Comparison of the Acoustic Streaming in Amniotic Fluid and Water in Medical Ultrasonic Beams

Zusammenfassung

Studienziel: Die akustische Strömung in Fruchtwasser wurde untersucht unter Bedingungen, wie sie bei der medizinischen Ultraschalldiagnose auftreten. Methode: Für die Messungen wurde eine Doppler-Methode eingesetzt. Der Vergleich mit der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit in Wasser wurde bei gleichen Expositionsbedingungen durchgeführt. Es wurden Laborgeräte verwendet, die Ultraschallstrahlen von Kliniksystemen nachahmen. Die Flüssigkeiten wurden in vitro mit 3,5-MHz-, 5-MHz-und 7,5-MHz-Transducern sowohl kontinuierlich als auch gepulst beschallt. Ergebnisse: Die akustische Strömung wurde in Fruchtwasser und in Wasser bei Leistungen von 50 mW und 140 mW gemessen. In beiden Flüssigkeiten konnte die Geschwindigkeitserhöhung aufgrund nichtlinearer Effekte in Pulsen hoher Amplitude nachgewiesen werden. Potenzial und Beschränkung gegenwärtig benutzter numerischer Methoden zur Vorhersage der akustischen Strömung wurden untersucht. Schlussfolgerung: Gepulster Ultraschall erzeugt in Fruchtwasser und in Wasser vergleichbare Strömungsgeschwindigkeiten, während kontinuierliche Schallstrahlen in Fruchtwasser eine deutlich schnellere Strömung als in Wasser bewirken.

Abstract

Aim: Acoustic streaming in amniotic fluid has been investigated under a variety of conditions relevant to the diagnostic use of ultrasound. Method: An ultrasonic Doppler method has been used for measurement. Streaming velocities have been compared with those generated in water for the same exposure conditions. Beams were generated by laboratory equipment simulating beams from clinical systems. The fluids were insonated in vitro using 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz and 7.5 MHz transducers in continuous wave (CW) and pulsed mode. Results: Acoustic streaming was measured in both amniotic fluid and water at the power levels 50 mW and 140 mW. Enhancement of velocities due to non-linear effects in high amplitude pulses was demonstrated for amniotic fluid as well as for water. The potential and limitations of present numeric methods for the prediction of acoustic streaming were explored. Conclusion: Pulsed ultrasound caused similar streaming velocities in amniotic fluid and water while continuous wave beams induced significantly faster streaming in amniotic fluid than in water.

Fruchtwasser - Ultraschall - Doppler-Methode

Amniotic fluid - ultrasonography - Doppler

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Appendix

The parameters used in the numerical solution are the following:

A) for calculation of streaming velocities in waterabsorption coefficient at 3.5 MHz 0.3099 Np/m
absorption coefficient at 5 MHz 0.6325 Np/m
absorption coefficient at 7.5 MHz 1.42 Np/m
sound speed 1500 m/s
kinematic viscosity 10 ^{- 6} m²/s
density of water 1000 kg/m³

B) for calculation of streaming velocities in amniotic fluidabsorption coefficient at 3.5 MHz 0.54 Np/m
absorption coefficient at 5 MHz 0.93 Np/m
absorption coefficient at 7.5 MHz 1.81 Np/m
sound speed 1510 m/s
kinematic viscosity 0.997 · 10 ^{- 6} m²/s
density of amniotic fluid 1010 kg/m³