This paper describes the evolution of vapour bubbles and its effect on nonlinear ultrasound propagation and temperature rise through tissues for therapeutic ultrasound. An acoustic-thermo coupling algorithm incorporating nonlinearity, diffraction, and temperature-dependent tissue properties, is employed to describe nonlinear ultrasound propagation and thermal effect. Results demonstrate that an obvious migration of peak pressure toward transducer surface is observed while the position of peak temperature changes little in liver tissue before the generation of vapour bubbles, and that the boiling region enlarges towards the surface of transducer in axial direction but increases slowly in radial direction after the generation of vapour bubbles.
This article studies the feasibility of noninvasive temperature estimation by detecting echo-strain including thermal expansion in therapeutic ultrasound treatment. This technique evaluates distributions of echo-strain and temperature inside the tissue by detecting echo signals pre- and post-heating, in combination with the temperature dependence of sound speed and thermal expansion. In the computer simulation and experimental study, echo signals pre- and post- heating are acquired and then the temperature elevation is evaluated by correlation analysis. Results demonstrate that this technique can effectively extend the measured temperature range up to 75℃ with an accuracy of±2 ℃.
