Pierre N. Gelat

A novel sensor for monitoring acoustic cavitation. Part I: Concept, theory, and prototype development

This paper describes a new concept for an ultrasonic cavitation sensor designed specifically for monitoring acoustic emissions generated by small microbubbles when driven by an applied acoustic field. Its novel features include a hollow, open-ended, cylindrical shape, with the sensor being a right circular cylinder of height 32 mm and external diameter 38 mm. The internal diameter of the sensor is 30 mm; its inner surface is fabricated from a 110 /spl mu/m layer of piezoelectrically active film whose measurement bandwidth is sufficient to enable acoustic emissions up to and beyond 10 MHz to be monitored. When in use, the sensor is immersed within the liquid test medium and high frequency (megahertz) acoustic emissions occurring within the hollow body of the sensor are monitored. In order to shield the sensor response from events occurring outside the cylinder, the outer surface of the sensor cylinder is encapsulated within a special 4 mm thick polyurethane-based cavitation shield with acoustic properties specifically developed to be minimally perturbing to the 40 kHz applied acoustic field but attenuating to ultrasound generated at megahertz frequencies (plane-wave transmission loss >30 dB at 1 MHz). This paper introduces the rationale behind the new sensor, describing details of its construction and the materials formulation program undertaken to develop the cavitation shield.

A Novel Pyroelectric Method of Determining Ultrasonic Transducer Output Power: Device Concept, Modeling, and Preliminary Studies

This paper describes a new thermally based method of monitoring acoustic output power generated by ultrasonic transducers. Its novelty lies in the exploitation of the pyroelectric properties of a thin membrane of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The membrane is backed by a thick layer of polyurethane rubber that is extremely attenuating to ultrasound, with the result that the majority of the applied acoustic power is absorbed within a few millimeters of the membrane-backing interface. Through the resultant rapid increase in temperature of the membrane, a voltage is generated across its electrodes whose magnitude is proportional to the rate of change of temperature with respect to time. Changes in the pyroelectric voltage generated by switching the transducer ON and OFF are related to the acoustic power delivered by the transducer. Features of the technique are explored through the development of a simple one-dimensional model. An experimental evaluation of the potential secondary measurement technique is also presented, covering the frequency range 1 to 5 MHz, for delivered powers up to a watt. Predictions of the sensor output signals, as well as the frequency dependent sensitivity, are in good agreement with observation. The potential of the new method as a simple, rapid means of providing traceable ultrasonic power measurements is outlined.

Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) of neonatal head phantom for ultrasound: Thermocouple embedding and simulation of bone

A neonatal head phantom, comprising of an ellipsoidal geometry and including a circular aperture for simulating the fontanel was designed and fabricated, in order to allow an objective assessment of thermal rise in tissues during trans-cranial ultrasonic scanning of pre-term neonates. The precise position of a series of thermocouples was determined on the basis of finite-element analysis, which identified crucial target points for the thermal monitoring within the phantom geometry. Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) was employed for the manufacture of the skull phantom, which was subsequently filled with dedicated brain-mimic material. A novel 3DP material combination was found to be able to mimic the acoustic properties of neonatal skull bone. Similarly, variations of a standard recipe for tissue mimic were examined, until one was found to mimic the brain of an infant. A specific strategy was successfully pursued to embed a thermocouple within the 3DP skull phantom during the manufacturing process. An in-process machine vision system was used to assess the correct position of the deposited thermocouple inside the fabricated skull phantom. An external silicone-made skin-like covering completed the phantom and was manufactured through a Direct Rapid Tooling (DRT) technique.

Characterisation and improvement of a reference cylindrical sonoreactor

This paper describes theoretical and experimental methods for characterising the performance of a 25 kHz sonochemical reactor (RV-25), which is being developed as a reference facility for studying acoustic cavitation at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Field measurements, acquired in different locations inside the sonoreactor, are compared with finite element models at different temperatures, showing that relatively small temperature variations can result in significant changes in the acoustic pressure distribution (and consequent cavitation activity). To improve stability, a deeper insight into the way energy is transferred from the power supply to the acoustic field is presented, leading to criteria - based on modal analysis - to dimension and verify an effective temperature control loop. The simultaneous use of measurements and modelling in this work produced guidelines for the design of multi-frequency cylindrical sonoreactors, also described.

Acoustic force measurements on polymer-coated microbubbles in a microfluidic device

This work presents an acoustofluidic device for manipulating coated microbubbles, designed for the simultaneous use of optical and acoustical tweezers. A comprehensive characterization of the acoustic pressure in the device is presented, obtained by the synergic use of different techniques in the range of acoustic frequencies where visual observations showed aggregation of polymer-coated microbubbles. In absence of bubbles, the combined use of laser vibrometry and finite element modelling supported a non-invasive measurement of the acoustic pressure and an enhanced understanding of the system resonances. Calibrated holographic optical tweezers were used for direct measurements of the acoustic forces acting on an isolated microbubble, at low driving pressures, and to confirm the spatial distribution of the acoustic field. This allowed quantitative acoustic pressure measurements by particle tracking, using polystyrene beads, and an evaluation of the related uncertainties. This process facilitated the extension of tracking to microbubbles, which have a negative acoustophoretic contrast factor, allowing acoustic force measurements on bubbles at higher pressures than optical tweezers, highlighting four peaks in the acoustic response of the device. Results and methodologies are relevant to acoustofluidic applications requiring a precise characterization of the acoustic field and, in general, to biomedical applications with microbubbles or deformable particles.

The importance of temperature control in the operation of high power ultrasound reactors

This paper describes the effects of temperature changes on the operation of a 25 kHz sonochemical reactor, which is being developed as a reference facility for studying acoustic cavitation at NPL. Field measurements, acquired using a hydrophone in different locations inside the cavitation reactor, are compared with Finite Element Models at different temperatures, showing that significant changes in the acoustic pressure distribution (and consequent cavitation activity) can result from relatively small temperature variations. Modal analysis was used in this work as a tool to explain the physical reasons behind this behaviour and the effects of a preliminary temperature control system will be described, both in terms of temperature and for the improved stability of the acoustic pressure field. This work also highlights some of the limitations of modal analysis for the design of more complex reactors and associated temperature control methods.

Acoustic modelling in view of a determination of the Boltzmann constant within 1 ppm for the redefinition of the kelvin

iMERA/Euromet Project 885 is co-ordinating European effort towards a new determination of the Boltzmann constant kB to within 1 ppm with the aim of redefining the unit of thermodynamic temperature. This project will enable the National Physical Laboratory to perform primary thermometry in the region of −40 °C (Hg) to 156 °C (In) with sub-millikelvin uncertainties by 2012. The chosen technique relies on determining the speed of sound in a monatomic gas. Using the radial acoustic modes of a spherical resonator, consisting of a copper shell and filled with argon or helium, the speed of sound can be measured with great precision and from this measurement the Boltzmann constant can be inferred. This project draws on expertise in dimensional, density, microwave and acoustic measurements at the state-of-the-art. In order to gain further understanding of the experimental configuration a vibro-acoustic model has been developed using the finite element method. Initial calculations were carried out to ensure that predictions of the resonant frequency could be made with the required precision by comparing against an analytical model of a spherical shell filled with a gas. A more elaborate model better representing the experimental configuration was then developed. Thermo-viscous effects close to the fluid-structure boundary were accounted for using a linear acoustic formulation, from which a normal incidence admittance boundary condition was derived and imposed on the inner surface of the resonator. Acoustic pressure, particle velocity and temperature variation as a function of position may be obtained within the gas as a function of frequency. It is therefore possible to investigate how changes in the configuration affect the frequency of radial modes. It is hoped that this approach will shed a better understanding of the underlying complex physical phenomena allowing a minimization of the overall uncertainty.

Practical acoustic thermometry with acoustic waveguides

Acoustic thermometry is the most accurate technique of primary thermometry ever devised. However, resonator based techniques are not practical and are rarely used in practice. Previously we have demonstrated the basic functionality of an acoustic thermometer operating at up to 1000 °C based on the time-of-flight measurements of short pulses in an acoustic waveguide. Here we report progress in assessing the practical and theoretical performance limitations of such a device. In this paper we report improvements in timing techniques which significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio, a feature likely to be important in many industrial settings. We discuss the inference of the free field speed of sound from timing measurements and report results from a simple twin tube thermometer operating up to 500 °C. Finally we consider the shortcomings of current designs and prospects for future improvements including frequency domain analysis of the system.

Building and assessing anatomically relevant phantoms for neonatal transcranial ultrasound

This study describes the design and construction of a clinically relevant phantom to survey the temperature increase caused by ultrasound equipment, as currently used in neonatal head-scanning in the UK. The phantom is an ellipsoid of bone-mimic material, filled with brain-mimic; a circular hole in the external surface mimicks the fontanel, through which most clinically relevant scans are made. Finite-element simulations were used to identify possible hot spots and decide the most effective thermocouple positions within the phantom to investigate temperature rise during a typical scan. Novel materials were purposively designed to simulate key acoustic and thermal properties. Three Dimensional Printing (3DP) was employed for the fabrication of the skull phantom, and a specific strategy was successfully pursued to embed a thermocouple within the 3DP skull phantom during the manufacturing process. An in-process Non-Destructive Analysis (NDA) was used to assess the correct position of the deposited thermocouple inside the fabricated skull phantom. The temperature increase in the phantom for a typical trans-fontanellar scan is also presented here. The current phantom will be used in a hospital survey in the UK and, in its final design, will allow for a more reliable evaluation of ultrasound heating than is currently possible.

An efficient boundary element solver for trans-abdominal high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment planning

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising treatment modality for the non-invasive ablation of pathological tissue in many organs, including the liver. Since many patients are not suitable candidates for liver surgery, the possibility to locally deposit thermal energy in a non-invasive way would bear significant clinical impact. Optimal treatment planning strategies based on high-performance computing numerical methods are expected to form a vital component of a successful clinical outcome in which healthy tissue is preserved and optimal focusing achieved, thus compensating for soft tissue heterogeneity and the presence of ribs. The boundary element method (BEM) is an effective approach for this purpose because only the boundaries of the ribs and soft tissue regions require discretization, as opposed to standard approaches which require the entire volume around the ribcage to be meshed. A Galerkin discretized Burton-Miller formulation used in combination with preconditioning and matrix compre...