C/Cs have become to be utilized as parts of aerospace applications and its low density, high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties at elevated temperatures make it an ideal material for aircraft brake disks. Because of permeation of coupling medium such as water, it is desirable to perform contact-less nondestructive evaluation to assess material properties and part homogeneity. In this work, a C/C composite material was characterized with non-contact and contact ultrasonic methods using a scanner with automatic-data acquisition function. Also through transmission mode was performed because of the main limitation for air-coupled transducers, which is the acoustic impedance mismatch between most materials and air. Especially ultrasonic images and velocities for C/C composite disk brake were compared and found to be consistent to some degree with the non-contact and contact ultrasonic measurement methods. Low frequency through-transmission scans based on both amplitude of the ultrasonic pulse was used for mapping out the material property inhomogeneity. Measured results were compared with those obtained by the dry-coupling ultrasonic UT system and through transmission method in immersion. Finally, feasibility has been found to measure and compare ultrasonic velocities of C/C composites with using the contact/noncontact peak-delay measurement method based on the pulse overlap method.

Hand-held optoacoustic probe for three-dimensional imaging of human morphology and function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deán-Ben, X. Luís.; Razansky, Daniel

2014-03-01

We report on a hand-held imaging probe for real-time optoacoustic visualization of deep tissues in three dimensions. The proposed solution incorporates a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic sensors densely distributed on a spherical surface, whereas illumination is performed coaxially through a cylindrical cavity in the array. Visualization of three-dimensional tomographic data at a frame rate of 10 images per second is enabled by parallel recording of 256 time-resolved signals for each individual laser pulse along with a highly efficient GPUbased real-time reconstruction. A liquid coupling medium (water), enclosed in a transparent membrane, is used to guarantee transmission of the optoacoustically generated waves to the ultrasonic detectors. Excitation at multiple wavelengths further allows imaging spectrally distinctive tissue chromophores such as oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin. The performance is showcased by video-rate tracking of deep tissue vasculature and three-dimensional measurements of blood oxygenenation in a healthy human volunteer. The flexibility provided by the hand-held hardware design, combined with the real-time operation, makes the developed platform highly usable for both small animal research and clinical imaging in multiple indications, including cancer, inflammation, skin and cardiovascular diseases, diagnostics of lymphatic system and breast

Ex vivo detection of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques using intravascular ultrasonic-photoacoustic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quang Bui, Nhat; Hlaing, Kyu Kyu; Lee, Yong Wook; Kang, Hyun Wook; Oh, Junghwan

2017-01-01

Macrophages are excellent imaging targets for detecting atherosclerotic plaques as they are involved in all the developmental stages of atherosclerosis. However, no imaging technique is currently capable of visualizing macrophages inside blood vessel walls. The current study develops an intravascular ultrasonic-photoacoustic (IVUP) imaging system combined with indocyanine green (ICG) as a contrast agent to provide morphological and compositional information about the targeted samples. Both tissue-mimicking vessel phantoms and atherosclerotic plaque-mimicking porcine arterial tissues are used to demonstrate the feasibility of mapping macrophages labeled with ICG by endoscopically applying the proposed hybrid technique. A delay pulse triggering technique is able to sequentially acquire photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) signals from a single scan without using any external devices. The acquired PA and US signals are used to reconstruct 2D cross-sectional and 3D volumetric images of the entire tissue with the ICG-loaded macrophages injected. Due to high imaging contrast and sensitivity, the IVUP imaging vividly reveals structural information and detects the spatial distribution of the ICG-labeled macrophages inside the samples. ICG-assisted IVUP imaging can be a feasible imaging modality for the endoscopic detection of atherosclerotic plaques.

Nondestructive evaluation of hydrogel mechanical properties using ultrasound

PubMed Central

Walker, Jason M.; Myers, Ashley M.; Schluchter, Mark D.; Goldberg, Victor M.; Caplan, Arnold I.; Berilla, Jim A.; Mansour, Joseph M.; Welter, Jean F.

2012-01-01

The feasibility of using ultrasound technology as a noninvasive, nondestructive method for evaluating the mechanical properties of engineered weight-bearing tissues was evaluated. A fixture was designed to accurately and reproducibly position the ultrasound transducer normal to the test sample surface. Agarose hydrogels were used as phantoms for cartilage to explore the feasibility of establishing correlations between ultrasound measurements and commonly used mechanical tissue assessments. The hydrogels were fabricated in 1–10% concentrations with a 2–10 mm thickness. For each concentration and thickness, six samples were created, for a total of 216 gel samples. Speed of sound was determined from the time difference between peak reflections and the known height of each sample. Modulus was computed from the speed of sound using elastic and poroelastic models. All ultrasonic measurements were made using a 15 MHz ultrasound transducer. The elastic modulus was also determined for each sample from a mechanical unconfined compression test. Analytical comparison and statistical analysis of ultrasound and mechanical testing data was carried out. A correlation between estimates of compressive modulus from ultrasonic and mechanical measurements was found, but the correlation depended on the model used to estimate the modulus from ultrasonic measurements. A stronger correlation with mechanical measurements was found using the poroelastic rather than the elastic model. Results from this preliminary testing will be used to guide further studies of native and engineered cartilage. PMID:21773854

Use of Ultrasonic Bone Surgery (Piezosurgery) to Surgically Treat Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (BRONJ). A Case Series Report with at Least 1 Year of Follow-Up

PubMed Central

Blus, Cornelio; Szmukler-Moncler, Serge; Giannelli, Giulio; Denotti, Gloria; Orrù, Germano

2013-01-01

This preliminary work documents the use of a powerful piezosurgery device to treat biphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in combination with classical medication therapy. Eight patients presenting 9 BRONJ sites were treated, 2 in the maxilla and 7 in the mandible. Reason for biphosphonate (BiP) intake was treatment of an oncologic disease for 5 patients and osteoporosis for 3. The oncologic and osteoporosis patients were diagnosed with BRONJ after 35-110 months and 80-183 months of BiP treatment, respectively. BRONJ 2 and 3 was found in 4 patients. Resection of the bone sequestrae was performed with a high power ultrasonic (piezo) surgery and antibiotics were administrated for 2 weeks. Soft tissue healing was incomplete at the 2-week control but it was achieved within 1 month. At the 1-year control, soft tissue healing was maintained at all patients, without symptom recurrence. One patient with paraesthesia had abated; of the 2 pa-tients with trismus, one was healed, severity of the second trismus abated. This case report series suggests that bone resection performed with a high power ultrasonic surgery device combined with antibiotics might lead to BRONJ healing. More patients are warranted to confirm the present findings and assess this treatment approach. PMID:24044030

Acoustic characterization of ultrasonic vocalizations by a nocturnal primate Tarsius syrichta.

PubMed

Gursky-Doyen, Sharon

2013-07-01

This preliminary study characterizes the ultrasonic vocalizations produced by Philippine tarsiers, Tarsius syrichta. Data were collected at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol, Philippines, from July through October 2010. Recordings were made on a Wildlife Acoustics Ultrasonic Song Meter 2 BAT from 29 wild, free-living adult resident T. syrichta (23 females and six males). A total of 10,309 USVs were recorded. These vocalizations fell into three main categories: chirps, twitters, and whistles. Chirps were the most frequent, followed by twitters and whistles. Whereas chirps and twitters were emitted by both male and female Philippine tarsiers, whistles were only emitted by adult males. Given that vocalizations reported in this study were exclusively recorded during capture and handling, it is very likely that these vocalizations function as distress calls. However, as the long whistle was only given by adult males who were captured at the same time as the female or the group's infant, the function of the long whistle might be slightly different than the function of the other relatively lower-frequency USVs.

Ultrasonically-enhanced preparation, characterization of CaFe-layered double hydroxides with various interlayer halide, azide and oxo anions (CO32-, NO3-, ClO4-).

PubMed

Szabados, Márton; Varga, Gábor; Kónya, Zoltán; Kukovecz, Ákos; Carlson, Stefan; Sipos, Pál; Pálinkó, István

2018-01-01

An ultrasonically-enhanced mechanochemical method was developed to synthesize CaFe-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with various interlayer anions (CO 3 2- , NO 3 - , ClO 4 - , N 3 - , F - , Cl - , Br - and I - ). The duration of pre-milling and ultrasonic irradiation and the variation of synthesis temperature in the wet chemical step were investigated to obtain the optimal parameters of preparation. The main method to characterize the products was X-ray diffractometry, but infrared and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopies as well as thermogravimetric measurements were also used to learn about fine structural details. The synthesis method afforded successful intercalation of the anions, among others the azide anion, a rarely used counter ion providing a system, which enables safe handling the otherwise highly reactive anion. The X-ray absorption spectroscopic measurements revealed that the quality of the interlayered anions could modulate the spatial arrangement of the calcium ions around the iron(III) ions, but only in the second coordination sphere. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Signal decomposition for surrogate modeling of a constrained ultrasonic design space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Homa, Laura; Sparkman, Daniel; Wertz, John; Welter, John; Aldrin, John C.

2018-04-01

The U.S. Air Force seeks to improve the methods and measures by which the lifecycle of composite structures are managed. Nondestructive evaluation of damage - particularly internal damage resulting from impact - represents a significant input to that improvement. Conventional ultrasound can detect this damage; however, full 3D characterization has not been demonstrated. A proposed approach for robust characterization uses model-based inversion through fitting of simulated results to experimental data. One challenge with this approach is the high computational expense of the forward model to simulate the ultrasonic B-scans for each damage scenario. A potential solution is to construct a surrogate model using a subset of simulated ultrasonic scans built using a highly accurate, computationally expensive forward model. However, the dimensionality of these simulated B-scans makes interpolating between them a difficult and potentially infeasible problem. Thus, we propose using the chirplet decomposition to reduce the dimensionality of the data, and allow for interpolation in the chirplet parameter space. By applying the chirplet decomposition, we are able to extract the salient features in the data and construct a surrogate forward model.

Experimental Investigation of the Acoustic Nonlinear Behavior in Granular Polymer Bonded Explosives with Progressive Fatigue Damage

PubMed Central

Yang, Zhanfeng; Tian, Yong; Li, Weibin; Zhou, Haiqiang; Zhang, Weibin; Li, Jingming

2017-01-01

The measurement of acoustic nonlinear response is known as a promising technique to characterize material micro-damages. In this paper, nonlinear ultrasonic approach is used to characterize the evolution of fatigue induced micro-cracks in polymer bonded explosives. The variations of acoustic nonlinearity with respect to fatigue cycles in the specimens are obtained in this investigation. The present results show a significant increase of acoustic nonlinearity with respect to fatigue cycles. The experimental observation of the correlation between the acoustic nonlinearity and fatigue cycles in carbon/epoxy laminates, verifies that an acoustic nonlinear response can be used to evaluate the progressive fatigue damage in the granular polymer bonded explosives. The sensitivity comparison of nonlinear and linear parameters of ultrasonic waves in the specimens shows that nonlinear acoustic parameters are more promising indicators to fatigue induced micro-damage than linear ones. The feasibility study of the micro-damage assessment of polymer bonded explosives by nonlinear ultrasonic technique in this work can be applied to damage identification, material degradation monitoring, and lifetime prediction of the explosive parts. PMID:28773017

Experimental Investigation of the Acoustic Nonlinear Behavior in Granular Polymer Bonded Explosives with Progressive Fatigue Damage.

PubMed

Yang, Zhanfeng; Tian, Yong; Li, Weibin; Zhou, Haiqiang; Zhang, Weibin; Li, Jingming

2017-06-16

The measurement of acoustic nonlinear response is known as a promising technique to characterize material micro-damages. In this paper, nonlinear ultrasonic approach is used to characterize the evolution of fatigue induced micro-cracks in polymer bonded explosives. The variations of acoustic nonlinearity with respect to fatigue cycles in the specimens are obtained in this investigation. The present results show a significant increase of acoustic nonlinearity with respect to fatigue cycles. The experimental observation of the correlation between the acoustic nonlinearity and fatigue cycles in carbon/epoxy laminates, verifies that an acoustic nonlinear response can be used to evaluate the progressive fatigue damage in the granular polymer bonded explosives. The sensitivity comparison of nonlinear and linear parameters of ultrasonic waves in the specimens shows that nonlinear acoustic parameters are more promising indicators to fatigue induced micro-damage than linear ones. The feasibility study of the micro-damage assessment of polymer bonded explosives by nonlinear ultrasonic technique in this work can be applied to damage identification, material degradation monitoring, and lifetime prediction of the explosive parts.

Confocal acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography using a ring ultrasonic transducer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qi, Wenjuan; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697; Li, Rui

2014-03-24

We designed and developed a confocal acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography system. A ring ultrasound transducer was used to achieve reflection mode excitation and generate an oscillating acoustic radiation force in order to generate displacements within the tissue, which were detected using the phase-resolved optical coherence elastography method. Both phantom and human tissue tests indicate that this system is able to sense the stiffness difference of samples and quantitatively map the elastic property of materials. Our confocal setup promises a great potential for point by point elastic imaging in vivo and differentiation of diseased tissues from normal tissue.

Effect of ultrasonic treatment on tensile properties of PLA/LNR/NiZn ferrite nanocomposite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shahdan, Dalila; Ahmad, Sahrim Hj.; Flaifel, Moayad Husein

2013-11-27

The influence of sonication treatment time on the morphological and mechanical properties of LNR/PLA composite impregnated with different filler loadings of NiZn ferrite nanoparticles was investigated. The nanocomposite was prepared using melt blending method with assistance of ultrasonic treatment of 0, 1 and 2 hrs. Structural characterization of the nanocomposites was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with their elemental composition being confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The tensile properties of LNR/PLA composite treated with different ultrasonication times have improved with increasing magnetic nanofiller signature in the nanocomposite. Further, the optimum sonication time of 1 hr was foundmore » to produce nanocomposite with maximum tensile properties.« less

Smooth polishing of femtosecond laser induced craters on cemented carbide by ultrasonic vibration method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, H. P.; Guan, Y. C.; Zheng, H. Y.

2017-12-01

Rough surface features induced by laser irradiation have been a challenging for the fabrication of micro/nano scale features. In this work, we propose hybrid ultrasonic vibration polishing method to improve surface quality of microcraters produced by femtosecond laser irradiation on cemented carbide. The laser caused rough surfaces are significantly smoothened after ultrasonic vibration polishing due to the strong collision effect of diamond particles on the surfaces. 3D morphology, SEM and AFM analysis has been conducted to characterize surface morphology and topography. Results indicate that the minimal surface roughness of Ra 7.60 nm has been achieved on the polished surfaces. The fabrication of microcraters with smooth surfaces is applicable to molding process for mass production of micro-optical components.

NDE of structural ceramics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klima, S. J.; Vary, A.

1986-01-01

Radiographic, ultrasonic, scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM), and thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques were used to characterize silicon nitride and silicon carbide modulus-of-rupture test specimens in various stages of fabrication. Conventional and microfocus X-ray techniques were found capable of detecting minute high density inclusions in as-received powders, green compacts, and fully densified specimens. Significant density gradients in sintered bars were observed by radiography, ultrasonic velocity, and SLAM. Ultrasonic attenuation was found sensitive to microstructural variations due to grain and void morphology and distribution. SLAM was also capable of detecting voids, inclusions and cracks in finished test bars. Consideration is given to the potential for applying thermo-acoustic microscopy techniques to green and densified ceramics. The detection probability statistics and some limitations of radiography and SLAM also are discussed.

Thermoacoustic Emission Induced by Deeply-Penetrating Radiation and its Application to Biomedical Imaging.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liew, Soo Chin

Thermoacoustic emissions induced by 2450 MHz microwave pulses in water, tissue-simulating phantoms and dog kidneys have been detected. The analytic signal magnitude has been employed in generating 'A-mode' images with excellent depth resolution. Thermoacoustic emissions have also been detected from the dose-gradient at the beam edges of a 4 MeV x-ray beam in water. These results establish the feasibility of employing thermoacoustic signals in generating diagnostic images, and in locating x-ray beam edges during radiation therapy. A theoretical model for thermoacoustic imaging using a directional transducer has been developed, which may be used in the design of future thermoacoustic imaging system, and in facilitating comparisons with other types of imaging systems. A method of characterizing biological tissues has been proposed, which relates the power spectrum of the detected thermoacoustic signals to the autocorrelation function of the thermoacoustic source distribution in the tissues. The temperature dependence of acoustic signals induced by microwave pulses in water has been investigated. The signal amplitudes vary with temperature as the thermal expansion of water, except near 4^circ C. The signal waveforms show a gradual phase change as the temperature changes from below 4^ circ to above 4^circ C. This anomaly is due to the presence of a nonthermal component detected near 4^circC, whose waveform is similar to the derivative of the room temperature signal. The results are compared to a model based on a nonequilibrium relaxation mechanism proposed by Pierce and Hsieh. The relaxation time was found to be (0.20 +/- 0.02) ns and (0.13 +/- 0.02) ns for 200 ns and 400 ns microwave pulse widths, respectively. A microwave-induced thermoacoustic source capable of launching large aperture, unipolar ultrasonic plane wave pulses in water has been constructed. This source consists of a thin water layer trapped between two dielectric media. Due to the large mismatch in the dielectric constants, the incident microwaves undergo multiple reflections between the dielectric boundaries trapping the water, resulting in an enhanced specific microwave absorption in the thin water layer. This source may be useful in ultrasonic scattering and attenuation experiments.

A contactless ultrasonic surface wave approach to characterize distributed cracking damage in concrete.

PubMed

Ham, Suyun; Song, Homin; Oelze, Michael L; Popovics, John S

2017-03-01

We describe an approach that utilizes ultrasonic surface wave backscatter measurements to characterize the volume content of relatively small distributed defects (microcrack networks) in concrete. A simplified weak scattering model is used to demonstrate that the scattered wave field projected in the direction of the surface wave propagation is relatively insensitive to scatterers that are smaller than the propagating wavelength, while the scattered field projected in the opposite direction is more sensitive to sub-wavelength scatterers. Distributed microcracks in the concrete serve as the small scatterers that interact with a propagating surface wave. Data from a finite element simulation were used to demonstrate the viability of the proposed approach, and also to optimize a testing configuration to collect data. Simulations were validated through experimental measurements of ultrasonic backscattered surface waves from test samples of concrete constructed with different concentrations of fiber filler (0.0, 0.3 and 0.6%) to mimic increasing microcrack volume density and then samples with actual cracking induced by controlled thermal cycles. A surface wave was induced in the concrete samples by a 50kHz ultrasonic source operating 10mm above the surface at an angle of incidence of 9°. Silicon-based miniature MEMS acoustic sensors located a few millimeters above the concrete surface both behind and in front of the sender were used to detect leaky ultrasonic surface waves emanating from concrete. A normalized backscattered energy parameter was calculated from the signals. Statistically significant differences in the normalized backscattered energy were observed between concrete samples with varying levels of simulated and actual cracking damage volume. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ex-Situ Synthesis of Polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)-coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles by Coprecipitation-Ultrasonication Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riva'i, Imam; Oktavia Wulandari, Ika; Sulistyarti, Hermin; Sabarudin, Akhmad

2018-01-01

In this study, the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was done with surface modification using PVA with coprecipitation-ultrasonication method. Time variations and PVA concentrations were added to determine the effect on crystallite size and lattice parameters on the synthesis of Fe3O4-PVA nanoparticles. Fe3O4 characterization was done using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) instruments. FTIR was employed to determine PVA coating on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The crystallite size and lattice parameters were analyzed using XRD. From the FTIR data, it is known that the interaction between PVA and Fe3O4 nanoparticles is characterized by Fe-O-C group at 1100 cm-1 region which is characteristic of Fe3O4-PVA nanoparticles, C-H groups of PVA in the range of 2950 cm-1 wave number, C-C of PVA regions of wave number 1405 cm-1, Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-PVA samples are in the range of 565 cm-1. In addition, the variation of ultrasonication time and the addition of PVA concentration have an effect on the crystallite size change and the lattice parameter observed from the XRD data. The use of ultrasonication time will affect the size of the crystallite become smaller and the grating lattice parameters obtained are wider. The effect of addition of PVA showed that higher concentration of PVA resulted in smaller crystallite size and larger lattice parameters. These results indicated that ultrasonication time and addition of PVA concentration greatly affect the characteristics of nanoparticles.

Microstructural Characterization of Irradiated U0.7ZrH1.6 Using Ultrasonic Techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramuhalli, Pradeep; Jacob, Richard E.; MacFarlan, Paul J.

In recent years, there has been an increased level of effort to understand the changes in microstructure that occur due to irradiation of nuclear fuel. The primary driver for this increased effort is the potential for designing new fuels that are safer and more reliable, in turn enabling new and improved reactor technologies. Much of the data on microstructural change in irradiated fuels is generated through a host of post irradiation examination techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine grain structure, porosity, crack geometry, etc. in irradiated fuels. Such “traditional”more » examination techniques were recently used to characterize a novel new fuel consisting of U0.17ZrH1.6 pellets bonded to zircaloy-2 cladded with lead-bismuth eutectic before and after irradiation. However, alternative methods such as ultrasonic inspection can provide an opportunity for nondestructively assessing microstructure in both in-pile and post-irradiation examinations. In this paper, we briefly describe initial results of ultrasonic examination of the U0.17ZrH1.6 pellets (unirradiated and irradiated), in a post-irradiation examination study. Data indicate some correlation with microstructural changes due to irradiation; however, it is not clear what the specific microstructural changes are that are influencing the ultrasonic measurements. Interestingly, specimens with nominally identical burnup show differences in ultrasonic signatures, indicating apparent microstructural differences between these specimens. A summary of the experimental study, preliminary data and findings are presented in this short paper. Additional details of the analysis will be included in the presentation.« less

Value of the Strain Ratio on Ultrasonic Elastography for Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors.

PubMed

Hahn, Seok; Lee, Young Han; Lee, Seung Hyun; Suh, Jin-Suck

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the strain ratio provides additional value to conventional visual elasticity scores in the differentiation of benign and malignant soft tissue tumors by ultrasonic elastography. The Institutional Review Board approved the protocol of this retrospective review. Seventy-three patients who underwent elastography and had a soft tissue mass pathologically confirmed by ultrasound-guided core biopsy or surgical excision were enrolled from April 2012 through October 2014. On elastography, elasticity scores were determined with a 5-point visual scale, and the strain ratio to adjacent soft tissue at the same depth was calculated. Tumors were divided into benign and malignant groups according to the pathologic diagnoses. Elasticity scores and strain ratios were compared between benign and malignant groups, and diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. Of the 73 patients, 40 had benign tumors, and 33 had malignant tumors. Strain ratios (P = .003) and elasticity scores (P = .048) were significantly different between pathologic results. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.700 (95% confidence interval, 0.581-0.802) for the strain ratio and 0.623 (95% confidence interval, 0.515-0.746) for elastography. The strain ratios of malignant soft tissue tumors were lower than those of benign tumors and showed better diagnostic performance than did elasticity scores. The strain ratio can be used as a diagnostic indicator to predict the malignant potential of soft tissue tumors. © 2016 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Characterization of flaws in a tube bundle mock-up for reliability studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kupperman, D.S.; Bakhtiari, S.

1997-02-01

As part of an assessment of in-service inspection of steam generator tubes, the authors will assemble a steam generator mock-up for round robin studies and use as a test bed in evaluating emerging technologies. Progress is reported on the characterization of flaws that will be part of the mock-up. Eddy current and ultrasonic techniques are being evaluated as a means to characterize the flaws in the mock-up tubes before final assembly. Twenty Inconel 600 tubes with laboratory-grown cracks, typical of those to be used in the mock-up, were provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for laboratory testing. After the tubesmore » were inspected with eddy current and ultrasonic techniques, they were destructively analyzed to establish the actual depths, lengths, and profiles of the cracks. The analysis of the results will allow the best techniques to be used for characterizing the flaws in the mock-up tubes.« less

Shell-NASA Vibration-Based Damage Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rollins, John M.

2014-01-01

This article describes collaborative research between Shell International Exploration and Production (IE&P) scientists and ISAG personnel to investigate the feasibility of ultrasonic-based characterization of spacecraft tile damage for in-space inspection applications. The approach was proposed by Shell personnel in a Shell-NASA "speed-matching" session in early 2011 after ISAG personnel described challenges inherent in the inspection of MMOD damage deep within spacecraft thermal protection system (TPS) tiles. The approach leveraged Shell's relevant sensor and analytical expertise. The research addressed the difficulties associated with producing 3D models of MMOD damage cavities under the surface of a TPS tile, given that simple image-based sensing is constrained by line of sight through entry holes that have diameters considerably smaller than the underlying damage cavities. Damage cavity characterization is needed as part of a vehicle inspection and risk reduction capability for long-duration, human-flown space missions. It was hoped that cavity characterization could be accomplished through the use of ultrasonic techniques that allow for signal penetration through solid material.

Intense acoustic bursts as a signal-enhancement mechanism in ultrasound-modulated optical tomography.

PubMed

Kim, Chulhong; Zemp, Roger J; Wang, Lihong V

2006-08-15

Biophotonic imaging with ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT) promises ultrasonically resolved imaging in biological tissues. A key challenge in this imaging technique is a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We show significant UOT signal enhancement by using intense time-gated acoustic bursts. A CCD camera captured the speckle pattern from a laser-illuminated tissue phantom. Differences in speckle contrast were observed when ultrasonic bursts were applied, compared with when no ultrasound was applied. When CCD triggering was synchronized with burst initiation, acoustic-radiation-force-induced displacements were detected. To avoid mechanical contrast in UOT images, the CCD camera acquisition was delayed several milliseconds until transient effects of acoustic radiation force attenuated to a satisfactory level. The SNR of our system was sufficiently high to provide an image pixel per acoustic burst without signal averaging. Because of the substantially improved SNR, the use of intense acoustic bursts is a promising signal enhancement strategy for UOT.

Determination of zearalenone and its metabolites in endometrial cancer by coupled separation techniques.

PubMed

Gadzała-Kopciuch, Renata; Cendrowski, Krzysztof; Cesarz, Anna; Kiełbasa, Paweł; Buszewski, Bogusław

2011-10-01

This study presents a selective method of isolation of zearalenone (ZON) and its metabolite, α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), in neoplastically changed human tissue by accelerated solvent and ultrasonic extractions using a mixture of acetonitrile/water (84/16% v/v) as the extraction solvent. Extraction effectiveness was determined through the selection of parameters (composition of the solvent mixture, temperature, pressure, number of cycles) with tissue contamination at the level of nanograms per gram. The produced acetonitrile/water extracts were purified, and analytes were enriched in columns packed with homemade molecularly imprinted polymers. Purified extracts were determined by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with different detection systems (diode array detection--DAD and mass spectrometry--MS) involving the Ascentis RP-Amide as a stationary phase and gradient elution. The combination of UE-MISPE-LC (ultrasonic extraction--molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction--liquid chromatography) produced high (R≈95-98%) and repeatable (RSD<3%) recovery values for ZON and α-ZOL. © The Author(s) 2011. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com

Measuring Ultrasonic Backscatter in the Presence of Nonlinear Propagation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stiles, Timothy; Guerrero, Quinton

2011-11-01

A goal of medical ultrasound is the formation of quantitative ultrasound images in which contrast is determined by acoustic or physical properties of tissue rather than relative echo amplitude. Such images could greatly enhance early detection of many diseases, including breast cancer and liver cirrhosis. Accurate determination of the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient from patients remains a difficult task. One reason for this difficulty is the inherent nonlinear propagation of ultrasound at high intensities used for medical imaging. The backscatter coefficient from several tissue-mimicking samples were measured using the planar reflector method. In this method, the power spectrum from a sample is compared to the power spectrum of an optically flat sample of quartz. The results should be independent of incident pressure amplitude. Results demonstrate that backscatter coefficients can vary by more than an order of magnitude when ultrasound pressure varies from 0.1 MPa to 1.5 MPa at 5.0 MHz. A new method that incorporates nonlinear propagation is proposed to explain these discrepancies.

System and technique for ultrasonic characterization of settling suspensions

DOEpatents

Greenwood, Margaret S [Richland, WA; Panetta, Paul D [Richland, WA; Bamberger, Judith A [Richland, WA; Pappas, Richard A [Richland, WA

2006-11-28

A system for determining properties of settling suspensions includes a settling container, a mixer, and devices for ultrasonic interrogation transverse to the settling direction. A computer system controls operation of the mixer and the interrogation devices and records the response to the interrogating as a function of settling time, which is then used to determine suspension properties. Attenuation versus settling time for dilute suspensions, such as dilute wood pulp suspension, exhibits a peak at different settling times for suspensions having different properties, and the location of this peak is used as one mechanism for characterizing suspensions. Alternatively or in addition, a plurality of ultrasound receivers are arranged at different angles to a common transmitter to receive scattering responses at a variety of angles during particle settling. Angular differences in scattering as a function of settling time are also used to characterize the suspension.

Rotary ultrasonic drilling on bone: A novel technique to put an end to thermal injury to bone.

PubMed

Gupta, Vishal; Pandey, Pulak M; Gupta, Ravi K; Mridha, Asit R

2017-03-01

Bone drilling is common in orthopedic procedures and the heat produced during conventional experimental drilling often exceeds critical temperature of 47 °C and induces thermal osteonecrosis. The osteonecrosis may be the reason for impaired healing, early loosening and implant failure. This study was undertaken to control the temperature rise by interrupted cutting and reduced friction effects at the interface of drill tool and the bone surface. In this work, rotary ultrasonic drilling technique with diamond abrasive particles coated on the hollow drill tool without any internal or external cooling assistance was used. Experiments were performed at room temperature on the mid-diaphysis sections of fresh pig bones, which were harvested immediately after sacrifice of the animal. Both rotary ultrasonic drilling on bone and conventional surgical drilling on bone were performed in a five set of experiments on each process using identical constant process parameters. The maximum temperature of each trial was recorded by K-type thermocouple device. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid decalcification was done for microscopic examination of bone. In this comparative procedure, rotary ultrasonic drilling on bone produced much lower temperature, that is, 40.2 °C ± 0.4 °C and 40.3 °C ± 0.2 °C as compared to that of conventional surgical drilling on bone, that is, 74.9 °C ± 0.8 °C and 74.9 °C ± 0.6 °C with respect to thermocouples fixed at first and second position, respectively. The conventional surgical drilling on bone specimens revealed gross tissue burn, microscopic evidence of thermal osteonecrosis and tissue injury in the form of cracks due to the generated force during drilling. But our novel technique showed no such features. Rotary ultrasonic drilling on bone technique is robust and superior to other methods for drilling as it induces no thermal osteonecrosis and does not damage the bone by generating undue forces during drilling.

Energy-based adaptive focusing of waves: application to noninvasive aberration correction of ultrasonic wavefields

PubMed Central

Herbert, Eric; Pernot, Mathieu; Montaldo, Gabriel; Fink, Mathias; Tanter, Mickael

2009-01-01

An aberration correction method based on the maximization of the wave intensity at the focus of an emitting array is presented. The potential of this new adaptive focusing technique is investigated for ultrasonic focusing in biological tissues. The acoustic intensity is maximized non invasively through the direct measurement or indirect estimation of the beam energy at the focus for a series of spatially coded emissions. For ultrasonic waves, the acoustic energy at the desired focus can be indirectly estimated from the local displacements induced in tissues by the ultrasonic radiation force of the beam. Based on the measurement of these displacements, this method allows the precise estimation of the phase and amplitude aberrations and consequently the correction of aberrations along the beam travel path. The proof of concept is first performed experimentally using a large therapeutic array with strong electronic phase aberrations (up to 2π). Displacements induced by the ultrasonic radiation force at the desired focus are indirectly estimated using the time shift of backscattered echoes recorded on the array. The phase estimation is deduced accurately using a direct inversion algorithm which reduces the standard deviation of the phase distribution from σ = 1.89 before correction to σ = 0.53 following correction. The corrected beam focusing quality is verified using a needle hydrophone. The peak intensity obtained through the aberrator is found to be −7.69 dB below the reference intensity obtained without any aberration. Using the phase correction, a sharp focus is restored through the aberrator with a relative peak intensity of −0.89 dB. The technique is tested experimentally using a linear transmit/receive array through a real aberrating layer. The array is used to automatically correct its beam quality, as it both generates the radiation force with coded excitations and indirectly estimates the acoustic intensity at the focus with speckle tracking. This technique could have important implications in the field of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound even in complex configurations such as transcranial, transcostal or deep seated organs. PMID:19942526

Temperature rise during removal of fractured components out of the implant body: an in vitro study comparing two ultrasonic devices and five implant types.

PubMed

Meisberger, Eric W; Bakker, Sjoerd J G; Cune, Marco S

2015-12-01

Ultrasonic instrumentation under magnification may facilitate mobilization of screw remnants but may induce heat trauma to surrounding bone. An increase of 5°C is considered detrimental to osseointegration. The objective of this investigation was to examine the rise in temperature of the outer implant body after 30 s of ultrasonic instrumentation to the inner part, in relation to implant type, type of ultrasonic equipment, and the use of coolants in vitro. Two ultrasonic devices (Satelec Suprasson T Max and Electro Medical Systems (EMS) miniMaster) were used on five different implant types that were provided with a thermo couple (Astra 3.5 mm, bone level Regular CrossFit (RC) 4.1 mm, bone level Narrow CrossFit (NC) 3.3 mm, Straumann tissue level regular body regular neck 3.3 mm, and Straumann tissue level wide body regular neck 4.8 mm), either with or without cooling during 30 s. Temperature rise at this point in time is the primary outcome measure. In addition, the mean maximum rise in temperature (all implants combined) was assessed and statistically compared among devices, implant systems, and cooling mode (independent t-tests, ANOVA, and post hoc analysis). The Satelec device without cooling induces the highest temperature change of up to 13°C, particularly in both bone level implants (p < 0.05) but appears safe for approximately 10 s of continuous instrumentation, after which a cooling down period is rational. Cooling is effective for both devices. However, when the Satelec device is used with coolant for a longer period of time, a rise in temperature must be anticipated after cessation of instrumentation, and post-operational cooling is advised. The in vitro setup used in this experiment implies that care should be taken when translating the observations to clinical recommendations, but it is carefully suggested that the EMS device causes limited rise in temperature, even without coolant.

Ultrasonic assessment of additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schehl, Norman; Kramb, Vicki; Dierken, Josiah; Aldrin, John; Schwalbach, Edwin; John, Reji

2018-04-01

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes offer the potential for manufacturing cost savings and rapid insertion into service through production of near net shape components for complicated structures. Use of these parts in high reliability applications such as those in the aerospace industry will require nondestructive characterization methods to ensure post-process material quality in as-built condition. Ultrasonic methods can be used for this quality verification. Depending on the application, the service life of AM components can be sensitive to the part surface condition. The surface roughness and layered structure inherent to the electron-beam powder-bed fusion process necessitates new approaches to evaluate subsurface material integrity in its presence. Experimental methods and data analytics may improve the evaluation of as-built additively manufactured materials. This paper discusses the assessment of additively manufactured EBM Ti-6Al-4V panels using ultrasonic methods and the data analytics applied to evaluate material integrity. The assessment was done as an exploratory study as the discontinuities of interest in these test samples were not known when the measurements were performed. Water immersion ultrasonic techniques, including pulse-echo and through transmission with 10 MHz focused transducers, were used to explore the material integrity of as-built plates. Subsequent destructive mechanical tests of specimens extracted from the plates provided fracture locations indicating critical flaws. To further understand the effect of surface-roughness, an evaluation of ultrasonic response in the presence of as-built surfaces and with the surface removed was performed. The assessment of additive manufactured EBM Ti-6Al-4V panels with ultrasonic techniques indicated that ultrasonic energy was attenuated by the as-built surface roughness. In addition, feature detection was shown to be sensitive to experimental ultrasonic parameters and flaw morphology.

Characterization of waviness in wind turbine blades using air coupled ultrasonics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chakrapani, Sunil Kishore; Dayal, Vinay; Hsu, David K.

2011-06-23

Waviness in glass fiber reinforced composite is of great interest in composite research, since it results in the loss of stiffness. Several NDE techniques have been used previously to detect waviness. This work is concerned with waves normal to the plies in a composite. Air-coupled ultrasonics was used to detect waviness in thick composites used in the manufacturing of wind turbine blades. Composite samples with different wave aspect ratios were studied. Different wavy samples were characterized, and a three step process was developed to make sure the technique is field implementable. This gives us a better understanding of the effectmore » of waviness in thick composites, and how it affects the life and performance of the composite.« less

Design of advanced ultrasonic transducers for welding devices.

PubMed

Parrini, L

2001-11-01

A new high frequency ultrasonic transducer has been conceived, designed, prototyped, and tested. In the design phase, an advanced approach was used and established. The method is based on an initial design estimate obtained with finite element method (FEM) simulations. The simulated ultrasonic transducers and resonators are then built and characterized experimentally through laser interferometry and electrical resonance spectra. The comparison of simulation results with experimental data allows the parameters of FEM models to be adjusted and optimized. The achieved FEM simulations exhibit a remarkably high predictive potential and allow full control of the vibration behavior of the transducer. The new transducer is mounted on a wire bonder with a flange whose special geometry was calculated by means of FEM simulations. This flange allows the transducer to be attached on the wire bonder, not only in longitudinal nodes, but also in radial nodes of the ultrasonic field excited in the horn. This leads to a total decoupling of the transducer to the wire bonder, which has not been achieved so far. The new approach to mount ultrasonic transducers on a welding device is of major importance, not only for wire bonding, but also for all high power ultrasound applications and has been patented.

Acoustic devices for particle and cell manipulation and sensing.

PubMed

Qiu, Yongqiang; Wang, Han; Demore, Christine E M; Hughes, David A; Glynne-Jones, Peter; Gebhardt, Sylvia; Bolhovitins, Aleksandrs; Poltarjonoks, Romans; Weijer, Kees; Schönecker, Andreas; Hill, Martyn; Cochran, Sandy

2014-08-13

An emerging demand for the precise manipulation of cells and particles for applications in cell biology and analytical chemistry has driven rapid development of ultrasonic manipulation technology. Compared to the other manipulation technologies, such as magnetic tweezing, dielectrophoresis and optical tweezing, ultrasonic manipulation has shown potential in a variety of applications, with its advantages of versatile, inexpensive and easy integration into microfluidic systems, maintenance of cell viability, and generation of sufficient forces to handle particles, cells and their agglomerates. This article briefly reviews current practice and reports our development of various ultrasonic standing wave manipulation devices, including simple devices integrated with high frequency (>20 MHz) ultrasonic transducers for the investigation of biological cells and complex ultrasonic transducer array systems to explore the feasibility of electronically controlled 2-D and 3-D manipulation. Piezoelectric and passive materials, fabrication techniques, characterization methods and possible applications are discussed. The behavior and performance of the devices have been investigated and predicted with computer simulations, and verified experimentally. Issues met during development are highlighted and discussed. To assist long term practical adoption, approaches to low-cost, wafer level batch-production and commercialization potential are also addressed.

Simulation and fabrication of 0-3 composite PZT films for ultrahigh frequency (100-300 MHz) ultrasonic transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaoyang; Fei, Chunlong; Chen, Zeyu; Chen, Ruimin; Yu, Ping; Chen, Zhongping; Shung, K. Kirk; Zhou, Qifa

2016-03-01

This paper presents simulation, fabrication, and characterization of single-element ultrahigh frequency (100-300-MHz) needle ultrasonic transducers based on 0-3 composite Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) films prepared by using composite ceramic sol-gel film and sol-infiltration technique. The center frequency of the developed transducer at 300-MHz was the highest frequency of PbTiO3 ceramic-based ultrasonic transducers ever reported. Furthermore, a brief description of the composite model was followed by the development of a new expression for predicting the longitudinal velocity, the clamped dielectric constant, and the complex electromechanical coupling coefficient kt of these films, which is very important in ultrasonic transducer design. Moreover, these parameters are difficult to obtain by measuring the frequency dependence of impedance and phase angle because of the weak signal of the previous 0-3 composite films transducer (>100 MHz). The modeling results show that the Cubes model with a geometric factor n = 0.05 fits well with the measured data. This model will be helpful for developing the 0-3 composite systems for ultrahigh frequency ultrasonic transducer design.

Modeling of ultrasonic processes utilizing a generic software framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruns, P.; Twiefel, J.; Wallaschek, J.

2017-06-01

Modeling of ultrasonic processes is typically characterized by a high degree of complexity. Different domains and size scales must be regarded, so that it is rather difficult to build up a single detailed overall model. Developing partial models is a common approach to overcome this difficulty. In this paper a generic but simple software framework is presented which allows to coupe arbitrary partial models by slave modules with well-defined interfaces and a master module for coordination. Two examples are given to present the developed framework. The first one is the parameterization of a load model for ultrasonically-induced cavitation. The piezoelectric oscillator, its mounting, and the process load are described individually by partial models. These partial models then are coupled using the framework. The load model is composed of spring-damper-elements which are parameterized by experimental results. In the second example, the ideal mounting position for an oscillator utilized in ultrasonic assisted machining of stone is determined. Partial models for the ultrasonic oscillator, its mounting, the simplified contact process, and the workpiece’s material characteristics are presented. For both applications input and output variables are defined to meet the requirements of the framework’s interface.

Acoustic Devices for Particle and Cell Manipulation and Sensing

PubMed Central

Qiu, Yongqiang; Wang, Han; Demore, Christine E. M.; Hughes, David A.; Glynne-Jones, Peter; Gebhardt, Sylvia; Bolhovitins, Aleksandrs; Poltarjonoks, Romans; Weijer, Kees; Schönecker, Andreas; Hill, Martyn; Cochran, Sandy

2014-01-01

An emerging demand for the precise manipulation of cells and particles for applications in cell biology and analytical chemistry has driven rapid development of ultrasonic manipulation technology. Compared to the other manipulation technologies, such as magnetic tweezing, dielectrophoresis and optical tweezing, ultrasonic manipulation has shown potential in a variety of applications, with its advantages of versatile, inexpensive and easy integration into microfluidic systems, maintenance of cell viability, and generation of sufficient forces to handle particles, cells and their agglomerates. This article briefly reviews current practice and reports our development of various ultrasonic standing wave manipulation devices, including simple devices integrated with high frequency (>20 MHz) ultrasonic transducers for the investigation of biological cells and complex ultrasonic transducer array systems to explore the feasibility of electronically controlled 2-D and 3-D manipulation. Piezoelectric and passive materials, fabrication techniques, characterization methods and possible applications are discussed. The behavior and performance of the devices have been investigated and predicted with computer simulations, and verified experimentally. Issues met during development are highlighted and discussed. To assist long term practical adoption, approaches to low-cost, wafer level batch-production and commercialization potential are also addressed. PMID:25123465

Co-treatment of spent cathode carbon in caustic and acid leaching process under ultrasonic assisted for preparation of SiC.

PubMed

Yuan, Jie; Xiao, Jin; Li, Fachuang; Wang, Bingjie; Yao, Zhen; Yu, Bailie; Zhang, Liuyun

2018-03-01

Spent cathode carbon (SCC) from aluminum electrolysis has been treated in ultrasonic-assisted caustic leaching and acid leaching process, and purified SCC used as carbon source to synthesize silicon carbide (SiC) was investigated. Chemical and mineralogical properties have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC). Various experimental factors temperature, time, liquid-solid ratio, ultrasonic power, and initial concentration of alkali or acid affecting on SCC leaching result were studied. After co-treatment with ultrasonic-assisted caustic leaching and acid leaching, carbon content of leaching residue was 97.53%. SiC power was synthesized by carbothermal reduction at 1600 °C, as a result of yield of 76.43%, and specific surface area of 4378 cm 2 /g. This is the first report of using purified SCC and gangue to prepare SiC. The two industrial wastes have been used newly as secondary sources. Furthermore, ultrasonic showed significant effect in SCC leaching process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Imaging Techniques for Breast Cancer Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goulding, N. R.; Marquez, J. D.; Prewett, E. M.; Claytor, T. N.; Nadler, B. R.

2008-02-01

Improving the resolution and specificity of current ultrasonic imaging technology is needed to enhance its relevance to breast cancer detection. A novel ultrasonic imaging reconstruction method is described that exploits classical straight-ray migration. This novel method improves signal processing for better image resolution and uses novel staging hardware options using a pulse-echo approach. A breast phantom with various inclusions is imaged using the classical migration method and is compared to standard computed tomography (CT) scans. These innovative ultrasonic methods incorporate ultrasound data acquisition, beam profile characterization, and image reconstruction. For an ultrasonic frequency of 2.25 MHz, imaged inclusions of approximately 1 cm are resolved and identified. Better resolution is expected with minor modifications. Improved image quality and resolution enables earlier detection and more accurate diagnoses of tumors thus reducing the number of biopsies performed, increasing treatment options, and lowering remission percentages. Using these new techniques the inclusions in the phantom are resolved and compared to the results of standard methods. Refinement of this application using other imaging techniques such as time-reversal mirrors (TRM), synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), decomposition of the time reversal operator (DORT), and factorization methods is also discussed.

Measurement and Modeling of Narrowband Channels for Ultrasonic Underwater Communications

PubMed Central

Cañete, Francisco J.; López-Fernández, Jesús; García-Corrales, Celia; Sánchez, Antonio; Robles, Encarnación; Rodrigo, Francisco J.; Paris, José F.

2016-01-01

Underwater acoustic sensor networks are a promising technology that allow real-time data collection in seas and oceans for a wide variety of applications. Smaller size and weight sensors can be achieved with working frequencies shifted from audio to the ultrasonic band. At these frequencies, the fading phenomena has a significant presence in the channel behavior, and the design of a reliable communication link between the network sensors will require a precise characterization of it. Fading in underwater channels has been previously measured and modeled in the audio band. However, there have been few attempts to study it at ultrasonic frequencies. In this paper, a campaign of measurements of ultrasonic underwater acoustic channels in Mediterranean shallow waters conducted by the authors is presented. These measurements are used to determine the parameters of the so-called κ-μ shadowed distribution, a fading model with a direct connection to the underlying physical mechanisms. The model is then used to evaluate the capacity of the measured channels with a closed-form expression. PMID:26907281

High efficiency and low cost preparation of size controlled starch nanoparticles through ultrasonic treatment and precipitation.

PubMed

Chang, Yanjiao; Yan, Xiaoxia; Wang, Qian; Ren, Lili; Tong, Jin; Zhou, Jiang

2017-07-15

The purpose of this work was to develop an approach to produce size controlled starch nanoparticles (SNPs), via precipitation with high efficiency and low cost. High concentration starch aqueous pastes (up to 5wt.%) were treated by ultrasound. Viscosity measurements and size exclusion chromatography characterization revealed that, after 30min ultrasonic treatment, viscosity of the starch pastes decreased two orders of magnitude and the weight average molecular weight of the starch decreased from 8.4×10 7 to 2.7×10 6 g/mol. Dynamic light scattering measurements and scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the SNPs prepared from the starch pastes with ultrasonic treatments were smaller (∼75nm) and more uniform. Moreover, SNPs could be obtained using less non-solvents. X-ray diffraction results indicated that effect of the ultrasonic treatment on crystalline structure of the SNPs was negligible. Ultrasound can be utilized to prepare smaller SNPs through nanoprecipitation with higher efficiency and lower cost. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An HDF5-based framework for the distribution and analysis of ultrasonic concrete data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prince, Luke; Clayton, Dwight; Santos-Villalobos, Hector

2017-02-01

There are many commercial ultrasonic tomography devices (UTDs) available for use in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of reinforced concrete structures. These devices emit, measure, and store ultrasonic signals typically in the 25 kHz to 5 MHz frequency range. UTDs are characterized by a composition of multiple transducers, also known as a transducer array or phased array. Often, UTDs data are in a proprietary format. Consequently, NDE research data is limited to those who have prior non-disclosure agreements or the appropriate licenses. Thus, there is a need for a proper universal data framework to exist such that proprietary file datasets for different concrete specimens can be converted, organized, and stored with relative metadata for individual or collaborative NDE research. Building upon the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF5) model, we have developed a UTD data management framework and Graphic User Interface (GUI) to promote the algorithmic reconstruction of ultrasonic data in a controlled environment for easily reproducible and publishable results.

Design of a Smart Ultrasonic Transducer for Interconnecting Machine Applications

PubMed Central

Yan, Tian-Hong; Wang, Wei; Chen, Xue-Dong; Li, Qing; Xu, Chang

2009-01-01

A high-frequency ultrasonic transducer for copper or gold wire bonding has been designed, analyzed, prototyped and tested. Modeling techniques were used in the design phase and a practical design procedure was established and used. The transducer was decomposed into its elementary components. For each component, an initial design was obtained with simulations using a finite elements model (FEM). Simulated ultrasonic modules were built and characterized experimentally through the Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) and electrical resonance spectra. Compared with experimental data, the FEM could be iteratively adjusted and updated. Having achieved a remarkably highly-predictive FEM of the whole transducer, the design parameters could be tuned for the desired applications, then the transducer is fixed on the wire bonder with a complete holder clamping was calculated by the FEM. The approach to mount ultrasonic transducers on wire bonding machines also is of major importance for wire bonding in modern electronic packaging. The presented method can lead to obtaining a nearly complete decoupling clamper design of the transducer to the wire bonder. PMID:22408564

An HDF5-Based Framework for the Distribution and Analysis of Ultrasonic Concrete Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prince, Luke J; Clayton, Dwight A; Santos-Villalobos, Hector J

There are many commercial ultrasonic tomography devices (UTDs) available for use in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of reinforced concrete structures. These devices emit, measure, and store ultrasonic signals typically in the 25 kHz to 5 MHz frequency range. UTDs are characterized by a composition of multiple transducers, also known as a transducer array or phased array. Often, UTDs data are in a proprietary format. Consequently, NDE research data is limited to those who have prior non-disclosure agreements or the appropriate licenses. Thus, there is a need for a proper universal data framework to exist such that proprietary file datasets for differentmore » concrete specimens can be converted, organized, and stored with relative metadata for individual or collaborative NDE research. Building upon the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF5) model, we have developed a UTD data management framework and Graphic User Interface (GUI) to promote the algorithmic reconstruction of ultrasonic data in a controlled environment for easily reproducible and publishable results.« less

Isolation and characterization of hydrophobic compounds from carbohydrate matrix of Pistacia atlantica.

PubMed

Samavati, Vahid; Adeli, Mostafa

2014-01-30

The present work is focused on the optimization of hydrophobic compounds extraction process from the carbohydrate matrix of Iranian Pistacia atlantica seed at laboratory level using ultrasonic-assisted extraction. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize oil seed extraction yield. Independent variables were extraction temperature (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90°C), extraction time (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 min) and power of ultrasonic (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 W). A second order polynomial equation was used to express the oil extraction yield as a function of independent variables. The responses and variables were fitted well to each other by multiple regressions. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: extraction temperature of 75°C, extraction time of 25 min, and power of ultrasonic of 80 W. A comparison between seed oil composition extracted by ultrasonic waves under the optimum operating conditions determined by RSM for oil yield and by organic solvent was reported. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Ultrasonic and Thermal Nondestructive Evaluation for the Characterization of Aging Degradation in Braided Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Richard E.

2010-01-01

This paper examines the ability of traditional nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to measure the degradation of braided polymer composite materials subjected to thermal-humidity cycling to simulate aging. A series of braided composite coupons were examined using immersion ultrasonic and pulsed thermography techniques in the as received condition. These same specimens were then examined following extended thermal-humidity cycling. Results of this examination did not show a significant change in the resulting (NDE) signals.

Ultrasonic Characterization of Microstructural Changes in Ti-10V-4.5Fe-1.5Al β-Titanium Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viswanath, A.; Kumar, Anish; Jayakumar, T.; Purnachandra Rao, B.

2015-08-01

Ultrasonic measurements have been carried out in Ti-10V-4.5Fe-1.5Al β-titanium alloy specimens subjected to β annealing at 1173 K (900 °C) for 1 hour followed by heat treatment in the temperature range of 823 K to 1173 K (550 °C to 900 °C) at an interval of 50 K (50 °C) for 1 hour, followed by water quenching. Ultrasonic parameters such as ultrasonic longitudinal wave velocity, ultrasonic shear wave velocity, shear anisotropy parameter, ultrasonic attenuation, and normalized nonlinear ultrasonic parameter have been correlated with various microstructural changes to understand the interaction of the propagating ultrasonic wave with microstructural features in the alloy. Simulation studies using JMatPro® software and X-ray diffraction measurements have been carried out to estimate the α-phase volume fraction in the specimens heat treated below the β-transus temperature (BTT). It is found that the α-phase (HCP) volume fraction increases from 0 to 52 pct, with decrease in the temperature from 1073 K to 823 K (800 °C to 550 °C). Ultrasonic longitudinal and shear wave velocities are found to increase with decrease in the heat treatment temperature below the BTT, and they exhibited linear relationships with the α-phase volume fraction. Thickness-independent ultrasonic parameters, Poisson's ratio, and the shear anisotropy parameter exhibited the opposite behavior, i.e., decrease with increase in the α-phase consequent to decrease in the heat treatment temperature from 1073 K to 823 K (800 °C to 550 °C). Ultrasonic attenuation is found to decrease from 0.7 dB/mm for the β-annealed specimen to 0.23 dB/mm in the specimen heat treated at 823 K (550 °C) due to the combined effect of the decrease in the β-phase (BCC) with higher damping characteristics and the reduction in scattering due to randomization of β grains with the precipitation of α-phase. Normalized nonlinear ultrasonic parameter is found to increase with increase in the α-phase volume fraction due to increased interfacial strain. For the first time, quantitative correlations established between various ultrasonic parameters and the volume fraction of α-phase in a β-titanium alloy are reported in the present paper. The established correlations are useful for estimation of volume fraction of α-phase in heat-treated β-titanium alloy, by nondestructive ultrasonic measurements.

Photoacoustic imaging of early gastric cancer diagnosis based on long focal area ultrasound transducer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huaqin; Li, Zuoran; Liu, Lantian; Li, Zhifang; Wu, Shulian; Li, Hui

2017-06-01

We illustrated a novel imaging method to diagnose gastric neoplasms via photoacoustic tomography (PAT). Depending on the structural characteristics of gastric cavity, we used column diffusion fiber to irradiate the stomach tissue through the esophagus, and the externally placed telecentric focus ultrasonic transducer detected photoacoustic signals from the gastric tissue. We reconstructed the distribution of light energy deposition of the simulated gastric tumor, and obtained the location and size information of gastric tumor.

Ultrasonic measurements of breast viscoelasticity.

PubMed

Sridhar, Mallika; Insana, Michael F

2007-12-01

In vivo measurements of the viscoelastic properties of breast tissue are described. Ultrasonic echo frames were recorded from volunteers at 5 fps while applying a uniaxial compressive force (1-20 N) within a 1 s ramp time and holding the force constant for up to 200 s. A time series of strain images was formed from the echo data, spatially averaged viscous creep curves were computed, and viscoelastic strain parameters were estimated by fitting creep curves to a second-order Voigt model. The useful strain bandwidth from this quasi-static ramp stimulus was 10(-2) < or = omega < or = 10(0) rad/s (0.0016-0.16 Hz). The stress-strain curves for normal glandular tissues are linear when the surface force applied is between 2 and 5 N. In this range, the creep response was characteristic of biphasic viscoelastic polymers, settling to a constant strain (arrheodictic) after 100 s. The average model-based retardance time constants for the viscoelastic response were 3.2 +/- 0.8 and 42.0 +/- 28 s. Also, the viscoelastic strain amplitude was approximately equal to that of the elastic strain. Above 5 N of applied force, however, the response of glandular tissue became increasingly nonlinear and rheodictic, i.e., tissue creep never reached a plateau. Contrasting in vivo breast measurements with those in gelatin hydrogels, preliminary ideas regarding the mechanisms for viscoelastic contrast are emerging.

Ultrasonic measurements of breast viscoelasticity

PubMed Central

Sridhar, Mallika; Insana, Michael F.

2009-01-01

In vivo measurements of the viscoelastic properties of breast tissue are described. Ultrasonic echo frames were recorded from volunteers at 5 fps while applying a uniaxial compressive force (1–20 N) within a 1 s ramp time and holding the force constant for up to 200 s. A time series of strain images was formed from the echo data, spatially averaged viscous creep curves were computed, and viscoelastic strain parameters were estimated by fitting creep curves to a second-order Voigt model. The useful strain bandwidth from this quasi-static ramp stimulus was 10−2 ≤ ω ≤ 100 rad/s (0.0016–0.16 Hz). The stress-strain curves for normal glandular tissues are linear when the surface force applied is between 2 and 5 N. In this range, the creep response was characteristic of biphasic viscoelastic polymers, settling to a constant strain (arrheodictic) after 100 s. The average model-based retardance time constants for the viscoelastic response were 3.2±0.8 and 42.0±28 s. Also, the viscoelastic strain amplitude was approximately equal to that of the elastic strain. Above 5 N of applied force, however, the response of glandular tissue became increasingly nonlinear and rheodictic, i.e., tissue creep never reached a plateau. Contrasting in vivo breast measurements with those in gelatin hydrogels, preliminary ideas regarding the mechanisms for viscoelastic contrast are emerging. PMID:18196803

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic characterization through the thickness direction of a moving web

DOEpatents

Jackson, Theodore; Hall, Maclin S.

2001-01-01

A method and apparatus for determining the caliper and/or the ultrasonic transit time through the thickness direction of a moving web of material using ultrasonic pulses generated by a rotatable wheel ultrasound apparatus. The apparatus includes a first liquid-filled tire and either a second liquid-filled tire forming a nip or a rotatable cylinder that supports a thin moving web of material such as a moving web of paper and forms a nip with the first liquid-filled tire. The components of ultrasonic transit time through the tires and fluid held within the tires may be resolved and separately employed to determine the separate contributions of the two tire thicknesses and the two fluid paths to the total path length that lies between two ultrasonic transducer surfaces contained within the tires in support of caliper measurements. The present invention provides the benefit of obtaining a transit time and caliper measurement at any point in time as a specimen passes through the nip of rotating tires and eliminates inaccuracies arising from nonuniform tire circumferential thickness by accurately retaining point-to-point specimen transit time and caliper variation information, rather than an average obtained through one or more tire rotations. Morever, ultrasonic transit time through the thickness direction of a moving web may be determined independent of small variations in the wheel axle spacing, tire thickness, and liquid and tire temperatures.

Hybrid Optical-Ultrasonic Technique for Biomedical Diagnostics

PubMed Central

Marcu, L.; Sun, Y.; Stephens, D.; Park, J.; Farwell, D. G.; Shung, K. K.

2010-01-01

We report the development of a diagnostic system combining time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and ultrasound backscatter microscopy and its application in diagnosis of tumors and atherosclerotic disease. This system allows for concurrent evaluation of distinct compositional, functional, and micro-anatomical features of normal and diseased tissues. PMID:21918737

Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy for chronic elbow tendinosis: a prospective study.

PubMed

Barnes, Darryl E; Beckley, James M; Smith, Jay

2015-01-01

Elbow tendinopathy is the most common cause of elbow pain affecting active populations. Surgical excision is reserved for patients with refractory symptoms. Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy performed under local anesthesia also removes degenerated tissue and therefore provides an alternative treatment option to surgical excision. This investigation prospectively documented the safety and 1-year efficacy of ultrasonic percutaneous tenotomy performed by a single operator. Nineteen patients, aged 38 to 67 years, in whom >6 months of conservative management for medial (7) or lateral (12) elbow tendinopathy had failed were prospectively studied. All patients were treated with percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy of the elbow by a single operator. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the 11-item version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) index, and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were assessed by an independent observer before treatment and at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. No procedural complications occurred. Total treatment time was <15 minutes, and ultrasonic energy time averaged 38.6 ± 8.8 seconds per procedure. Average VAS scores were significantly improved from 6.4 to 2.6 at 6 weeks and were 0.7 at 12 months (P < .0001). Similar improvement occurred with the Quick DASH (pretreatment, 44.1; 12 months, 8.6, P < .0001) and MEPS (pretreatment, 59.1; 12 months, 83.4; P < .0001). Percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy performed under local anesthesia appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic, refractory lateral or medial elbow tendinopathy up to 1 year after the procedure. Copyright © 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Split-mode ultrasonic transducer.

PubMed

Ostrovskii, Igor; Cremaldi, Lucien

2013-08-01

A split-mode ultrasonic transducer is investigated in both theory and experiment. This transducer is a two-dimensional structure of periodically poled domains in a ferroelectric wafer with free surfaces. The acoustic vibrations are excited by a radio frequency electric current applied along the length of the wafer, which allows the basal-plane surfaces to be free of metal coatings and thus ready for further biomedical applications. A specific physical property of this transducer consists of the multiple acousto-electric resonances, which occur due to an acoustic mode split when the acoustic half-wavelength is equal to the domain length. Possible applications include ultrasonic generation and detection at the micro-scale, intravascular sonification and visualization, ultrasound therapy of localized small areas such as the eye, biomedical applications for cell cultures, and traditional nondestructive testing including bones and tissues. A potential use of a non-metallized wafer is a therapeutic application with double action that is both ultrasound itself and an electric field over the wafer. The experimental measurements and theoretical calculations are in good agreement.

Spatial variations in a.c. susceptibility and microstructure for the YBa2Cu3O(7-x) superconductor and their correlation with room-temperature ultrasonic measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Hepp, Aloysius F.; Deguire, Mark R.; Dolhert, Leonard E.

1991-01-01

The spatial (within-sample) uniformity of superconducting behavior and microstructure in YBa2Cu30(7-x) specimens over the pore fraction range of 0.10 to 0.25 was examined. The viability of using a room-temperature, nondestructive characterization method (ultrasonic velocity imaging) to predict spatial variability was determined. Spatial variations in superconductor properties were observed for specimens containing 0.10 pore fraction. An ultrasonic velocity image constructed from measurements at 1 mm increments across one such specimen revealed microstructural variation between edge and center locations that correlated with variations in alternating-current shielding and loss behavior. Optical quantitative image analysis on sample cross-sections revealed pore fraction to be the varying microstructural feature.

Spatial variations in ac susceptibility and microstructure for the YBa2Cu3O(7-x) superconductor and their correlation with room-temperature ultrasonic measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Deguire, Mark R.; Dolhert, Leonard E.; Hepp, Aloysius F.

1991-01-01

The spatial (within-sample) uniformity of superconducting behavior and microstructure in YBa2Cu3O(7-x) specimens over the pore fraction range of 0.10 to 0.25 was examined. The viability of using a room-temperature, nondestructive characterization method (ultrasonic velocity imaging) to predict spatial variability was determined. Spatial variations in superconductor properties were observed for specimens containing 0.10 pore fraction. An ultrasonic velocity image constructed from measurements at 1 mm increments across one such specimen revealed microstructural variation between edge and center locations that correlated with variations in alternating-current shielding and loss behavior. Optical quantitative image analysis on sample cross-sections revealed pore fraction to be the varying microstructural feature.

Characterization of sonicated natural zeolite/ferric chloride hexahydrate by infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasetyo, T. A. B.; Soegijono, B.

2018-03-01

The characteristics of sonicated Bayah natural zeolite with and without ferric chloride hexahydrate solution using infrared method has been studied. High intensity ultrasonic waves were exposed to the samples for 40 min, 80 min and 120 min. Infra red spectra analysis was conducted to evaluate zeolite vibrational spectrum contributions, namely, the vibrations from the framework of the zeolite, from the charge-balancing cations, and from the relatively isolated groups, such as the surface OH groups and their behavior after sonication process. An addition of FeCl3.6H2O and sonication process on natural zeolite improved secondary building units link by forming oxygen bridges and also close relationship with duration of applied high intensity ultrasonic process. Longer ultrasonic process resulted in more increment of O-H absorbance.

Photo-acoustic excitation and optical detection of fundamental flexural guided wave in coated bone phantoms.

PubMed

Moilanen, Petro; Zhao, Zuomin; Karppinen, Pasi; Karppinen, Timo; Kilappa, Vantte; Pirhonen, Jalmari; Myllylä, Risto; Haeggström, Edward; Timonen, Jussi

2014-03-01

Photo-acoustic (PA) imaging was combined with skeletal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for assessment of human long bones. This approach permitted low-frequency excitation and detection of ultrasound so as to efficiently receive the thickness-sensitive fundamental flexural guided wave (FFGW) through a coating of soft tissue. The method was tested on seven axisymmetric bone phantoms, whose 1- to 5-mm wall thickness and 16-mm diameter mimicked those of the human radius. Phantoms were made of a composite material and coated with a 2.5- to 7.5-mm layer of soft material that mimicked soft tissue. Ultrasound was excited with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064-nm wavelength and received on the same side of the coated phantom with a heterodyne interferometer. The FFGW was detected at 30-kHz frequency. Fitting the FFGW phase velocity by the FLC(1,1) tube mode provided an accurate (9.5 ± 4.0%) wall thickness estimate. Ultrasonic in vivo characterization of cortical bone thickness may thus become possible. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phononic band gaps and phase singularities in the ultrasonic response from toughened composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Robert A.; Nelson, Luke J.; Mienczakowski, Martin J.

2018-04-01

Ultrasonic 3D characterization of ply-level features in layered composites, such as out-of-plane wrinkles and ply drops, is now possible with carefully applied analytic-signal analysis. Study of instantaneous amplitude, phase and frequency in the ultrasonic response has revealed some interesting effects, which become more problematic for 3D characterization as the inter-ply resin-layer thicknesses increase. In modern particle-toughened laminates, the thicker resin layers cause phase singularities to be observed; these are locations where the instantaneous amplitude is zero, so the instantaneous phase is undefined. The depth at which these occur has been observed experimentally to vary with resin- layer thickness, such that a phase-singularity surface is formed; beyond this surface, the ultrasonic response is reduced and significantly more difficult to interpret, so a method for removing the effect would be advantageous. The underlying physics has been studied using an analytical one-dimensional multi-layer model. This has been sufficient to determine that the cause is linked to a phononic band gap in the ultrasound transmitted through multiple equally-spaced partial reflectors. As a result, the phase singularity also depends on input-pulse center frequency and bandwidth. Various methods for overcoming the confusing effects in the data have been proposed and subsequently investigated using the analytical model. This paper will show experimental and modelled evidence of phase-singularities and phase-singularity surfaces, as well as the success of methods for reducing their effects.

Piezosurgery to perform hyoid bone osteotomies in thyroglossal duct cyst surgery.

PubMed

Salgarelli, Attilio Carlo; Robiony, Massimo; Consolo, Ugo; Collini, Marco; Bellini, Pierantonio

2011-11-01

Ultrasonic bone-cutting surgery has been introduced as a feasible alternative to the conventional sharp instruments used in craniomaxillofacial surgery because of its precision and safety. The device used is unique in that the cutting action occurs when the tool is used on mineralized tissues and stops on soft tissues. This work describes the use of piezosurgery for hyoid bone resection in thyroglossal duct cyst surgery, briefly reviews the literature on the surgical technique, and reports our experience with 12 cases.

The diastolic function to cyclic variation of myocardial ultrasonic backscatter relation: the influence of parameterized diastolic filling (PDF) formalism determined chamber properties.

PubMed

Lloyd, Christopher W; Shmuylovich, Leonid; Holland, Mark R; Miller, James G; Kovács, Sándor J

2011-08-01

Myocardial tissue characterization represents an extension of currently available echocardiographic imaging. The systematic variation of backscattered energy during the cardiac cycle (the "cyclic variation" of backscatter) has been employed to characterize cardiac function in a wide range of investigations. However, the mechanisms responsible for observed cyclic variation remain incompletely understood. As a step toward determining the features of cardiac structure and function that are responsible for the observed cyclic variation, the present study makes use of a kinematic approach of diastolic function quantitation to identify diastolic function determinants that influence the magnitude and timing of cyclic variation. Echocardiographic measurements of 32 subjects provided data for determination of the cyclic variation of backscatter to diastolic function relation characterized in terms of E-wave determined, kinematic model-based parameters of chamber stiffness, viscosity/relaxation and load. The normalized time delay of cyclic variation appears to be related to the relative viscoelasticity of the chamber and predictive of the kinematic filling dynamics as determined using the parameterized diastolic filling formalism (with r-values ranging from .44 to .59). The magnitude of cyclic variation does not appear to be strongly related to the kinematic parameters. Copyright © 2011 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Temperature distributions in tissues during local hyperthermia by stationary or steered beams of unfocused or focused ultrasound.

PubMed Central

Lele, P. P.; Parker, K. J.

1982-01-01

Temperature distributions resulting from insonation with stationary or steered beams of unfocused or focused ultrasound were measured in tissue-equivalent phantom, beef muscle in vitro, dog muscle mass, and transplanted murine tumours in vivo. Arrays of 4 to 6 thermocouples stepped through the volume of interest under computer control were used to measure the steady-state temperatures at 600 to 800 locations in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results were confirmed in spontaneous tumours in dog patients using fewer multi-thermocouple probes. Plane wave ultrasound was found to result in spatially non-uniform hyperthermia even in superficial tumours. The region of maximum temperature rise was small in extent and was situated at a depth which varied in the different models from 0.5 to 1.0 cm. Neither its location nor its extent could be varied by spatial manipulations of the transducer or by changing the insonation parameters except the ultrasonic frequency. A second region of hyperthermia was produced at depth by reflective heating if an ultrasonically reflective target, such as bone or air-containing tissue, was located below the target tissue. On the other hand, using available steered, focused ultrasound techniques, tumours (whether situated superficially or at depth) could be heated to a uniform, controllable temperature without undesirable temperature elevation in surrounding normal tissues. The use of steered, focused ultrasound permits deposition of energy to be tailored to the specific needs of each individual tumour. The small size of the focal region enables heating of tumours even when located near ultrasound reflecting targets. PMID:6950746

Multi-target determination of organic ultraviolet absorbents in organism tissues by ultrasonic assisted extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Peng, Xianzhi; Jin, Jiabin; Wang, Chunwei; Ou, Weihui; Tang, Caiming

2015-03-06

A sensitive and reliable method was developed for multi-target determination of 13 most widely used organic ultraviolet (UV) absorbents (including UV filters and UV stabilizers) in aquatic organism tissues. The organic UV absorbents were extracted using ultrasonic-assisted extraction, purified via gel permeation chromatography coupled with silica gel column chromatography, and determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries of the UV absorbents from organism tissues mostly ranged from 70% to 120% from fish filet with satisfactory reproducibility. Method quantification limits were 0.003-1.0ngg(-1) dry weight (dw) except for 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate. This method has been applied to analysis of the UV absorbents in wild and farmed aquatic organisms collected from the Pearl River Estuary, South China. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and UV-P were frequently detected in both wild and farmed marine organisms at low ngg(-1)dw. 3-(4-Methylbenzylidene)camphor and most of the benzotriazole UV stabilizers were also frequently detected in maricultured fish. Octocrylene and 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate were not detected in any sample. This work lays basis for in-depth study about bioaccumulation and biomagnification of the UV absorbents in marine environment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automatic estimation of elasticity parameters in breast tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skerl, Katrin; Cochran, Sandy; Evans, Andrew

2014-03-01

Shear wave elastography (SWE), a novel ultrasound imaging technique, can provide unique information about cancerous tissue. To estimate elasticity parameters, a region of interest (ROI) is manually positioned over the stiffest part of the shear wave image (SWI). The aim of this work is to estimate the elasticity parameters i.e. mean elasticity, maximal elasticity and standard deviation, fully automatically. Ultrasonic SWI of a breast elastography phantom and breast tissue in vivo were acquired using the Aixplorer system (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France). First, the SWI within the ultrasonic B-mode image was detected using MATLAB then the elasticity values were extracted. The ROI was automatically positioned over the stiffest part of the SWI and the elasticity parameters were calculated. Finally all values were saved in a spreadsheet which also contains the patient's study ID. This spreadsheet is easily available for physicians and clinical staff for further evaluation and so increase efficiency. Therewith the efficiency is increased. This algorithm simplifies the handling, especially for the performance and evaluation of clinical trials. The SWE processing method allows physicians easy access to the elasticity parameters of the examinations from their own and other institutions. This reduces clinical time and effort and simplifies evaluation of data in clinical trials. Furthermore, reproducibility will be improved.

High frequency copolymer ultrasonic transducer array of size-effective elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decharat, Adit; Wagle, Sanat; Habib, Anowarul; Jacobsen, Svein; Melandsø, Frank

2018-02-01

A layer-by-layer deposition method for producing dual-layer ultrasonic transducers from piezoelectric copolymers has been developed. The method uses a combination of customized and standard processing to obtain 2D array transducers with electrical connection of the individual elements routed directly to the rear of the substrate. A numerical model was implemented to study basic parameters effecting the transducer characteristics. Key elements of the array were characterized and evaluated, demonstrating its viability of 2D imaging. Signal reproducibility of the prototype array was studied by characterizing the variations of the center frequency (≈42 MHz) and bandwidth (≈25 MHz) of the acoustic. Object identification was also tested and parameterized by acoustic-field beamwidth as well as proper scan step size. Simple tests to illustrate a benefit of multi-element scan on lowering the inspection time were conducted. Structural imaging of the test structure underneath multi-layered wave media (glass plate and distilled water) was also performed. The prototype presented in this work is an important step towards realizing an inexpensive, compact array of individually operated copolymer transducers that can serve in a fast/volumetric high frequency (HF) ultrasonic scanning platform.

MEMS ultrasonic transducer for monitoring of steel structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Akash; Greve, David W.; Oppenheim, Irving J.

2002-06-01

Ultrasonic methods can be used to monitor crack propagation, weld failure, or section loss at critical locations in steel structures. However, ultrasonic inspection requires a skilled technician, and most commonly the signal obtained at any inspection is not preserved for later use. A preferred technology would use a MEMS device permanently installed at a critical location, polled remotely, and capable of on-chip signal processing using a signal history. We review questions related to wave geometry, signal levels, flaw localization, and electromechanical design issues for microscale transducers, and then describe the design, characterization, and initial testing of a MEMS transducer to function as a detector array. The device is approximately 1-cm square and was fabricated by the MUMPS process. The chip has 23 sensor elements to function in a phased array geometry, each element containing 180 hexagonal polysilicon diaphragms with a typical leg length of 49 microns and an unloaded natural frequency near 3.5 MHz. We first report characterization studies including capacitance-voltage measurements and admittance measurements, and then report initial experiments using a conventional piezoelectric transducer for excitation, with successful detection of signals in an on-axis transmission experiment and successful source localization from phased array performance in an off-axis transmission experiment.

Guided waves and ultrasonic characterization of three-dimensional composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leymarie, Nicolas; Baste, Stéphane

2000-05-01

Ultrasonic NDE of anisotropic media appears nowadays as one of the best experimental approaches in studying mechanical properties. A complete identification of stiffness tensor can be performed with phase velocity measurements of obliquely incidence ultrasonic bulk waves from water onto a plate. The medium considered, however, has to be homogeneous with respect to wavelength used. In the case of 3D-composites, textures scales may reach one millimeter and their cut-off frequency is less than MHz. The dispersion curves observed in the considered range of frequencies are often very close and sometimes may be overlapped. Experimental studies show complex signals, which are due to a combination of both bulk and guided waves. Wave-speed measurements of the bulk wave and its detection become unreliable with classical techniques of signal processing (simple time or spectral analysis). Moreover, even if the coupled time-frequency analysis with wavelet transforms allows a better interpretation of the signal, the time delay estimation for the bulk wave and so the characterization of the material remains uncertain. To understand blended signals more accurately, different analytical and numerical models are proposed to show the advantages and disadvantages of methods used in NDE.

An investigation on characterizing dense coal-water slurry with ultrasound: theoretical and experimental method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xue, M.H.; Su, M.X.; Dong, L.L.

2010-07-01

Particle size distribution and concentration in particulate two-phase flow are important parameters in a wide variety of industrial areas. For the purpose of online characterization in dense coal-water slurries, ultrasonic methods have many advantages such as avoiding dilution, the capability for being used in real time, and noninvasive testing, while light-based techniques are not capable of providing information because optical methods often require the slurry to be diluted. In this article, the modified Urick equation including temperature modification, which can be used to determine the concentration by means of the measurement of ultrasonic velocity in a coal-water slurry, is evaluatedmore » on the basis of theoretical analysis and experimental study. A combination of the coupled-phase model and the Bouguer-Lambert-Beer law is employed in this work, and the attenuation spectrum is measured within the frequency region from 3 to 12 MHz. Particle size distributions of the coal-water slurry at different volume fractions are obtained with the optimum regularization technique. Therefore, the ultrasonic technique presented in this work brings the possibility of using ultrasound for online measurements of dense slurries.« less

Conception d'un système de mesure automatisé pour la caractérisation expérimentale des moteurs piézo-électriquesAn automated test system for piezoelectric motors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, A.

1996-04-01

This paper describes an automated test system for piezoelectric motors allowing the experimental characterization of its electromechanical behaviour. In the first part, an experimental method is given for evaluation of losses generated in the different mechanisms of conversion: electric energy into ultrasonic vibrating energy and ultrasonic vibrating energy into mechanical energy of revolving motion. In the second part, the present method is experimentally validated on a travelling-wave-type rotary motor (Shinsei USR-60). The free stator vibration is analysed by a laser vibrometer which gives a picture both of amplitude and of phase vibration. This result allows one to obtain an identification of vibrations modes and an evaluation of ultrasonic vibrating energy and electromechanical efficiency. To characterize the working of the complete motor, the no-load working mode is first considered. The measurement of its maximal mechanical characteristics (maximal no-load rotating speed, maximal driving torque) with respect to axial load allows the choice of optimum axial load. For this optimum value, the load working mode is, finally, investigated for the evaluation of load characteristics and conversion losses.

Ultrasonically assisted extraction of calcium and ash from char

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathumba, E. E.; Mbaya, R. K. K.; Kolesnikov, A.

2018-03-01

This study characterized and removed calcium and ash content from char to improve the chemical quality of char as reductant for titanium smelting application. Calcium in char can be classified in two parts: mineral matter and cationic metals associated with organic matrix. Virgin and chemically treated char was characterized by using ISO 1171, wet chemistry methods, ISO 19579, XRF, and B.E.T. methods. In this present work, demineralization of char with mild chemical leachants such as acetic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid and Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid with three different ultrasonic power input (150 W, 270 W and 300 W) and semi-dual frequency of 40 kHz tank was investigated. Actual power dissipated into the system was calculated from the calorimetric measurement. An optimum set of process parameters are identified and validated. The ultrasound technology was compared with soaking technology to determine the efficiency of ultrasound system for the removal of calcium. The removal of calcium was exponentially higher with ultrasonic treatment than without it. Results revealed that mild chemical reagents do not harm the carbon content of char. It is evident from the results that amongst the leachants used; acetic and citric acid has caused significant removal of mineral phases.

Radiation damage characterization in reactor pressure vessel steels with nonlinear ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matlack, K. H.; Kim, J.-Y.; Wall, J. J.; Qu, J.; Jacobs, L. J.

2014-02-01

Nuclear generation currently accounts for roughly 20% of the US baseload power generation. Yet, many US nuclear plants are entering their first period of life extension and older plants are currently undergoing assessment of technical basis to operate beyond 60 years. This means that critical components, such as the reactor pressure vessel (RPV), will be exposed to higher levels of radiation than they were originally intended to withstand. Radiation damage in reactor pressure vessel steels causes microstructural changes such as vacancy clusters, precipitates, dislocations, and interstitial loops that leave the material in an embrittled state. The development of a nondestructive evaluation technique to characterize the effect of radiation exposure on the properties of the RPV would allow estimation of the remaining integrity of the RPV with time. Recent research has shown that nonlinear ultrasound is sensitive to radiation damage. The physical effect monitored by nonlinear ultrasonic techniques is the generation of higher harmonic frequencies in an initially monochromatic ultrasonic wave, arising from the interaction of the ultrasonic wave with microstructural features such as dislocations, precipitates, and their combinations. Current findings relating the measured acoustic nonlinearity parameter to increasing levels of neutron fluence for different representative RPV materials are presented.

Monitoring bolt torque levels through signal processing of full-field ultrasonic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haynes, Colin; Yeager, Michael; Todd, Michael; Lee, Jung-Ryul

2014-03-01

Using full-field ultrasonic guided wave data can provide a wealth of information on the state of a structure through a detailed characterization of its wave propagation properties. However, the need for appropriate feature selection and quantified metrics for making rigorous assessments of the structural state is in no way lessened by the density of information. In this study, a simple steel bolted connection with two bolts is monitored for bolt loosening. The full-field data were acquired using a scanning-laser-generated ultrasound system with a single surface-mounted sensor. Such laser systems have many advantages that make them attractive for nondestructive evaluation, including their high-speed, high spatial resolution, and the ability to scan large areas of in-service structures. In order to characterize the relationship between bolt torque and the resulting wavefield in this specimen, the bolt torque in each of the bolts is independently varied from fully tightened to fully loosened in several steps. First, qualitative observations about the changes in the wavefield are presented. Next, an approach to quantifying the wave transmission through the bolted joint is discussed. Finally, a method of monitoring the bolt torque using the ultrasonic data is demonstrated.

Ultrasonic guided wave sensing characteristics of large area thin piezo coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rathod, V. T.; Jeyaseelan, A. Antony; Dutta, Soma; Mahapatra, D. Roy

2017-10-01

This paper reports on the characterization method and performance enhancement of thin piezo coating for ultrasonic guided wave sensing applications. We deposited the coatings by an in situ slurry coating method and studied their guided wave sensing properties on a one-dimensional metallic beam as a substrate waveguide. The developed piezo coatings show good sensitivity to the longitudinal and flexural modes of guided waves. Sensing voltage due to the guided waves at various different ultrasonic frequencies shows a linear dependence on the thickness of the coating. The coatings also exhibit linear sensor output voltage with respect to the induced dynamic strain magnitude. Diameter/size of the piezo coatings strongly influences the voltage response in relation to the wavelength. The proposed method used a characterization set-up involving coated sensors, reference transducers and an analytical model to estimate the piezoelectric coefficient of the piezo coating. The method eliminates the size dependent effect on the piezo property accurately and gives further insight to design better sensors/filters with respect to frequency/wavelength of interest. The developed coatings will have interesting applications in structural health monitoring (SHM) and internet of things (IOT).

Design and characterization of an ultrasonic lamb-wave power delivery system.

PubMed

Kural, Aleksander; Pullin, Rhys; Holford, Karen; Lees, Jonathan; Naylon, Jack; Paget, Christophe; Featherston, Carol

2013-06-01

In this paper, a novel design for an ultrasonic power transmission system designed for use in aircraft structural monitoring systems is described. The prototype system uses ultrasonic Lamb waves to carry energy along plates, such as those used in aircraft structures, and commercially available piezoelectric patch transducers as the transmitter and receiver. This sets it apart from other acoustic power transmission systems reported to date. The optimum configuration transmitted 12.7 mW of power across a distance of 54 cm in a 1.5-mm-thick aluminum plate, while being driven by a 20-Vpp, 35-kHz sinusoidal electric signal. This is in the same order of magnitude as the power required by the wireless sensors nodes of a structural health monitoring system currently being developed by Cardiff University and its partners. Thus, the power transmission system can be considered a viable component of the power source combination considered for the sensor nodes, which will also include vibration and thermal energy harvesting. The paper describes the design and optimization of the transmission and reception circuits with the use of inductive compensation. The use of laser vibrometry to characterize the transducers and to understand the signal propagation between them is also reported.

The reclaiming of butyl rubber and in-situ compatibilization of thermoplastic elastomer by power ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Wenlai

This is a study of the continuous ultrasound aided extrusion process for the in-situ compatibilization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/ethylene-propylene diene rubber (EPDM) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) using a newly developed ultrasonic treatment reactor. The rheological, mechanical properties and morphology of the TPE with and without ultrasonic treatment were studied. In-situ compatibilization in the ultrasonically treated blends was observed as evident by their more stable morphology after annealing, improved mechanical properties and IR spectra. The obtained results indicated that ultrasonic treatment induced the thermo-mechanical degradations and led to the possibility of enhanced molecular transport and chemical reactions at the interfaces. Processing conditions were established for enhanced in situ compatibilization of the PP/EPDM TPE. The ultrasonic treatments of butyl rubber gum and ultrasonic devulcanization of butyl rubber, tire-curing bladder during extrusion using a grooved barrel ultrasonic reactor were carried out. The ultrasonic treatment of gum caused degradation of the polymer main chain leading to lower molecular weight, broader molecular weight distribution, less unsaturation and changes in physical properties. The devulcanization of butyl rubber was successfully accomplished only at severe conditions of ultrasonic treatment. The mechanical properties of vulcanizates prepared from devulcanized butyl rubber are comparable to that of the virgin vulcanizate. The molecular characterization of sol fraction of devulcanized butyl rubber showed the devulcanization and degradation of butyl rubber occurred simultaneously. 1H NMR transverse relaxation was also used to study butyl rubber gum before and after ultrasonic treatment, and ultrasonically devulcanized unfilled butyl rubber. The T2 relaxation decays were successfully described using a two-component model. The recyclability of tire-curing bladder was also investigated. Gel fraction, crosslink density, cure behavior, dynamic properties and mechanical properties were measured. Good mechanical properties of revulcanized rubber were achieved by blending devulcanized rubber with the carbon black filled virgin butyl rubber. The structural characteristics of devulcanized butyl rubber were simulated using the Dobson-Gordon theory of rubber network statistics. A fairly good agreement between experimental data and theoretical prediction on normalized gel fraction vs. normalized crosslink density was achieved. The simulation of devulcanized butyl rubber indicated that the rate of crosslink rupture is much higher than that of the main chain.

Computational modeling and experimental studies of the dynamic performance of ultrasonic horn profiles used in plastic welding.

PubMed

Roopa Rani, M; Rudramoorthy, R

2013-03-01

Ultrasonic horns are tuned components designed to vibrate in a longitudinal mode at ultrasonic frequencies. Reliable performance of such horns is normally decided by the uniformity of vibration amplitude at the working surface and the stress developed during loading condition. The horn design engineer must pay particular attention to designing a tool that will produce the desired amplitude without fracturing. The present work discusses horn configurations which satisfy these criteria and investigates the design requirements of horns in ultrasonic system. Different horn profiles for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastics have been characterized in terms of displacement amplitude and von-Mises stresses using modal and harmonic analysis. To validate the simulated results, five different horns are fabricated from Aluminum, tested and tuned to the operating frequency. Standard ABS plastic parts are welded using these horns. Temperature developed during the welding of ABS test parts using different horns is recorded using sensors and National Instruments (NIs) data acquisition system. The recorded values are compared with the predicted values. Experimental results show that welding using a Bezier horn has a high interface temperature and the welded joints had higher strength as compared to the other horn profiles. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Coupons for Mechanical Characterization of Welded Joints through Single Lap Shear Testing.

PubMed

Villegas, Irene F; Palardy, Genevieve

2016-02-11

This paper presents a novel straightforward method for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic-composite coupons in optimum processing conditions. The ultrasonic welding process described in this paper is based on three main pillars. Firstly, flat energy directors are used for preferential heat generation at the joining interface during the welding process. A flat energy director is a neat thermoplastic resin film that is placed between the parts to be joined prior to the welding process and heats up preferentially owing to its lower compressive stiffness relative to the composite substrates. Consequently, flat energy directors provide a simple solution that does not require molding of resin protrusions on the surfaces of the composite substrates, as opposed to ultrasonic welding of unreinforced plastics. Secondly, the process data provided by the ultrasonic welder is used to rapidly define the optimum welding parameters for any thermoplastic composite material combination. Thirdly, displacement control is used in the welding process to ensure consistent quality of the welded joints. According to this method, thermoplastic-composite flat coupons are individually welded in a single lap configuration. Mechanical testing of the welded coupons allows determining the apparent lap shear strength of the joints, which is one of the properties most commonly used to quantify the strength of thermoplastic composite welded joints.

Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Coupons for Mechanical Characterization of Welded Joints through Single Lap Shear Testing

PubMed Central

Villegas, Irene F.; Palardy, Genevieve

2016-01-01

This paper presents a novel straightforward method for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic-composite coupons in optimum processing conditions. The ultrasonic welding process described in this paper is based on three main pillars. Firstly, flat energy directors are used for preferential heat generation at the joining interface during the welding process. A flat energy director is a neat thermoplastic resin film that is placed between the parts to be joined prior to the welding process and heats up preferentially owing to its lower compressive stiffness relative to the composite substrates. Consequently, flat energy directors provide a simple solution that does not require molding of resin protrusions on the surfaces of the composite substrates, as opposed to ultrasonic welding of unreinforced plastics. Secondly, the process data provided by the ultrasonic welder is used to rapidly define the optimum welding parameters for any thermoplastic composite material combination. Thirdly, displacement control is used in the welding process to ensure consistent quality of the welded joints. According to this method, thermoplastic-composite flat coupons are individually welded in a single lap configuration. Mechanical testing of the welded coupons allows determining the apparent lap shear strength of the joints, which is one of the properties most commonly used to quantify the strength of thermoplastic composite welded joints. PMID:26890931

Characterization of acoustic cavitation in water and molten aluminum alloy.

PubMed

Komarov, Sergey; Oda, Kazuhiro; Ishiwata, Yasuo; Dezhkunov, Nikolay

2013-03-01

High-intensive ultrasonic vibrations have been recognized as an attractive tool for refining the grain structure of metals in casting technology. However, the practical application of ultrasonics in this area remains rather limited. One of the reasons is a lack of data needed to optimize the ultrasonic treatment conditions, particularly those concerning characteristics of cavitation zone in molten aluminum. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the intensity and spectral characteristics of cavitation noise generated during radiation of ultrasonic waves into water and molten aluminum alloys, and to establish a measure for evaluating the cavitation intensity. The measurements were performed by using a high temperature cavitometer capable of measuring the level of cavitation noise within five frequency bands from 0.01 to 10MHz. The effect of cavitation treatment was verified by applying high-intense ultrasonic vibrations to a DC caster to refine the primary silicon grains of a model Al-17Si alloy. It was found that the level of high frequency noise components is the most adequate parameter for evaluating the cavitation intensity. Based on this finding, it was concluded that implosions of cavitation bubbles play a decisive role in refinement of the alloy structure. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of ultrasonic vibration time on the Cu/Sn-Ag-Cu/Cu joint soldered by low-power-high-frequency ultrasonic-assisted reflow soldering.

PubMed

Tan, Ai Ting; Tan, Ai Wen; Yusof, Farazila

2017-01-01

Techniques to improve solder joint reliability have been the recent research focus in the electronic packaging industry. In this study, Cu/SAC305/Cu solder joints were fabricated using a low-power high-frequency ultrasonic-assisted reflow soldering approach where non-ultrasonic-treated samples were served as control sample. The effect of ultrasonic vibration (USV) time (within 6s) on the solder joint properties was characterized systematically. Results showed that the solder matrix microstructure was refined at 1.5s of USV, but coarsen when the USV time reached 3s and above. The solder matrix hardness increased when the solder matrix was refined, but decreased when the solder matrix coarsened. The interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer thickness was found to decrease with increasing USV time, except for the USV-treated sample with 1.5s. This is attributed to the insufficient USV time during the reflow stage and consequently accelerated the Cu dissolution at the joint interface during the post-ultrasonic reflow stage. All the USV-treated samples possessed higher shear strength than the control sample due to the USV-induced-degassing effect. The shear strength of the USV-treated sample with 6s was the lowest among the USV-treated samples due to the formation of plate-like Ag 3 Sn that may act as the crack initiation site. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space-time windowing of angle-beam wavefield data to characterize scattering from defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weng, Yu; Michaels, Jennifer E.

2018-04-01

The primary focus of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation is defect detection and characterization. In particular, fatigue cracks emanating from fastener holes are commonly found in aerospace structures. Therefore, scattering of ultrasonic waves from crack-like notches is of practical interest. Here, angle-beam shear waves are used to interrogate notches in aluminum plates. In prior work, notch-scattering was characterized and quantified in the frequency-wavenumber domain, which has the undesirable effect of lumping all scattered shear wave energy from notches into a single energy curve. This present work focuses on developing space-time windowing methods to quantify notch-scattered energy directly in the time-space domain. Two strategies are developed. The first is to indirectly characterize notch-scattering via the change in scattering as compared to the undamaged through-hole. The second strategy is to directly track notch-scattered waves in the time-space domain and then quantify scattered energy by constructing energy-versus-direction curves. Both strategies provide a group of energy difference curves, which show how notch-scattering evolves as time progresses. Notch-scattering quantification results for different notch lengths are shown and discussed.