Development of a spherically focused phased array transducer for ultrasonic image-guided hyperthermia

Phys Med Biol. 2016 Jul 21;61(14):5275-96. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/61/14/5275. Epub 2016 Jun 29.

Abstract

A 1.5 MHz prolate spheroidal therapeutic array with 128 circular elements was designed to accommodate standard imaging arrays for ultrasonic image-guided hyperthermia. The implementation of this dual-array system integrates real-time therapeutic and imaging functions with a single ultrasound system (Vantage 256, Verasonics). To facilitate applications involving small animal imaging and therapy the array was designed to have a beam depth of field smaller than 3.5 mm and to electronically steer over distances greater than 1 cm in both the axial and lateral directions. In order to achieve the required f number of 0.69, 1-3 piezocomposite modules were mated within the transducer housing. The performance of the prototype array was experimentally evaluated with excellent agreement with numerical simulation. A focal volume (2.70 mm (axial) × 0.65 mm (transverse) × 0.35 mm (transverse)) defined by the -6 dB focal intensity was obtained to address the dimensions needed for small animal therapy. An electronic beam steering range defined by the -3 dB focal peak intensity (17 mm (axial) × 14 mm (transverse) × 12 mm (transverse)) and -8 dB lateral grating lobes (24 mm (axial) × 18 mm (transverse) × 16 mm (transverse)) was achieved. The combined testing of imaging and therapeutic functions confirmed well-controlled local heating generation and imaging in a tissue mimicking phantom. This dual-array implementation offers a practical means to achieve hyperthermia and ablation in small animal models and can be incorporated within protocols for ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / instrumentation*
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / methods
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Transducers*
  • Ultrasonography / instrumentation*
  • Ultrasonography / methods