CN100562293C - The shear mode therapeutic ultrasound system - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of a certain object being diagnosed by the ultrasonic signal that discharge to use shearing wave, method comprises a part of ultrasound wave main beam is shone bone surface to produce shearing wave in skeleton with the angle of incidence with respect to bone surface, the energy of shearing wave forms the substantial portion of first ultrasonic energy and passes skeleton at the position that needs of object, one of the reflected energy of the ultrasound wave main beam that detection is used at least and scattering energy, and the detected energy of goal analysis for diagnosing.

Description

The shear mode therapeutic ultrasound system

Invention field

The present invention relates to use the ultrasonic diagnosis and the clinical application of shearing wave.

Background of invention

From 1980 early stage since, be imaged on its initial stage through the doppler ultrasound of cranium and just verifiedly have an ability that the amount of bleeding, intracerebral hemorrhage and cerebral blood flow distribute in the brain of measuring.Recently its probability of diagnosing some degeneration disorder disease, for example parkinson and depression have also been checked in research.These methods are used transcranial Doppler sonography ripple inspection techniques (TCD), the perhaps relevant inversion frequency that writes down emission and back-scattered signal through cranium color Doppler ultrasonography method (TCCS).Signal is used in combination with the probe of relative low frequency (less than 2MHz) usually and penetrates skull, and signal also often is used in combination with contrast agent.The advantage that seems when the frequency of the about 2MHz of utilization is very little, causes skeleton to play the effect of low pass filter because the decay of the skull under upper frequency increases, and can only return lower frequency spectrum.Mid frequency is 1MHz and is lower than 1MHz and also once tested that what represent is stronger signal intensity, but as the minimizing of expection resolution.

Through the major obstacle of cranium program is strong attenuation and the distortion that irregular, density and velocity of sound by the skull profile cause.The common ability of destroying hyperacoustic focusing and/or weakening the three-dimensional diagnostic message that receives of these character.

Hyperacoustic non-wound focusing that links up by human brain is that most brain treatment and diagnosis suggestion are used.For example, wearing bone-specific drug, targeted drug preparation for treating, improved apoplexy thromboembolism treatment, blood flow imaging, detect in the treatment of internal hemorrhage and brain internal X-ray fault imaging etc. ultrasound wave in cerebroma as a kind of instrument.Although human skull constitutes obstacle for the clinical realization of above-mentioned a plurality of treatments, study verified: Wicresoft and non-wound aberration modification method all are applicable to wears the bone focusing.Wicresoft's method is used receiving transducer, and this probe inserts brain to measure amplitude and the phase distortion that is caused by skull with conduit, uses row's ultrasound wave converter correction wave beam then.That can select is the longitudinal wave distortion that complete Wicresoft's method uses X ray computer body layer imaging (CT) prediction to be caused by skull.Have the non-wound focusing that treatment arranges and confirm, but, can observe and focus on the amplitude whereabouts when focusing on when being directly adjacent to the skull surface by the longitudinal wave propagation model.

Through the cranium sound wave is effectively by the hypothesis that vertical mould is formed to less incident angle mainly, but after surpassing about 25 °, because near its critical angle, longitudinal wave is ended fast.This perhaps is a kind of authentic interpretation for the amplitude that uses vertical mould to reduce: when focus is directed to the brain periphery, more element group is pointed to skull with bigger angle.

Abandon the reason of shearing wave modeling be: amplitude can be ignored, if perhaps can not ignore, will cause the discontinuous of wave beam or be difficult to the prediction.Owing to lack the important information of the elastic wave velocity of skull, also have influence on consideration to its modeling.Similar problem also is present in about ultrasound wave passes through in other the thin jagged structure of bone.

Summary of the invention

Have been found that ultrasound beamformer can be effectively, pass through skeleton continuously by shearing wave.This can surpass and cause the critical angle (about 20 °) of reflection fully of longitudinal wave to realize by for example being increased in wave beam that bone surface injects and the angle between the normal.When angle was between about 25 ° and 60 °, shearing wave produced and passes skeleton, and changes longitudinal wave once more at the skeleton inner surface, and longitudinal wave propagates into the soft tissue of skeleton another side.Above-mentioned discovery has several conclusions: the first, and vertically velocity of wave propagation is roughly the same in propagation of shear speed and the soft tissue in skeleton.Therefore, wavefront can not produce remarkable distortion owing to variable bone thickness, and the longitudinal wave that produces for higher acoustic speed in the skeleton (2500-3000 millisecond/second) too.The skeleton that the concentration ultrasonic wave beam passes without the phase place correction of comprehensive special sufferer is feasible.For example, can use simple relatively equipment to finish cerebral ultrasound diagnosing image and treatment of ultrasound wave brain and diagnosis.Second conclusion is the incident angle that can increase wave beam, and with use longitudinal wave to compare higher increase can to reach bigger cranial capacity.The 3rd, by combining of shearing wave propagation model and longitudinal wave propagation model, can significantly improve prediction to the ultrasound wave focusing that penetrates skull.Furtherly, unwanted osteoplaque reflection may reduce or eliminate, and this makes that diagnostic message is more prone to analyze.

Embodiments of the invention provide one or more following functions and can be suitable in following one or more use.The present invention can use in ultrasonic diagnosis and/or treatment with as depending in the supplementary means of method that the emission ultrasound wave passes skeleton.Especially, the present invention can be applied in the system of attempting to take blood flow in the skeleton, perhaps existing ultrasonic imaging and/or therapeutic equipment there are promotion and/or potentiation, or at the specific installation of deep ultrasonic therapy and/or apply to rely in the technology of using hyperacoustic cerebrovascular barrier (BBB) mediation, hyperacoustic diagnosis or therapeutic process are used in perhaps any other guiding.Hyperacoustic focusing can greatly be simplified, and can reduce and may eliminate the phase distortion correction.Can increase tissue volume common and that ultrasound wave extends.In addition, embodiments of the invention can be found the cavity in the skeletal structure and/or find/determine empty capacity by the unwanted reflection from bone surface that reduces or eliminates.

Generally speaking, in one aspect, the invention provides the method for object being diagnosed by the ultrasonic signal that discharges the use shearing wave, method comprises that a part of ultrasound wave main beam shines bone surface to produce shearing wave in skeleton with the angle of incidence with respect to bone surface, the energy of shearing wave forms the substantial portion of first ultrasonic energy and passes skeleton at the position that needs of object, one of the reflected energy of the ultrasound wave main beam that detection is used at least and scattering energy, and the detected energy of goal analysis for diagnosing.

Carry out the following feature that the present invention may comprise one or more.The part ultrasound wave main beam that applies to bone surface between the longitudinal wave critical angle relevant with object and with the relevant shearing wave critical angle of object between.Analysis comprises the image that produces the required position of at least a portion.Required position is the range of linearity along the transmission of ultrasound wave main beam straight line.Utilization part ultrasound wave main beam comprises a part of ultrasound wave main beam of utilization in the skeleton.Here the skeleton of indication is a skull, and for arriving needed position in the skull, part ultrasound wave main beam shines directly into skull with angle of incidence.Needed position be hole chamber and vestibule one of them, whether at least in part method further comprises and is provided at the indication of full of liquid of required position.Required position is one of tooth or jawbone, and the indication that provides desired area whether to have cavity or abscess at least at least further is provided method, and obtains the dissection at required at least position and the image that blood flow distributes.

Carry out the present invention and also can comprise one or more following features.At least the first ultrasound wave main beam is used in the multiple pulses of different frequency.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.3MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 3MHz of 1MHz-.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.The different attenuation that the corresponding different amplitude of different pulses is correlated with different frequency with compensation.At least the first ultrasound wave main beam is used in the multiply periodic pulse, has different frequency, out of phase and different amplitudes at least at least in two cycles.

Usually on the other hand, the invention provides the system that object is diagnosed by the target site that discharges the ultrasonic signal arrival object that uses shearing wave, system comprises the transceiver of launching ultrasonic energy; Guiding device, be coupled with transceiver, guiding device is used to cause a part of main beam of ultrasonic waves transmitted energy to incide the bone surface of object, so that the ultrasonic energy from a part of main beam of wave source produces the shearing wave that has energy in skeleton, the substantial portion of shearing wave formation ultrasonic energy in target site; Analytical equipment with the transceiver coupling, is used to analyze the energy from a part of main beam that returns from target site for diagnostic purpose.

Carry out the present invention and also can comprise one or more following features.Guiding device is set to cause the part main beam to incide bone surface with first angle, and first angle is between the vertical critical angle relevant with skeleton with skeleton between the relevant shearing critical angle.Guiding device comprises at least (1) positioner, the positioner mechanical guiding normal direction relevant with wave source with first angular illumination to bone surface; (2) phase/delay actuator, wherein transceiver comprises a plurality of radiating elements, the phase/delay actuator of configuration is used to regulate the phase place of a plurality of at least radiating elements and one of postpones, thus electrically controlled manipulation at least the first main beam; And (3) driving modulator, wherein transceiver comprises a plurality of radiating elements, the driving modulator of configuration is used for exciting element to point to the main beam of needs at different time.The positioner of configuration at least (1) in a fixed manner with the coupling of object and wireless receiver so that normal shines directly into the surface with first angle, and transceiver adjusted by (2) machinery so that normal shines directly into the surface with first angle.Transceiver comprises a plurality of elements that are used to radiate ultrasonic energy, system comprises controller, the configuration of controller and coupling cause at least a portion transceiver emission ultrasonic energy, the sign that returns energy in the energy that processing is launched to be determining the location at least a portion surface relevant with transceiver, and excite its main beam to small part at a part of surperficial unique element of wave source between vertical critical angle and shearing wave critical angle.The controller processing is returned the sign of energy to form the image at least a portion surface.

Carry out the present invention and also may comprise one or more following features.System comprises the controller that is coupled to transceiver and excites transceiver generation main beam that energy is transmitted into target site, and the surface of object is the outer surface of object skull.System comprises the controller that is coupled to transceiver and excites transceiver to produce main beam in the pulse of a plurality of different frequencies and amplitude.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.5MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about 1MHz-3MHz.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.The different attenuation of different amplitude compensations and different frequency dependences.System comprises and the controller that is coupled to transceiver and configuration is used for exciting wireless receiver pulse produces main beam in the multicycle, has different frequency, out of phase and different amplitudes at least at least in two cycles.Whether the analytical equipment of configuration provides target site to the indication of small part full of liquid.

Generally speaking, in one aspect, the invention provides release and use the system of the ultrasonic signal of shearing wave to the target site of object, system comprises that the frequency-converter device of configuration is used to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy, controller and frequency-converter device are coupled and excite frequency-converter device to launch ultrasonic energy to object, positioner and frequency-converter device are coupled and guarantee that a part of first main beam is from least a portion frequency-converter device, frequency-converter device is aimed at the part surface of skeleton with incident angle, incident angle is between normal incidence angle and the shearing grazing incidence angle relevant with object, so that the ultrasonic energy of first main beam produces shearing wave while first main beam in object energy can arrive target site, the energy of shearing wave forms the substantial portion of ultrasonic energy in target site, the controller of configuration is used to impel the following at least energy of frequency-converter device emission: multiply periodic single pulse, at least wherein two cycles have different at least frequencies, out of phase and various amplitude, with a plurality of pulses, different pulses have one of different frequency and amplitude, controller is analyzed the ultrasonic energy of first main beam, and this ultrasonic energy returns and received so that determine diagnostic message from the energy that returns by frequency-converter device from target site.

Carry out the present invention and also may comprise one or more following features.Frequency-converter device comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy of configuration, and controller suppresses to excite at least, and (1) a part of frequency-converter device produces incides second main beam of the part surface of object with second angle, second angle is less than vertical critical angle, what (2) a part of frequency-converter device produced incides the 3rd main beam of the part surface of object with the third angle degree, and the third angle degree is greater than the shearing wave critical angle.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.1MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about 0.31MHz-3MHz.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.Positioner is determined relevant with skeleton with object at least wave source desired position with the object coupling with machinery.Converter comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, is used to influence the positioner of the phase place electrically controlled manipulation of element to first main beam.Converter comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, controller influence element excite timing with electrically controlled manipulation to first main beam.Controller provides indication: depend on that whether target site by the diagnostic message of returning control of energy device decision is to the small part full of liquid.

Carry out the present invention and also may comprise one or more following features.Controller causes stimulating action at second main beam that target site points in target site, and controller provides the indication of depending on by the action of the target site of the diagnostic message of returning the decision of control of energy device.First and second main beams have different frequencies.Controller causes stimulating action at the second and the 3rd main beam that target site points in target site, and controller provides the indication of depending on by the action of the target site of the diagnostic message of returning the decision of control of energy device.Controller produces the image that returns target site in the energy to small part.Target site is that the linearity region and the controller of object produces the linear image that returns energy.

Generally speaking, in one aspect, the invention provides and discharge the ultrasonic signal method of using shearing wave, method comprises an object utilization part the first ultrasound beamformer at least, wave beam produces shearing wave with the degree of first critical angle at least relevant with object surface at the object position, the energy of shearing wave is formed on the substantial portion that needs first ultrasonic energy in the position of object on the clinical level.

Carry out the present invention and may comprise one or more following features.The part first ultrasound wave main beam apply to object between and the longitudinal wave critical angle that interrelates of object and and the shearing wave critical angle that interrelates of object between the surface.Comprise hyperacoustic utilization of a plurality of incident angles to the utilization of the small part first ultrasound wave main beam, a plurality of incident angles between and the longitudinal wave critical angle that interrelates of object and and the shearing wave critical angle that interrelates of object between with at needs position inner focusing ultrasonic energy.Method further comprises object utilization at least a portion second ultrasound beamformer, so that produce shearing wave and produce second ultrasound wave at the position that needs of object at the position of object, produce the image at the needed position of at least a portion, and confirm from image: whether the ultrasonic energy of part second ultrasound beamformer arrives in the mode of needs needs the position.To the small part first ultrasound wave main beam utilization be included in the skeleton utilization to small part first ultrasound beamformer.The skeleton here is meant skull, and part first ultrasound beamformer shines on the skeleton with first critical angle degree at least, needs the position so that arrive in the skull scope.

Carry out the present invention and may comprise one or more following features.In the multiple pulses of different frequency, use to small part first ultrasound beamformer.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.1MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about 0.2MHz-3MHz.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.The utilization of part at least the first ultrasound beamformer comprises uses a part the 3rd ultrasound beamformer to produce shearing wave with the position at object to object, and produces the 3rd ultrasonic shearing wave at the needs position.Part the 3rd ultrasound beamformer separates with part first ultrasound beamformer.The utilization of part at least the first ultrasound beamformer is included in the 4th critical angle object is used part the 4th ultrasound beamformer, and the 4th critical angle is less than the longitudinal wave critical angle relevant with object.

Generally speaking, in one aspect, the invention provides the system that the ultrasonic signal that will use shearing wave is discharged into the target site of object, system comprise the wave source of launching ultrasonic energy and with the coupled guiding device of wave source, wave source is used to produce first main beam of the ultrasonic energy of partly launching at least, first main beam will incide object surface producing shearing wave in object, and the energy of shearing wave is formed on the substantial portion of first ultrasonic energy in the target site of object on the clinical level.

Carry out the present invention and may comprise one or more following features.Guiding device with between and the longitudinal wave critical angle that interrelates of object and and the shearing wave critical angle that interrelates of object between first main beam on the first angle introductory object surface.Guiding device comprises that at least (1) positioner is used for the mechanical guiding normal direction relevant with wave source and arrives the surface with first angular illumination; (2) phase/delay actuator, wherein wave source comprises a plurality of radiating elements, the phase/delay actuator of configuration is used to regulate the phase place of a plurality of at least radiating elements and postpones automatically controlled at least the first main beam that is manipulated to.Positioner is configured at least (1) and adjusts wave source so that normal on the first angle direct irradiation surface with the coupling of object and wave source so that normal at the first angle direct irradiation surface and (2) machinery in a fixed manner.Wave source comprises a plurality of elements of launching ultrasonic energy, system comprises that controller configuration and coupling are to produce at least a portion wave source with the emission ultrasonic energy, the sign of reflected energy to be determining the location at least a portion surface relevant with wave source in the energy that processing is launched, and excites and have at least part at the unique element of wave source of a part of surperficial main beam between vertical critical angle and shearing wave critical angle.The controller processing is returned the sign of energy to form the image at least a portion surface.System comprises with coupled controller of wave source and configuration and is used to excite wave source to produce first main beam and second main beam, incide object surface with second angle to small part first main beam and second main beam, second angle between and the longitudinal wave critical angle that interrelates of object and and the shearing wave critical angle that interrelates of object between, so that the energy that the ultrasonic energy of second main beam of wave source can produce the shearing wave and second main beam at the object position will arrive target site, and wherein second angle is different from first angle.

Carry out the present invention and may comprise one or more following features.System comprises with coupled controller of wave source and configuration and is used to excite wave source to produce first main beam that sends energy to target site.System comprises with coupled controller of wave source and configuration and is used to excite wave source to produce first main beam of the pulse with a plurality of different frequencies.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.1MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 3MHz of 0.2MHz-.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.System comprises with coupled controller of wave source and configuration and is used to excite wave source to produce first main beam and the 3rd wave beam, incide object surface with the third angle degree to small part first main beam and the 3rd wave beam, the third angle degree is less than the vertical critical angle that is associated with object.

Generally speaking, in one aspect, the invention provides release and use the system of the ultrasonic signal of shearing wave to the target site of object, system comprises the wave source of launching ultrasonic energy, with the coupled controller of wave source and excite wave source to launch ultrasonic energy to object, the coupling of positioner and wave source and a part of wave beam of guaranteeing first main beam are from least a portion wave source, wave source is with the part surface of the first angular illumination skeleton, first angle is between the vertical critical angle relevant with object with object between the relevant shearing critical angle, so that the ultrasonic energy of first main beam produces shearing wave in object, the ultrasonic waves transmitted energy will arrive target site simultaneously, controller excites wave source to launch multipulse energy, and each pulse has different frequencies.

Carry out the present invention and may comprise one or more following features.Wave source comprises a plurality of elements of launching ultrasonic energy, controller suppresses following at least exciting: (1) a part of wave source produces second main beam, incide the part surface of object with second angle to small part second main beam, second angle is less than vertical critical angle, (2) a part of wave source of configuration produces the 3rd main beam, incide the part surface of object with the third angle degree to small part the 3rd main beam, the third angle degree is greater than the shearing wave critical angle.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 5MHz of 0.1MHz-.Different frequencies is in the frequency range of about about 3MHz of 0.2MHz-.Pulse duration is in the scope in about 1 cycle-100 cycle.Positioner is determined and the relevant wave source position of object that needs with machinery with the object coupling.Wave source comprises a plurality of elements of launching ultrasonic energy, and the phase place that influences element is with the navigation system of electrically controlled manipulation to first main beam.

Various aspects of the present invention provide one or more following performances.Ultrasound wave can be propagated in skeleton, and for example, skull after experience reduces distortion and improves signal intensity, obtains more clear and accurate brain image, compared with prior art provides better focusing for the treatment utilization.Reduce the unnecessary echo on osteoplaque upper strata, the analysis of the diagnostic message that receives from destination organization is become be more prone to.Eliminate the material in skeleton cavity and/or the skeleton cavity.The propagation of deep shear mode can be used in a plurality of imaging problem, comprises conduit detection, lesion detection, tissue morphology and cerebral hemorrhage.Compared with prior art, wear supersonic wave bone minimizing distortion and/or higher accurate location can be provided.

After with reference to following accompanying drawing, detail specifications and claim, above-mentioned performance of the present invention and other performance and invention itself will obtain understanding more all sidedly.

Accompanying drawing ground is described

Accompanying drawing 1 is the imaging of part skull and the sketch of skull level.

Accompanying drawing 2 is corresponding to the schematic diagram of ultrasonic therapeutical system of the present invention.

Accompanying drawing 3-9 is the system's example schematic diagram partly that uses in the various utilizations in the accompanying drawing 2.

Accompanying drawing 10 is to use the flow chart of the ultrasonic diagnosis application system that shows in the accompanying drawing 2.

Accompanying drawing 11-12 is two kinds of different installation procedures that use in deep experiments of measuring.

Accompanying drawing 13 is a pair of sketch maps as the experiment of angle of incidence function and simulated pressure amplitude and phase place.

Accompanying drawing 14A-B is as the pressure amplitude of the angle of incidence function of deep test and the curve chart of phase place.

Accompanying drawing 15 is the images that pass through skull with the emission ultrasound wave of various incident angles.

Accompanying drawing 16 is ultrasound wave passes through skull with 32 ° angle of incidence actual measurement and mimic curve charts.

Accompanying drawing 17A-B is the image that excites of non-standardization and normalized coding.

Accompanying drawing 18A-B be in response to accompanying drawing 17 the converter that excites gather, filter and filter ground, curve chart individually.

Accompanying drawing 19 is A line sweeps of shearing wave and longitudinal wave.

Accompanying drawing 20 is with 0 ° and 33 ° of imagings that angle of incidence passes through the nylon nut of skull.

Accompanying drawing 21 is to use the ultrasonic propagation of shearing wave to detect the experimental procedure schematic diagram of empty image.

Accompanying drawing 22A-B be in response to shearing wave and longitudinal wave, individually incide water filling and inject the curve chart of the cavity of air.

Accompanying drawing 23 is the diagrams that shine the pressure amplitude that is caused by longitudinal wave and shearing wave on the plastic layer as the angle of incidence function.

Accompanying drawing 24 is example figure, narrow main beam antenna mode.

Accompanying drawing 25 is example figure, wide main beam antenna mode.

Accompanying drawing 26 is to use the flow chart of the system that is used for the ultrasonic diagnosis application in the accompanying drawing 2.

To detailed description of preferred embodiments

Embodiments of the invention provide and penetrate skull and other deep communications, particularly cause the shear mode in the skeleton.For deep propagation, incidence wave experience is changed into the pattern that changes the longitudinal wave in the brain behind the shearing wave in the osteoplaque again into by the incident longitudinal wave.The skull shear rate perhaps provides better acoustic impedance coupling, less refraction to have less phase place variation with comparing with its vertical counter pair.When using shearing wave, ultrasound wave can be at the brain inner focusing.If ultrasound wave incides in the skeleton with the critical angle that surpasses Snell ' s, in skeleton, can not produce longitudinal wave so.Data analysis that provides and demonstration phenomenon are with plastic pattern and use external human skull to study.Embodiments of the invention go for various utilizations, comprise treatment and clinical diagnosis, below discuss respectively.Other embodiment within the scope of the invention.

Can observe under certain conditions: by using high incident angle minimizing distortion and higher signal amplitude to make ultrasound wave pass through skeleton is feasible.Numeral and experimentation all show: the behavior of the shear wave modes that produces in skeleton causes the feasibility that ultrasound wave passes through skeleton.When incident ultrasound wave angle during greater than the critical angle of the Snell ' of Longitudinal Pressure Wave, the propagation in the skeleton is fully owing to shearing wave.This ripple that does not certainly lead to high distortion and little amplitude from the conversion that transforms back into longitudinal wave (brain) after longitudinal wave (skin) changes shearing wave (skull) into again.Above-mentioned hypothesis is supported in research to isotropism imagination material and up-to-date external human body sample bone.Even, have been found that as the shearing wave that passes in the skull light wave of focusing may have less distortion than longitudinal wave.In some instances, observed focused light wave amplitude is greater than the vertical wave amplitude that passes through with the skull of homalographic.The success of longitudinal wave-shearing wave-vertically wave propagation mainly owing to elasticity (shearing wave) velocity of wave (～1400m/s) and water (～1500m/s), skin (～1525m/s) and brain (～1550m/s) with other soft tissue in the similarity of the velocity of sound.Forming correlated is that the scope of vertical velocity of sound of corresponding frequencies approximately is the twice of above-mentioned value in the skull.Therefore, the shear mode that painstakingly produces in skull can be used as a kind of mechanism and is used to produce brain image, or is used to detect big abnormalities of brain.Similar techniques can utilization in the treatment at other position of health and/or diagnosis, or applies on one's body other animal except that human body.

Embodiments of the invention use the shear mode that painstakingly produces to be used to produce and strengthen the focusing of passing skull as a kind of mechanism in skull.Proved the ability of under high critical angle, predicting ultrasound wave phase place and amplitude with the shear mode that merges through the cranium communication mode.For explaining this method, at first to simulate the field of passing the unitary plastic layer.On the cross section of people's bone, use this method of comparing then with experiment measuring.Use this method can in brain, obtain focusing more accurately, and can expand the focusing range that uses current methods to obtain.

The treatment basis

With the basis of the slight curves part of the skull of ultrasound waves long correlation on, the inner surface and the outer surface of skull is divided into each piece all near planar zone, but and nonessential parallel fully.This near being not to be that to carry out the present invention necessary for simplifying the analysis.Accompanying drawing 1 has shown the image of this problem, demonstration be the zone of inciding the skull surface on the area of cutting apart in ultrasound wave magnetic field.Each zone is that the simple layer according to the isotropic solid with Lame constants of determining as the average density function of whole propagation regions carries out mimic.

The propagation of the skull layer of the isotropy by any guiding can be by incidence wave spectrum analysis and the determining and the function decay acquisition of angle wave number when skull is crossed in magnetic field of ray path.Each initial vertical harmonic wave spectrum light wave component is to consider according to its velocity potential.There is not the given component of notion disappearance in the Y-axis of the cartesian coordinate that surface normal is determined along the unit vector of the vector product between propagation axis and surperficial vector and the localized reference frame of Z-direction, to consider.

${\mathrm{\φ}}^I=A_L^I{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_x^I{x\sin \mathrm{\θ}}^I-k_y^I{y\cos \mathrm{\θ}}^I)}+A_{\mathrm{LR}}^I{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_x^I{x\sin \mathrm{\θ}}^I+k_y^I{y\cos \mathrm{\θ}}^I)},---\left(1\right)$

A wherein _LRepresent the longitudinal wave component amplitude on incident top layer, A _LRRepresentative reflection longitudinal wave amplitude, θ represents incident angle, and Kx and Ky representative are with particular reference to the light wave vector component in the framework.Subscript I-III represents skin, skull and brain respectively, and subscript L and S refer to longitudinal wave or shearing wave.Therefore, vertically the propagation of gesture in skull by

${\mathrm{\φ}}^{\mathrm{II}}=A_L^{\mathrm{II}}{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_x^{\mathrm{II}}x\sin {\mathrm{\θ}}^{\mathrm{II}}-k_y^{\mathrm{II}}y{\cos \mathrm{\θ}}^{\mathrm{II}})}---\left(2\right)$

Determine

Shear vector by

${\stackrel{\→}{\mathrm{\ψ}}}^{\mathrm{II}}=A_S^{\mathrm{II}}{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_{S_x}^{\mathrm{II}}x\sin {\mathrm{\θ}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}-k_{S_y}^{\mathrm{II}}y{\cos \mathrm{\θ}}_S^{\mathrm{II}})}\hat{z},---\left(3\right)$

Determine

Use foregoing description, each spectrum light wave component must be considered in its unique reference frame.On the interface, incident light wave is divided into reflecting light, propagates vertical light wave and propagates shearing wave.The amplitude of above-mentioned light wave may be by utilization and by Kino (AcousticWaves:Devices, Imaging, and Analog Signal Processing, Englewood Cliffs, New Jeresy:Prentice-Hall, 1987) summing up the relevant incident light wave of method that proposes determines.Particularly, the normal component of particle displacement,

$\stackrel{\→}{r}=\▿\mathrm{\φ}+\▿\×\stackrel{\→}{\mathrm{\ψ}}---\left(4\right)$

Must successive and normal stress on the interface

$S_{\mathrm{yy}}=\mathrm{\λ}\frac{{\∂r}_x}{\∂x}+(\mathrm{\λ}+2\mathrm{\μ})\frac{{\∂r}_y}{\∂y}---\left(5\right)$

And shearing force

$S_{\mathrm{xy}}=\mathrm{\μ}(\frac{{\∂r}_x}{\∂y}+\frac{{\∂r}_y}{\∂x}),---\left(6\right)$

The shearing that given media is relevant is relevant with Lame constants μ and λ with vertical velocity of sound

$c_S=\sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{\μ}}{\mathrm{\ρ}}},$

(7)

$c_L=\sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{\λ}+2\mathrm{\μ}}{\mathrm{\ρ}}}$

Appendix A provides the details of magnitude determinations.Each plane wave scheme is described single angular wave number behavior.Be the above-mentioned amplitude of each component light wave vector interval calculation.Yet, may finish aforementioned calculating with the analytic expression of sealing easily, in appendix B, provide.

In skull, finish after the propagation, handle longitudinal wave and shearing wave respectively, equal after total ripple arrives brain

${\mathrm{\φ}}^{\mathrm{III}}=A_{\mathrm{LL}}^{\mathrm{III}}{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_x^{\mathrm{III}}x\sin {\mathrm{\θ}}^{\mathrm{III}}-k_y^{\mathrm{III}}y\cos {\mathrm{\θ}}^{\mathrm{III}})}+A_{\mathrm{LS}}^{\mathrm{III}}{e}^{i(\mathrm{\ωt}-k_x^{\mathrm{III}}{x\sin \mathrm{\θ}}_S^{\mathrm{III}}-k_y^{\mathrm{III}}{y\cos \mathrm{\θ}}_S^{\mathrm{III}})},---\left(8\right)$

A wherein _LL ^IIIAnd A _LS ^IIIRepresentative results from incides the longitudinal wave in the skull and the compressional wave amplitude of shearing wave.

After replacing equation (1)-(3), the value of velocity potential can be determined according to equation (4)-(6), and explain A in the skull interface _L ^IIAnd A _S ^IIAt brain skull interface, incident shearing and longitudinal velocity gesture amplitude will be equal to the product of propagating amplitude and absorption loss water experience in the skeleton.Since each spectrum component will have own independent paths length and pass skull, total so between the component absorption normally different.Accompanying drawing 1 provides the two-dimensional representation method of this problem.

For in brain, finding light wave amplitude, A _LL ^IIIAnd A _LS ^III, in a single day problem enters reference frame and reduces two dimension by circulation once more, and the surface normal of reference frame is along the Y-axis of cartesian coordinate and the location of the relative photo wave vector on the X-Y plane.Because the soft tissue class quasi-fluid of brain, the longitudinal wave of incident skull will further be divided into reflection shear-wave, reflection longitudinal wave and propagate longitudinal wave.Shearing wave in the skull also has similar division, but has different reflections and propagation angle.

The acoustic pressure of set point can obtain by amplitude and the phase place that solves each the spectrographic component in the planar range respectively in the brain.Spectrum is exerted pressure on measurement plane by inverse transformation.Pressure amplitude equals the negative of the normal stress relevant with the amplitude of invariant velocity potential in the brain.Determine A by equation (4) and (5) _LL ^IIIAnd A _LS ^IIIAppendix A has been described the calculating of pressure amplitude.Accompanying drawing 23 expression results from the A of unbounded plane wave after passing ideal plastic layer (for example acrylic acid) in the water _LL ^IIIAnd A _LS ^IIIAngle relevant.

On the basis of the high attenuation quotient of skull, the supplementary element that is caused by multiple reflection in the skull is left in the basket.The acoustic pressure total amount of any point can be determined by the propagation amplitude total amount of calculating path length and each spectrographic component in the brain.Calculate phase place and all decay (comprising the loss of absorption) of relevant acoustics.Algorithm during appendix B provides and determined from the converter to the brain in the path, magnetic field of measurement point.

Diagnostic application

With reference to the accompanying drawings 2, ultrasonic diagnostic system 10 comprises phased array 14, signal conditioner 18, controller 20, frequency generator 22 and the positioner 23 of image device 12, transducer element 16.System 10 has the ultrasonic diagnosis ability through configuration.System 10 determines one or more features of target, at this is the skull 28 of sufferer 30, and the utilization ultrasonic energy is (for example in the frequency range of about about 10MHz of 0.01MHz-, and more preferably in the frequency range of about about 3MHz of 0.1MHz-) at the target inner focusing, this paper is meant at sufferer brain inner focusing.The focusing on other target in skull of this paper discussion also can be used, for example away from the zone of brain, such as hole chamber, auditory meatus etc.Furtherly, the present invention can be in dentistry (tooth), pass through in rib, spine or other any skeleton and use.The present invention can be used for determining whether the cavity of skeleton comprises air or liquid and/or liquid cement.In addition, the present invention can be used for bone marrow or bone is neural and the image of the vascular of skeleton.The canalis spinalis imaging also is possible.The present invention also can by shear wave velocity and vertically velocity of wave contrast or in skeleton, make firmly (for example, ultrasound wave produce radiant force or mechanical force) and skeleton character is determined in use ultrasound examination displacement.

The signal of arrangement 14 provides by driving to arrange.Above-mentioned arrangement may (IEEE Trans.Ultrason.Ferroelectr.FReq.Control 45 (2): 431-4 in report " Design and Evaluation of a Feedback Based Phased ArraySystem for Ultrasound Surgery " with people such as Daum, 1998) homotaxy in, but in the frequency range of about about 10MHz of 0.1MHz-, select driving frequency.Driving also to provide the technology of the ultrasonic signal that needs to finish by other.The power of each transducer element 16 and phase place can manually control or use software and feedback to control automatically.Yet element arrangements is preferred, and system 10 can be used in the element group of non-coordination, perhaps even single element, all depends on utilization.

Be installed in through the arrangement 14 of transducer element 16 of configuration on other upper surface of the outer surface of sufferer head or skeleton 28 or near.Arrangement 14 through configuration has curved profile, and for example spherical, although the cross section of other profile also is possible, for example the plane comprises straight line.Arrange 14 and be installed near sufferer head or and arrange 14 certain position focused ultrasonic energy in distance.Arranging 14 can have various models, and for example diameter is 30 centimetres or is enough to length around one week of head, and perhaps diameter has only 1 millimeter or littler.Preferablely be, be used for transmitted pulse through the element 16 of configuration, directly, the power stage ultrasound wave all depends on utilization, also receives ultrasonic energy in addition.Arrange 14 transducer element 16 and be arranged in the piezoelectricity transducer element of arranging in 14 shown in more preferably.Transducer element 16 (for example centre-to-centre spacing is the piezoelectric ceramic piece of λ/2) is installed in the silica gel or other is suitable in the coupled material of damping machinery of element 16.Other material also can be suitable in arrangement architecture.For example, arrange 14, or other any material that electric energy can be changed into acoustic energy is formed by one or more pieces piezoelectrics.

Further be coupled with signal conditioner 18 coupled arrangements 14 with frequency generator 22.Frequency generator 22 is launched the input signal of common radio frequency (RF) signal as signal conditioner 18.The distinctive signal generator also can be used in part or all of element 16.Radio frequency generator 22 is selected any model that can be fit to signal to signal conditioner 18 outputs for use.Individual frequencies also can be used.When using the signal generator (for example numeral typing wave producer) of individual frequencies, can set delaying of phase place, amplitude and each signal by the signal generator of no adjunct circuit.Excitation causes ultrasonic energy to be propagated in the skull 28 of sufferer and stacking energy in the selection area in the sufferer brain if desired, depends on the relative delay.Generator 22 is coupled with actuator 18 and the output signal of generator is divided into the input signal of n actuator 18.

Being coupled with each signal in n the input signal of frequency generator 22 emissions that receive is the n pair amplifier 24 of signal conditioner 18 ₁-24 _nWith relevant delay circuit 26 ₁-26 _nEach is to a passage of delay circuit 26 and amplifier 24 representation signal actuators 18.Delay circuit 26 is about to by having respective delay coefficient a by changing or adjusting ₁-a _n Generator 22 delay (perhaps amplitude) of sending signal provide n independent input signal for amplifier 24.Amplifier 24 through configuration ₁-24 _nThe signal of delay circuit 26 is amplified, and provide amplifying signal to transducer element 16 by circuit, coaxial cable for example, amplifier 24 is connected with the indivedual of transducer element 16.

The retardation coefficient a of delay circuit 26 ₁-a _nProvide the manipulation of ultrasound beamformer on the path of ultrasonic energy, to depart from objectives.Each can calculate by known technology with the Phase delay of handling relevant element 16.Controller 20 provides retardation coefficient a ₁-a _nThe logic that is provided by software, hardware, firmware, hard coded or above-mentioned combination is provided controller 20.For example, controller 20 can be general objects or specific purposes, provide and use retardation coefficient a for delay circuit 26 ₁-a _nAnd the digital data information processor of programming with software instruction in a conventional manner, although can use other configuration structure.

Positioner 23 through configuration assists in ensuring that arranging 14 consequently produces shearing wave to target 28 emission ultrasonic energies at a certain angle in target 28.Setting positioner 23 is to determine the arrangement 14 relevant with the outer surface of target 28, or the position of signal element 16 so that with arrange 14 or the relevant normal direction of signal element 16 add than the lower security coefficient with less than shearing between the safety coefficient of critical angle (shearing wave can not be propagated in target 28 accordingly) above deducting between vertical critical angle (Snell ' s angle).For the interface of skull soft tissue, Snell ' s angle approximately is 20 °, and shearing critical angle approximately is 65 °, and therefore, the ultrasound wave angle of preferably guiding skull into is between about 25 °-60 °.Safety coefficient can help the width of the main beam of calculated permutations 14 or element 16.24-25 with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is narrow relatively to arrange 14 main beam 200, for example 3 decibels of (dB) normals below 0 ° ± 3 °.The main beam 202 of signal element 16 is wide relatively, for example the 3dB normal below 0 ° ± 30 °.For diagnostic application, no matter arrange the main beam of the main beam preferred narrow of (big or little) or single element.Positioner 23 assists in ensuring that the needs part of main beam 200,202 can guide to target 28 between angle vertical and that shear between the critical angle at least.For example, for signal element 16, positioner 23 may be the equipment that configuration is used for receiving element 16, and the surface that is installed in target 28 is to arrange element 16 as required.For example, positioner 23 may be placed on the place of people's face near nose, with the position of definite element 16 so that the part (for example, having energy level limit value at least) that needs of main beam 202 will be with between vertically and shear the skull (for example aiming at people's hole chamber) that angle between the critical angle be drawn towards the people at least.Simultaneously, also can use more shallow angle between compressional wave critical angle and normal.

Controller 20 is as required from arranging 14 guiding ultrasound wave.Controller 20 through configuration passes through machinery and/or electric the manipulation and/or the guiding ultrasonic energy from arranging 14.Controller 20 sends command signal to positioner 23 and arranges 14 position with mechanical alteration and arrange 14 thing border indication (for example arrange 14 main beam direction and/or location, main beam incides in the target 28 on above-mentioned position).Controller 20 further is provided by the phase place that is provided by the phase shifter 26, or the actuation duration of element 16, and 14 ultrasound beamformer is arranged in electron scanning.Actuation duration can use several the technology that are used to handle by control, for example controller 20 sends the delay pumping signal, or controller 20 sends the time delay that common pumping signal is the varying number of different elements 16, or the like.Controller 20 guarantees to obtain the energy of the needs of ultrasound wave main beam at least, handles by machinery and/or electricity, with the angle vector 28 between vertical and shearing critical angle.Ultrasonic energy changes shearing wave into and propagates in target 28 as shearing wave from longitudinal wave.Yet certain portion of energy may be drawn towards target 28 to be higher or lower than vertically and to shear the extraneous angle of critical angle.Further, (for example, the transformation from the skull to the brain) transformation (for example, acoustic impedance changes), shearing wave may conversion return longitudinal wave so if there is the generation conversion in target 28.

Mechanical guiding/the location of arrangement 14 can be by manually adjusting.More preferably, the surperficial corner angle of target 28 are determined by vision, be need not to use for example CT (computer body-layer) or magnetic force resonance (MR) scanning imagery equipment.Yet when wave beam normal directive arrangement 14 will produce shearing wave in target 28, guide may provide indication.Controller 20 further configuration is used for optionally exciting element 16.Therefore, controller 20 optionally exciting element will produce the incident angle of target 28 and produce shearing wave in target 28, if there is not exciting element can not produce shearing wave in target 28.Further, arrange 14 and produce the multi-beam of similar or different frequencies and/or amplitude simultaneously in position differently.

Controller 20 through configuration is used for control lag loop 26 and amplifier 24, handles the data of the target 28 that receives, and is meant skull 28 at this, and diagnosis capability is provided.Controller 20 causes ultrasonic waves transmitted to be sent along straight line in target 28, and is scanned the terrible zone of the broad in (for example, systematically moving) target 28.The ultrasound wave straight line that passes target 28 may change direction (for example, the acoustic impedance interface of variation).Controller 20 will be arranged 14 reflected energies that receive and be treated to and depend on beam direction and send image with time of received energy.Simultaneously, controller 20 is not to be the image of target 28 with the energy process that receives.Whether the energy that controller 20 is handled reception for example, (for example detects the space so that other diagnostic message to be provided, cavity in tooth or the skeleton or abscess, such as jawbone) binary indication, or in the space, whether have material (for example, the liquid in hole chamber or the internal ear) or the like.Controller 20 also can process information to form image, the internal anatomy of target 28 for example, blood Perfusion Imaging of target 28 or the like.

Further Configuration Control Unit 20 be used for controlled frequency generator 22, amplifier 24 and delay loop 26 with the phase place of the ultrasonic energy that influences frequency, value and arrangement 14 and provide to apply to the diagnosis of target 28.Have been found that inconsistent incentive program helps overcoming propagation attenuation, energy discharges and the reception feature thereby improve.Controller 20 causes a series of expansion pulse excitations arrangements and propagates into target 28 with the ultrasonic pulse that produces a series of expansions.Preferably, pulse repeats in frequency range and connects the signal digital that returns.For example, in the frequency range of about about 2.0MHz of 0.5MHz-, send the energy in 10 cycles to skull 28 with the frequency of interval 0.01MHz.Amplifier 24 preferable (for example, unified) signals that are control needs like this are issued (or reception) to spectrographic arbitrary component.And, the energy that transmits signal preferably, energy is altofrequency decay many more (approximately being 1MHz for skull for example) more, for example proportional with two-way attenuation losses so that signal that receive has more or less needs (for example, equating) signal within the frequency spectrum that receives.Controller 20 further configuration is used for the signal of summation reception and matched filter is applied to signal to recover structural interface.Can when single transmission ultrasonic pulse, carry out equally, when adjusting amplitude in the mode of needs, in the sector scanning frequency of needs with the differential declines of compensation and different frequency dependence.Frequency between the pulse or within the pulse can change by any way substantially, for example, linear increasing or minimizing, non-linear increase or minimizing, monotone increasing adds deduct few, irregularly, or the like.Controller 20 further configuration be used for control lag loop 26 with change between the pulse or within phase place.Controller 20 causes delay loop 26 and produces the different pulses with out of phase, and/or the single pulse of the different phasings within the pulse.

Utilization is depended in the variation of the power stage of diagnostic application.Yet, typically, for diagnostic application, the pulse persistance cycle is 1 cycle-100 cycle between the about 5MHz of the about 0.1MHz-of frequency, preferably between the about 3MHz of about 0.5MHz-, although these values just can imitate, within the scope of the invention and unrestricted.

The reflected signal that converter 16 receives is changed into the electronic signal of being handled by image device 12.Image device 12 is handled the image that electronic signal forms scanning area.Provide image to controller 20, may with arrange 14 (for example, by intermittence uses energy obtain image, or by using subelement 16 to obtain images and using other element 16 for other purpose) other use simultaneously and obtain.

Controller 20 is analyzed the data of arrangement 14 and the image of image device 12.Controller 20 can be handled reflected signal, and the inverse signal of element 16 receiving and analyzings (or lack its signal) is with the marker characteristic of identification special circumstances, for example liquid of sufferer hole intracavity.

Contrast accompanying drawing 2, the various configurations of accompanying drawing 3-5 display system 10, the only special use part in diagnostic application of display system 10.For example, 3-4 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in arranging 14 place, single converter or little converter are arranged as ultrasonic transducer 32 and are used.The configuration that accompanying drawing 3 shows is preferable to be to use in the diagnostic application that does not need image, and the configuration that accompanying drawing 4 shows is suitable for being with or without the use of the generation image that is used to analyze.For example, as shown in the figure, ultrasonic shearing wave may directly pass material 34, such as skeleton, cavity 36 (such as the hole chamber, or abscess etc.) is arranged wherein.Controller 20 is analyzed reflection to determine various character, for example cavity 34 full of liquid whether.The configuration that accompanying drawing 5 shows is similar to the configuration of accompanying drawing 4, has the electronics or the mechanical scanning of the shearing wave 38 propagated are discerned by arrow 40.When shearing wave 38 demonstrations do not focus on, make the element phasing of transmitter 32 adapt to focusing light wave 38.

In the operation with reference to the accompanying drawings 10, and further 2-9 with reference to the accompanying drawings, the processor 110 that is used for the target of using system 10 is diagnosed comprises the step of demonstration, and/or treatment is provided.For the purpose that can imitate, target is assumed to be the skull 28 shown in the accompanying drawing 2, although these values just can imitate, within the scope of the invention and unrestricted.Processor 110 just can not imitateed not restriction, and can change, and for example increase by step, deletes or rearranges.

In step 112, arrange 14 with respect to target 28 location.Arranging 14 (or radio transceivers of single element) can make artificial location and/or excite positioner 23 location by controller 20.Such arrangement 14 location can be transferred to ultrasonic energy target surface to produce elementary shearing wave in target 28.The location that needs is determined according to the angle on the surface of the target of visually being determined by the operator of system 10 28.The angle on the surface of target 28 also can be determined by the imaging on excitation arrangement 14 and target 28 surfaces.Surface image can be used for arranging 14 reorientate and/or suitably electricity handle and arrange 14 wave beam.

In step 114, excitation transducer element 16 produces the ultrasound beamformer vector 28 that needs.Controller 20 is selected elements 16 to be used for transmission of power to be the zone of needs or the result's (for example, diagnosis, imaging and/or treatment) who provides competent energy to reach needs is provided with the energy of direction, scope and ultrasonic wave energy that needs are provided.Controller 20 controls are by frequency, phase place, amplitude and the delay of the energy of selecting element 16 to provide.Can change delay between the element automatically controlled beam direction to be provided so that to do as a whole from the energy of arranging 14 needs, and/or individual elements 16, incide in the target 28 with the angle between longitudinal wave and shearing wave critical angle, and be directed into the position that needs in the target 28.More preferably, ultrasonic energy provides according to the mode with coding discussed above, and in the scope self-energy generation pulse of frequency, the power magnitude is according to the frequency shift of (dependence) transmission signal.Wave beam can be expanded or focus on.Element will produce primary longitudinal wave through selecting and encouraging so that ultrasound wave to be provided in target, rather than shearing wave.The wave beam of arranging 14 transmission is a longitudinal wave when skull incident, is shearing wave when passing through skull, and changes longitudinal wave again into for further transmitting (for example in brain).

On the basis of utilization, step 112 and/or step 114 can constantly repeat.For example, for imaging, arrangement 14 may mechanically be reorientated and/or the direction of ultrasound beamformer is passed through electrically controlled manipulation to cover entire area with imaging.

In step 116, be diagnosis or imaging applications, the reflection that image device 12 and controller 20 processing receive is to determine suitable feature.Image device 12 can always be collected signal by the respective party of associating incident wave beam and handle received signal to finish the image of target 28 plane of target 28 (for example).Controller 20 can expertly be operated the sign that returns to determine that one or more are not must the character relevant with imaging, for example determine whether target 28 interior cavities comprise liquid.Be diagnostic application, the image that controller 20 can not use image device 12 to provide, even image device 12 may need not provide any image.

Treatment is used

System 10 can be used for the treatment of application, respectively or synchronously except diagnostic application or replace diagnostic application.The parts of system 10 are usually according to aforementioned content operation.Yet for diagnostic application, the system 10 that may provide another image device 13 and process to dispose is used to be provided at ultrasonic therapy in some sense.

For the treatment application aims, controller 20 control phase shifter 26 and amplifiers 24.If be suitable for treatment (for example, heating ablation) or using the non-focusing mode to carry out suitable treatment (for example, lower powered application is such as cerebrovascular barrier passage) in the field widely, controller 20 causes ultrasound wave to be assembled in focus area.

The power stage that treatment is used relies on utilization very much.Typically, for the treatment application aims, the persistent period is frequency continuous wave between about 0.1MHz and about 3MHz in 1 cycle pulsedly, more preferably approximately between 0.2MHz and the about 2MHz, although it is these values just can be imitateed, also unrestricted within the scope of the invention.Sonication is usually included in about 1 microsecond and pulsatile once or the multiple pulses of the ultrasonic degradation between 1 hour in the time, and the time between the pulse changes depends on application.

Image device 13 can be independent of the image of the miscellaneous equipment acquisition target 28 of accompanying drawing 2.For example, image device 13 can be computer tomography device (CT) or magnetic force resonance image device (MR).Image device 13 is the same with image device 12, can provide image to controller 20, for example, be used to determine use arrange 14 ultrasonic therapy use before or central whether the needs adjust.Controller 20 is determined according to image: whether receive treatment really at the position that needs of receiving treatment, and whether receive the treatment that enough energy are used for needs.If not the zone of needs, target site receives ultrasonic energy (for example, being melted), perhaps need the position to receive too much or energy very little, thereby controller 20 can change the excitation correction conditions of element 16.For example, can increase or reduce energy, dwindle or expend energy focusing variation or mobile focal area or the like.

Accompanying drawing 6-9 shows the various suitable mechanical damage in for example heating ablation, tissue or tumor, the configuration structures that treatment is used of being used for, cerebrovascular barrier (BBB) passage, gene therapy, targeted drug preparation for treating, quicken chemical reaction, help chemical drugs, use the temperature that improves constantly that produces in the hyperthermia, zone, other has the diffusion of the ultrasound wave reciprocal action etc. of therapeutic value.Accompanying drawing 6 shows single crooked transmitter 42, and it may be single element or element arrangements.Transmitter 42 produces and passes through the ultrasound beamformer 44 of the focusing of target 46 (for example skull) as shearing wave, and ultrasound beamformer 44 focuses in focus or zone 48.Attention is made up of the shearing wave of longitudinal wave between transmitter 42 and the target 46 and target 46 as the ultrasound beamformer 44 of the wave beam in other configuration of discussing.If the structure of target 46 changes (for example, from the skeleton to the cavity, being full of or underfill by the material of liquid or other similar cerebral tissue), the wave beam of transmission may transform back into longitudinal wave.When target 46 was skull, this was an example.Accompanying drawing 7 illustrates the configuration similar to accompanying drawing 6, assembles separately wave beam 44,45 respectively in focus point/zone 48 but have two transmitters 42,43.Transmitter 42,43 may be the different piece of single arrangement, or the difference of entity, for example different arrangements, different single element or single element and arrangement.Accompanying drawing 8 illustrates the configuration similar to accompanying drawing 7, but also has the incident ultrasound wave 50 that produces longitudinal wave in target 28.Also can use this configuration, for example transmitter 42,43 can provide the power of the needs except that power.Arrange 14 longitudinal wave is provided, transmitter 42,43 is preferably as a part.Accompanying drawing 9 explain the linear transmitter 52 that replaces target 46 use (for example, single element or element arrangements) and the capacity of non-focusing ultrasonic energy of transmission be used for the treatment of application (for example, cerebrovascular barrier (BBB) passage, release or activation medicine, gene or other material etc.).As shown in the figure, transmitter is that to be used to provide wave beam 54, wave beam 54 be about the normal of the transmitter 52 of target 46 and between longitudinal wave and shearing wave critical angle for machinery location.

In operation, with reference to the accompanying drawings 26, further 2-9 with reference to the accompanying drawings, the processor 110 that is used for that the target of using system 10 is diagnosed comprises the step of demonstration.For the purpose that can imitate, target is assumed to be the skull 28 shown in the accompanying drawing 2, although these values just can imitate, within the scope of the invention and unrestricted.Processor 210 just can not imitateed not restriction, and can change, and for example increase by step, deletes or rearranges.Step 212 and 214 is similar to the discussion of front.

In step 216, target 28 need the position by imaging.Image device 12 and/or 13 is used for needing the imaging at position, and preferably, volume on every side so that can assess the degree of accuracy that the utilization ultrasound wave focuses on.

In step 218, the incident ultrasonic energy that is used for the treatment of application is carried out suitable correction.If showing the ultrasonic energy of utilization, the image that image device 13 (be suitable for imaging and treatment is provided if perhaps arrange 14, then use image device 12) produces to adjust, then controller 20 corresponding actions.Image may be analyzed, for example, notes whether the position of needs is arranged, and just need the position to be heated, if what situation is arranged, just need determine whether to be less than ideal ultrasound wave.For example, ultrasonic energy is poor focuses on or in the place of mistake or too narrow or be significantly less than or be higher than power or the like far away.Controller 20 can cause wave beam, phase place by adjusting excitation of controller 20, amplitude, delay and or frequency modification, the energy that excitation is used according to the image adjustment of analyzing/corrections produces the focusing and the energy of needs in the specific region of the needs of target 28.Controller 20 also can cause positioner 23 to change the relation of direction and the arrangement 14 relevant with target 28 as required.Preferably, adjust before using whole energy to treat (for example, but heating ablation or other non-reversal procedures).For example, can use all energy of little energy, according to the initial decision of whether adjusting and how adjusting that image has been done, adjust, all treatment energy apply to arrange 14 then.On the basis of treatment development, during the application of using all treatment energy, also can adjust.

Experiment and experimental result

Use identical plastic surface model measurement algorithm so that the ideal isotropic case that changes easily according to experiment to be provided.Table 1 is summed up the relevant value of listing plastics.Ultrasound source is that 1.5MHz focuses on converter, 12 centimetres of the diameters of this converter, and radius of curvature equals 16 centimetres.The source function of algorithm is returned near the pressure field of the planar laboratory measurement the source by geometric focusing projection obtains.The area of pressure field surpasses 30 * 30,0.5 millimeter of spatial resolution.The algorithm that numeral is described among adnexa A and the B is used in the propagation of source function in plastics.The source is 121 millimeters to the planar distance of test, and plastic interior surfaces is 61 millimeters to the distance in source.

Same methodology is applicable to human external cranium pre-(skull) propagation.In following laboratory measurement, water uses as the inner surface and the boundary material between the outer surface of skull.The ultrasound source of wearing bone measurement is that 0.74MHz focuses on converter, 8 centimetres of the diameters of this converter, and radius of curvature equals 15 centimetres.

Digital algorithm by

Language is carried out, and uses matrix fundamental operation layer.Complete operation on 1GHz AMD-Based PC.Typical scenario is to use the complex matrix of passing through 5 layer 128 * 128 in about 30 seconds time to calculate.

Table 1

Material	Density (kg/m 3)	Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) L	Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene S	Chlorine (m/s)	Caesium (m/s)	Thickness (* 10 -3m)
							Plastics 1	1187	45	50	2185	1330	11.8
Skull 0	NA
							Skull
1	2186	85	90	2850	1400	5.29
							Water	1000	0	0	1486	NA	Variable

Laboratory measurement

The record of skull and density

Being used for mimic data can obtain from the digitized human tau contouring that uses CT imaging (Siemens, SOMATOM, AH82 Bone Kernal) to obtain.Can from above-mentioned image, obtain the coordinate on skull surface and the variation of internal density.Every interval 1mm uses the visual field scanning of 200mm * 200mm.The Merlon stereochemical structure is attached to being secured in the arrangement with the permission skull around each sample and being that mechanical navigation system and CT imaging provide reference.Can only in the skeleton within the beam angle of having considered the interface, carry out result of calculation.The structure and the appearance information of indivedual braincaps obtain by combining image, and this information is returned the strength ratio of density of material.

The operating limit wave filter is marked in the image along the inner surface of skull and the coordinate points of outer surface, and limit wave filter is along each root linear search of imaging the inside and outmost＞1.4gm/cm ³Density.Schematic three dimensional views in conjunction with the surfaces externally and internally of the some imaging head bone surface of continuous imaging.The PEL density of each image also is combined into three-dimensional arrangement and is used for subsequent processes.

Phase algorithm depends on and indivedual relevant localized accurate knowledge of skull of element of arranging.Finish above-mentioned task in practice, the converter equivalent constructions is translated and be converted into to phase algorithm with the skull data from the CT equivalent constructions, also the converter equivalent constructions can be translated and be converted into to skull from the equivalent constructions of mechanical navigation system.Procedure operation uses three labellings that are positioned on the polycarbonate structure attached on the skull.Can the be positioned system mechanics identification of above-mentioned location, precision reaches about 0.1mm.Algorithm produces the spin matrix that is plotted in the peer system.

Ultrasonic Method for Measuring

The propagation experimentation check digit algorithm that in water tank, carries out.Measurement method in water tank degas and deionized water in carry out and pad rubber with inhibitory reflex.The converter that clearly is used for special measurement produces ultrasonic signal and is gathered difluoroethylene (PVDF) pin type hydrophone (Precision Acoustics, Dorchester, UK) reception.Guarantee strong reception when keeping degree of accuracy, diameter is used for the measurement of 1.5MHz for the 0.2mm hydrophone, and diameter is used for the measurement of 0.74MHz for the 0.5mm hydrophone.Less hydrophone with upper frequency is used to help to reduce the directivity of hydrophone and help to stop phase average.Skull (or plastic plate) is placed between hydrophone and the converter with the angle that is rotated stepping motors (made by Velmexof Bloomfied, New York) control.Three-dimensional linear positioning system (Velmex, Bloomfied, Model VP9000) allows hydrophone to be used for the measured area centre scan of the axial symmetrical peripheral of converter.Give power amplitude (made by ENI, of Rochester, NewYork, Model 2100L) by the converter signal provision that AWG (Arbitrary Waveform Generator) (UK, Model 305 for made by Wavetek, of Norwich) is sent.By digital oscilloscope (made by Textronix, ofWilsonville, Oregon, Model 380) record before, the voltage response of hydrophone is by accurate acoustics preamplifier and amplifier (made by PreambleInstruments, of Beaverton, Oregon, Model 1820) send.Download to PC (PC) and calculate the amplitude and the phase place of measuring position by general purpose interface bus (GPIB) control waveform according to the fast Fourier transformation algorithm of signal, and in the driving frequency value of converter.

11.8mm plastic plate be placed in the experimental box and converter axially to deserving to be called the measurement transfer voice, the positive 121mm of distance.Every increase is measured acoustic pressure once for 1 ° between-70 ° and 70 °.Amplitude by contrasting each angular orientation and the concordance between phase evaluation measured waveform and the analog waveform.Mimic source function is not have the pressure field measured value that obtains by converter in the water of the plate that exists.

In order to wear bone measurement, carry out two different installation procedures.Accompanying drawing 11 shows first program, and this program is designed to allow to measure in the position of the almost fixed of skull with different angle of incidence.Accompanying drawing 12 shows second configuration, allows to measure with the high incident angle with the good registration between converter and the skull, still is not easy to the motion of skull.Initial measurement relies on the skull amplitude to check angle, whether surpasses vertical Snell ' s critical angle in order to determine that amplitude peak exists.Circulating between 0 ° and 55 ° in the skull cross section, has the axial circulation normal and aim at converter axially and consistent with the straight line that passes skeleton.Maximum angle is the obtainable maximum of described setting for 55 °.

The result

Plastic pattern

Accompanying drawing 13 shows the dependency between measurement field and the prediction field.For reference, this figure also comprises the amplitude that the numerical calculation when ignoring shearing wave draws.The amplitude of all three parts of curves and phase place are extremely mated when the angle of incidence that is lower than 31 °, and 31 ° is the longitudinal wave critical angle of flashlight spectrum peak.Yet, when surpassing above-mentioned angle, only can not predict second local maximum from the pure elasticity wave amplitude in the sampling range with vertical simulation.The main source of the error between measurement data and the analog data may be owing to the inadequate estimation to mimic shearing wave absorptance causes.Path is got maximum when high angle, and above-mentioned influence is more remarkable.Find extraordinary dependency between the ultrasound wave phase place of the simulation of all angles and measurement, but will remove the transitional region between 20 ° and 30 °, wave-amplitude is near its minima in this zone.Ignore above-mentioned zone, 76% reservation value of calculation point departs from measured value π/6 radians, or still less.

Deep measurement

By the rotation skull, can observe local pressure transmission maximum at 32 °, on the basis of about 30 ° vertical critical angle, the shearing that may cause almost all passing skeleton is propagated.Find in the measurement data of accompanying drawing 14A-B that wave source is the further evidence of shearing wave when higher incident angle, the angle that accompanying drawing 14A-B shows depends on wave phase.Shown in accompanying drawing 14B, when being lower than 26 °, the behavior of phase place and pure longitudinal wave is extremely similar.Between 26 ° and 32 °, on slope, exist to slow down, this shows that dual function from shearing wave and longitudinal wave is in a certain zone.Surpass 32 ° slope near collinear and minus be since the shearing velocity of sound less than the velocity of sound in the water.

Use same installation configuration, when resolution is 1mm, on 30mm * 30mm area, different angle of incidence is carried out field measurement.Accompanying drawing 15 display field immediately after the incident angle of 0 °, 15 ° and 35 ° passes skull shows that comparing the signal that passes through skull as shearing wave with 0 ° of propagation with 15 ° of vertical patterns has less distortion.

The second cover measurement scheme is carried out in skull, and skull is placed on in the reference frame relevant with the CT imaging space.Although have only the estimated value of a shear wave velocity to be used for research, the data of accurate spatial registration and vertical pattern allow vertical critical angle to be identified.Skull is aligned to guarantee that transmitting signal forms the shearing propagation in skeleton.Accompanying drawing 16 shows the example of the 32 ° localized skull outer surfaces of determining according to simulation algorithm relevant with axial symmetry.Although have error in simulation with between measuring, simulation can be discerned the focusing shearing wave of existence.

Carry out embodiment with the skull that is placed in the reference frame, allow relevant with the CT imaging space.The data of accurate spatial registration and vertical pattern allow vertical critical angle to be identified.Have only the estimated value of a shear wave velocity to be used for research.Skull is aligned to guarantee that transmitting signal forms the shearing propagation in skeleton.The linear measurement scheme of accompanying drawing 7 display fields, the 32 ° localized skull outer surfaces relevant with axial symmetry.Although have error in simulation with between measuring, simulation can be discerned the focusing shearing wave of the beam shape with the measurement scheme of being similar to of existence even so.

Diagnostic application-deep imaging

For the bone imaging is worn in formation, the signal of reflection second time of propagating is returned and passes skull, returns to have measurable signal, preferably has less distortion.From 1MHzPanametrics image probe and reception of impulse amplifier analytic signal.Nylon nut (c=2.6 * 10 ⁶Mm/s Z=2.9M Rayl) is used as imageable target.Nut is suspended on the top of water tank bottom plate by tiny wire needle.The direction of propagation is at first vertical with skull to form the imaging of about 33 ° of angles acquisition A molded lines with skeleton then by making.

For overcoming loss, the about 1MHz of strong especially signal attenuation uses emission to pass through the new incentive program of a series of expansion pulses of skull.Pulse repeats in frequency range and the digital combination of signal.In the test that can imitate, 10 cycles of passing through skull of the frequency of every interval 0.01MHz emission in the 0.5MHz-2MHz scope.Accompanying drawing 17A shows above-mentioned a series of measurement.Then signal is obtained average weight divided by peak value and realize standardization, with the more weak frequency signal of emphasizing to show as accompanying drawing 17B.Survey subsequently, the wave filter of the summation of all time signals and use coupling recovers structural interface.Accompanying drawing 18A display result signal.The accompanying drawing proof has significant improvement with single pulsion phase ratio in location and signal amplitude.Standard spectrum intersects with frequency domain should allow location, better interface after the wave filter of using coupling.In addition, the vibration of pressure driving converter might increase the broadband of converter at the high-end or low side of converter response.Simultaneously, the effective power of bonded digital signal is considerably beyond the power that is obtained by single pulse safety.Therefore, the significant improvement of signal noise ratio is possible.

Then being to use mid frequency after the imaging of A molded lines is the C-scanning imagery experiment of the focusing broadband converter arrangement of 0.91MHz.Be drawing image, the 1MHz converter is attached on the stepping motors positioner.The converter diameter is 12.7mm, describes the resolution limit of current experiment.The scanning that at first obtains nylon nut in water obtains surpassing the area of 20mm * 20mm, is passing bone fragments near normal direction then, at last in the scanning that obtains nylon nut near the angle of 33 degree.Axially the radiation information of (time) and beam steering makes up and the assessment three-dimensional imaging in conjunction with allowing.Accompanying drawing 19 shows the target imaging segment of persistent period.The spatial resolution of image is subjected to the restriction of the diameter of existing imaging converter, and existing imaging converter is surveyed the directly backscatter data on element.

Expect that less broadband provides the considerable improvement to imaging definition.Water scanning and the distortion between cranium scanning to small part are caused by the method that image obtains program.Action at the mobile converter in skull surface causes that extra distortion is because the spatial variations of skull thickness and acoustic properties.If narrow ultrasound beamformer directly passes skull, error correction may be not necessarily.If use large-area arrangement, just can adopt non-wound error correction algorithms.

Non-wound phase error corrections can apply to recover to pass the focus of skull.In such case, can use the CT scan registration information predicted phase distortion of external skull carefully.But the phase distortion that image hardware also may be whole can be by the reflected signal prediction of skull bottom.Pip plays the effect of essence transmitter in brain, and can be used for the focusing of brain any point.The success of said method can improve the demand that focuses on and eliminate step by step the head CT scan.In the practice, have mid frequency converter arrangement and at least 100 elements between about 0.5MHz and 2MHz and may be used to assist in ensuring that competent beam steering ability.

The improvement of signal can quantize according to the measured value of signal to noise ratio (snr) and minimizing target distortion and accurate target localization.Equipment is installed (for example, shown in the accompanying drawing 2) and is preferentially used the high-speed switch multiplexer to allow wave recording, and waveform is from the multichannel that crosses arrangement.Being presented in the accompanying drawing 20 is the image comparison of 0 degree and 33 degree angle of incidence, is presented at the image noise of 33 degree angles minimizings.

Diagnostic application-empty imaging

Wear the application of bone method and not only can use and brain, can also be in skull use in the hole chamber of infected full of liquid.With reference to the accompanying drawings 21, for adaptability is described, the plastic pattern 130 of development provides the cavity 134 that can be full of and send draining liq (water).The mid frequency Panametrics converter 132 of actuating 1MHz produce pulses transmit pass model 130:(1 in one of following four positions) high angle ultrasound wave incident (＞45 °) to be to propagate in the model 130 that causes shearing wave and have the cavity 134 that is full of air; (2) incident of high angle ultrasound wave water-filled empty 134; (3) low angle ultrasound wave incident (＜5 °) also provides the propagation of nearly all longitudinal wave in the model 130 with the cavity 134 that is full of air; (4) low angle incident water-filled empty 134;

The advantage of the example of the empty imaging of use shearing wave is embodied in the experimental result of accompanying drawing 22A-B demonstration.Accompanying drawing 22A shows the theatrical difference of the time history of the high angle signal when the cavity is full of air and full of liquid.Contrast, vertical result that accompanying drawing 22B shows is complicated in the case that is full of air and liquid of the signal message by the reflection in additional skeleton self scope, makes the accurate diagnosis of the image space difficulty that becomes.Above-mentioned conclusion suggestion: shear mode can be used as in a kind of definite hole chamber and exists the method for liquid to be applied to clinical in practice.

Discuss

Initial simulation and experimental measurements show: the concentration ultrasonic wave beam that links up can be used as pure shearing wave and transmits in skull.When driving frequency during near 0.7MHz, it is to be found similar to longitudinal propagation because the shearing in the skeleton is propagated that peak amplitude passes skull, and driving frequency is higher than 0.7MHz sometimes.And the shearing wave experience reduces the fact of whole phase shift and determines the simplification of using in the large area region and expand the ability that non-wound is worn the bone focus adjustment method in brain.Be lower than vertical pattern although shear amplitude, the evidence surface is when propagating the regional area that passes through skeleton, and all wave beams may suffer less distortion.And shear mode suffers less phase distortion, and the chances are because the similarity of the velocity of sound in shear wave velocity and the water.The similarity that discovery can be compared in soft tissue.Accurate more dependency between analog data and the measurement data can obtain by the measuring method of using shear wave velocity in the more correct skull.

There are several possibilities (although the present invention to above-mentioned application without limits) that are intended to wear the direct indication of use shearing wave in the bone application that have.At first, shearing wave is propagated and may be affixed to the non-wound of improving focusing and pre-exist when high incident angle and wear in the algorithm of bone photo position.This is extremely important when focusing is surperficial near skull, uses high angle incident.The second, shearing wave is propagated can apply to wear the bone imaging, and narrow ultrasound beamformer directly passes skull with the high incident angle of having a mind to.The 3rd, shearing wave is propagated to shift by frequency Doppler potentially and is surveyed flowing in the brain.All above-mentioned technology can be carried out in the auxiliary mhz frequency scope of discussing.

Other embodiment is within the scope and purport of appended claims.For example, because software feature, above-mentioned functions can realize by using software, hardware, firmware, hard coded or their combination.Feature is carried out function and also can physically be located in different positions, comprises being assigned with so that partial function is carried out at different physical locations.Further, if use the different pulse with different frequency and phase place, each pulse needn't only have a frequency and a phase place; The pulse of one or more can have a more than frequency and/or amplitude.And the incident ultrasonic energy need not be aimed at object, and vertical critical angle above is in order to produce shearing wave.Incident angle can be less than Snell ' s angle, for example, and the surface normal of object and/or the skeleton of object.Yet, preferably,, can help to produce the quantity of the shearing wave energy that needs like this with the angle guiding energy incident between the critical angle of longitudinal wave and shearing wave.

Adnexa A

Pressure amplitude calculates by the velocity potential of describing in solves equation formula (1), (2), (3) and (8).Obtain after the equational linear algebra simultaneous solution, may show that shearing wave and the longitudinal wave amplitude in the skeleton provided by following equation:

$A_S^{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\θ}}^I\right)=\frac{-4A_L^I{c}^{I^2}{k}^{I^2}{k}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{\mathrm{\ρ}}^I{\cos \mathrm{\θ}}^I\cos {\mathrm{\θ}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{\sin \mathrm{\θ}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}/k_S^{\mathrm{II}}}{D_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\θ}}^I\right){\mathrm{\ρ}}^{\mathrm{II}}{\cos \mathrm{\θ}}^I+{c_{\mathrm{II}}}^2{k}^I{\mathrm{\ρ}}^{\mathrm{II}}{C}_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\θ}}^I\right)}---\left(9\right)$

With

$A_L^{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=\frac{2A_L^I{c}^{{\mathrm{II}}^2}{k}^{I^2}{k}_S^{\mathrm{II}}{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^I{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}^I{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}/k_L^{\mathrm{II}}}{D_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right){\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{II}}\cos {\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I+c^{{\mathrm{II}}^2}{k}^I{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^I{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L{B}_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)}---\left(10\right)$

Wherein

$B_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=k_S^{\mathrm{II}}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}{2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}+{2k}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}},---\left(11\right)$

$C_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=k_S{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}+{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="k\; L\; sin"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">k</figure-callout>}}_L{\sin }_{}^{}{2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}},---\left(12\right)$

$D_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=k_L^{\mathrm{II}}{k}_S^{\mathrm{II}}({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="c\; L\; II"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">c</figure-callout>}}_{L{\mathrm{II}}^{}}^{{}^2}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}{2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}-{2c}_S^{{\mathrm{II}}^2}{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}\sin ({\mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}-{2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}})),---\left(13\right)$

Be understood that the function of θ with transmission of angle, relevant with Snell ' s law,

$\frac{{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}^I}{c^I}=\frac{{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}}{c_L^{\mathrm{II}}}=\frac{{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{\mathrm{II}}}{c_S^{\mathrm{II}}}.---\left(14\right)$

Transmission is advanced the light wave amplitude of brain from incident longitudinal wave and shearing wave, with

$A_{\mathrm{LS}}^{\mathrm{III}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=\frac{-\left({2A}_S^{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)c_S^2{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="k\; S"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">k</figure-callout>}}_S^{}{\mathrm{\&rho;}}_{\mathrm{sk}}{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{{\mathrm{II}}^{\&prime;}}(k_S{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{{\mathrm{II}}^{\&prime;}}+{2k}_L{\sin \mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{{\mathrm{II}}^{\&prime;}}){\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="sin"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">sin</figure-callout>}2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_S^{{\mathrm{II}}^{\&prime;}}\right)/k^{\mathrm{III}}}{D\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right){\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{II}}\cos {\mathrm{\&theta;}}^{\mathrm{III}}+c^{{\mathrm{III}}^2}{k}^{\mathrm{III}}{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{III}}{C}_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)}---\left(15\right)$

With

$A_{\mathrm{LL}}^{\mathrm{III}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)=\frac{{2A}_L^{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right){\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="k\; L\; II"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">k</figure-callout>}}_{L{\mathrm{II}}^{}}^{{}^2}{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{II}}{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L(c_L^{{\mathrm{II}}^2}-{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="c\; S\; II"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">c</figure-callout>}}_{S{\mathrm{II}}^{}}^{{}^2}+{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="c\; S\; II"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">c</figure-callout>}}_{S{\mathrm{II}}^{}}^{{}^2}{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="cos"\; filenames="C2004800170900053H1.png,C2004800170900054H2.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cos</figure-callout>}2\mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}})B_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)/k^{\mathrm{III}}}{{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{II}}{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}^{\mathrm{III}}{D}_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)+c^{{\mathrm{III}}^2}{k}^{\mathrm{III}}{\mathrm{\&rho;}}^{\mathrm{III}}{\cos \mathrm{\&theta;}}_L^{\mathrm{II}}{B}_{\mathrm{II}}\left({\mathrm{\&theta;}}^I\right)}.---\left(16\right)$

Equate.

Accessories B

No matter layer with layer between whether parallel, transfer function is still write as the analytic expression of sealing.Because thickness intersects with the Z axle, Zn, the density of velocity of sound Cn and each layer (n=I, II, III), the vertical and laminar surface of unit vector

By calculating.Given wave vector

Opticpath from (0,0, Z ₀) any two distances that surface interface is passed

$\left|{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{R}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}\right|=\frac{({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{z}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}-{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{r}}_{\mathrm{nxy}})\&CenterDot;{\hat{n}}_{n+1}}{{\hat{k}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}\&CenterDot;{\hat{n}}_{n+1}},---\left(17\right)$

Wherein, described as accompanying drawing 2,

Be the vector that stretches along layer from the Z axle to light the intercept on layer.Along the unit vector in wave vector path by

Given.In addition, understand the frequency that depends on the ray vectors orientation.Thereby conclude that the light position vector should equal ${\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{R}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}=\left|{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{R}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}\right|{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}.$ Although, known primary wave vector orientation

The light wave vector direction of ground floor and subsequent layer must use relational expression to calculate.

$\frac{1}{c_n}({\hat{n}}_{n+1}\&times;{\hat{k}}_{\mathrm{nxy}})=\frac{1}{c_{n+1}}({\hat{n}}_{n+1}\&times;{\hat{k}}_{n+1\mathrm{xy}}),---\left(18\right)$

This is the conclusion of Snell ' s law in three dimensions, requires incident illumination vector, transmission light vector and normal vector all at grade in three dimensions.Transmission light vector on equation (18) the right can be by using on the equation both sides

Intersect and obtain.Use crossed product relation can be shown as

${\hat{k}}_{n+1\mathrm{xy}}=\frac{c_{n+1}}{c_n}({\hat{k}}_{\mathrm{nxy}}-{\cos \mathrm{\&gamma;}}_{i_{n+1\mathrm{xy}}}{\hat{n}}_{n+1})+{\cos \mathrm{\&gamma;}}_{i_{n+1\mathrm{xy}}}{\hat{n}}_{n+1}---\left(19\right)$

n ^ThThe layer incident unit's wave vector with (n-1) ^StLayer transmission light wave equates.Except 0 shown in the accompanying drawing 2 ^ThBeyond the layer, for calculation equation (17) is found

The given thickness that crosses each layer of Z axle, light With the point of the common factor on the surface of n+1 layer be:

${\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{r}}_{n+1}={\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{R}}_n+{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{r}}_n-{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{z}}_n.---\left(20\right)$

On a series of N shell, the light phase place arrives N ^ThThe plane

It is the summation of each path of the given phase place effect of equation (17).Space phase is on the Z plane, and is relevant with the light phase place of N

${\mathrm{\&Phi;}}_N({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},\mathrm{\&omega;})={\mathrm{\&Phi;}}_R({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},\mathrm{\&omega;})-2\mathrm{\&pi;}{k}_N{r}_N{\sin \mathrm{\&gamma;}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},$ In accompanying drawing 2 illustrated.With polar angle γ _Oxy(ω) leaving the light of initial plane will be with by the N-1 unit vector

Determine new direction γ _Nxy(ω) arrive the Z plane.

$\mathrm{\&phi;}({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},\mathrm{\&omega;},z)=\mathrm{\&phi;}({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{0\mathrm{xy}},\mathrm{\&omega;},z_0)+\underset{n=0}{\overset{N-1}{\mathrm{\&Sigma;}}}{k}_n\frac{({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{z}}_n-{\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{r}}_n)\&CenterDot;{\hat{n}}_{n+1}}{{\hat{k}}_n\&CenterDot;{\hat{n}}_{n+1}}-{\sin \mathrm{\&gamma;}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}}\left(\mathrm{\&omega;}\right),---\left(21\right)$

Set

Phase place (k _x, k _y, ω, z ₀) in initial plane.

The pressure of Z layer plane can be expressed with carry-over factor according to the light phase place of equation (21) and be provided by Page 38 (22).

$\tilde{p}({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},\mathrm{\&omega;},z)=\tilde{p}({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{0\mathrm{xy}},\mathrm{\&omega;},z_0)e^{-i\sin {\mathrm{\&gamma;}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}}\left(\mathrm{\&omega;}\right)}\left[\underset{n=1}{\overset{N-1}{\mathrm{\&Pi;}}}{T}_{\mathrm{nxy}}\left(\mathrm{\&omega;}\right)e^{{\mathrm{i\&phi;}}_N({\stackrel{\&RightArrow;}{k}}_{\mathrm{Nxy}},\mathrm{\&omega;},z)}\right],---\left(22\right)$

Wherein, the item of equation (22) the right square brackets the inside can be considered to draw from k ₀The space is to new k _nThe space operator.In existing problem, amplitude, T are by equation (15) and (16) and summation angle γ _NxyProvide.In practice, drafting needs interpolation to produce linear space matrix Z.

Claims (28)

1. arrive the system that the target site of a certain object is diagnosed this object by the ultrasonic signal that discharge to use shearing wave, system comprises:

Transceiver is used to launch ultrasonic energy through configuration;

Guiding device, be coupled with transceiver, be used for causing the part of the ultrasonic energy main beam of transmission to incide the bone surface of object so that produce shearing wave at skeleton, thereby the energy in the shearing wave forms the substantial portion of ultrasonic energy at target site from the ultrasonic energy of the part main beam of wave source; And

Analytical equipment with transceiver coupling, for diagnostic purpose, is analyzed the energy that returns from target site from the part main beam.

2. according to the system of claim 1, wherein guiding device causes the part main beam to incide bone surface with first angle, and first angle is between the vertical critical angle relevant with skeleton with skeleton between the relevant shearing critical angle.

3. according to the system of claim 2, wherein guiding device comprises that at least one is with lower member: (1) positioner, this positioner is configured to mechanically and guides the normal direction relevant with wave source with first angle towards bone surface, (2) phase/delay actuator, wherein transceiver comprises a plurality of radiating elements, thereby the phase place and delay electrically controlled manipulation at least the first main beam that are used to regulate a plurality of at least radiating elements through the phase/delay actuator of configuration, and (3) drive modulator, wherein transceiver comprises a plurality of radiating elements, is used for guiding main beam as required at different time driving radiating element thereby drive modulator.

4. according to the system of claim 3, wherein positioner at least (1) in a fixed manner with object and transceiver coupling so that normal with first angle towards the surface, and (2) machinery adjust transceiver so that normal with first angle towards the surface.

5. according to the system of claim 3, wherein transceiver comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, described system comprises controller, controller is configured and is coupled to cause at least a portion transceiver emission ultrasonic energy, handle the sign that returns energy in the energy of emission determining the location at least a portion surface relevant, and only excite those main beams partly to be directed to the element of the wave source on the part surface between vertical critical angle and the shearing wave critical angle at least with transceiver.

6. according to the system of claim 5, its middle controller is handled the sign of the energy that returns to form the image at least a portion surface.

7. according to the system of claim 1, described system comprises the controller that is coupled to transceiver, and controller excites transceiver, with the generation main beam, thereby energy is transmitted into target site, and wherein the surface of object is the outer surface of object skull.

8. according to the system of claim 1, described system comprises the controller that is coupled to transceiver, and controller excites transceiver, thereby produces main beam in the pulse of a plurality of different frequencies and amplitude.

9. system according to Claim 8, wherein different frequencies is in the frequency range of 0.5MHz-5MHz.

10. according to the system of claim 9, wherein different frequencies is in the frequency range of 1MHz-3MHz.

11. system according to Claim 8, wherein the pulse duration is in the scope in 1 cycle-100 cycle.

12. system according to Claim 8, the attenuation that wherein different amplitude compensations is different, described different attenuation join with different frequency dependences.

13. the system according to claim 1 comprises controller, this controller and transceiver coupling and process configuration are used to excite transceiver, thereby in the multicycle pulse, produce main beam, have one of different frequency, out of phase and various amplitude at least at least in two cycles.

14. according to the system of claim 1, wherein whether analytical equipment provides target site to the indication of small part full of liquid.

15. be used to discharge the system of the ultrasonic signal of use shearing wave to the target site of object, system comprises:

Frequency-converter device is used to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy;

Controller and frequency-converter device are coupled and excite frequency-converter device to launch ultrasonic energy to object; And

Positioner and frequency-converter device coupling and process configuration are guaranteed: the part surface of shining skeleton from a part first main beam of at least a portion frequency-converter device with incident angle, incident angle is between normal incidence and the shearing grazing incidence angle relevant with object, so that the ultrasonic energy of first main beam produces shearing wave in object, thereby the energy of first main beam can arrive target site, and the energy of shearing wave forms the substantial portion of ultrasonic energy at target site;

Wherein Pei Zhi controller is used to impel the following at least energy of frequency-converter device emission:

Comprise the single pulse in a plurality of cycles, at least wherein two cycles have one of different at least frequencies, out of phase and various amplitude; And

A plurality of pulses, different pulses have different frequency and amplitude; And

Its middle controller is analyzed the ultrasonic energy from first main beam, and this ultrasonic energy returns and received so that determine diagnostic message from the energy that returns by frequency-converter device from target site.

16. system according to claim 15, wherein frequency-converter device comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, and its middle controller suppresses one of following at least exciting through configuration, (1) a part of frequency-converter device produces second main beam that incides the part surface of object with second angle, second angle is less than vertical critical angle, (2) a part of frequency-converter device produces the 3rd main beam that incides the part surface of object with the third angle degree, and the third angle degree is greater than the shearing wave critical angle.

17. according to the system of claim 15, wherein different frequencies is in the frequency range of 0.1MHz-5MHz.

18. according to the system of claim 17, wherein different frequencies is in the frequency range of 0.31MHz-3MHz.

19. according to the system of claim 17, wherein the pulse duration is in the scope in 1 cycle-100 cycle.

20. according to the system of claim 15, wherein positioner and object coupling, thus machinery is determined relevant with object at least wave source position as required.

21. according to the system of claim 15, wherein converter comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, wherein positioner is used to influence the phase place of element with electrically controlled manipulation first main beam.

22. according to the system of claim 15, wherein converter comprises a plurality of elements that are used to launch ultrasonic energy, and its middle controller influence element excite timing with electrically controlled manipulation first main beam.

23. according to the system of claim 15, whether its middle controller provides target site to the indication of small part full of liquid, this indication is depended on from returning the diagnostic message that the energy middle controller is determined.

24. system according to claim 15, its middle controller causes second main beam irradiation target site, thereby stimulate the action in target site, and its middle controller provides the indication of the action of target site, this indication is depended on from returning the diagnostic message that the energy middle controller is determined.

25. according to the system of claim 24, wherein first and second main beams have different frequencies.

26. system according to claim 15, target site stimulates action in target site thereby its middle controller causes the irradiation of the second and the 3rd main beam, its middle controller provides the indication of the action of target site, and this indication is depended on from returning the diagnostic message that the energy middle controller is determined.

27. according to the system of claim 15, its middle controller produces the image of at least a portion target site from return energy.

28. according to the system of claim 27, wherein target site is that the range of linearity and the controller of object produces linear image from return energy.

Images