INTELLIGENT TISSUE MIMICKING ULTRASONIC PHANTOM AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME

摘要

An intelligent tissue mimicking ultrasonic phantom, which is a temperature-sensitive polymer gel having the following characteristics: acoustic velocity: 1500-1550 m/s; acoustic impedance: (1.50-1.60)×106 Pa·s/m; density: 1.01-1.06 g/cm3; and a denaturation temperature around which there is a reversible phase transformation between the opaque phase and the transparent phase. Said gel can be a polymer of isopropylacrylamide (NIPA). Said ultrasonic phantom has a transparent appearance, and an adjustable thermal denaturation temperature; the thermal denaturation region of the ultrasonic phantom is distinct and has a well-defined boundary; the material of the phantom is stable and deterioration-resistant, and can ensure the consistency of the quality; the phantom is thermal denaturable with the appearance thereof turning white, while the phantom recovers when the heat is removed, such that it can be used repeatedly.

主权项

1. Method of using an intelligent tissue mimicking ultrasonic phantom in showing a focal region of a focused ultrasound comprising:
(a) providing a transparent intelligent tissue mimicking ultrasonic phantom, characterized in that said phantom is a temperature-sensitive polymer gel having the following acoustic properties and other physical characteristics: acoustic velocity: 1500-1550 m/s; acoustic impedance: (1.50-1.60)×106 Pa·s/m; density: 1.01-1.06 g/cm3; and a denaturation temperature, namely, a Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) or a Volume Phase Transition Temperature at which the volume of the phantom changes, adjustable by changing ratios of raw materials, around which there is a reversible phase transformation between an opaque phase and a transparent phase; (b) focusing ultrasound irradiation in the transparent intelligent tissue mimicking ultrasonic phantom at a focal point, whereby the ultrasonic phantom is stimulated by the overall effect of mechanical effects, thermal effects and cavity effects of the ultrasound, and the energy of the focused ultrasound reaches an intensity threshold causing the temperature at the focal point to reach the denaturation temperature, at which the internal molecular structure of the ultrasonic phantom changes from an original spatial arrangement conformation having a colorless and transparent appearance to a changed spatial conformation having a white or opaque appearance; whereby with continued deposition and diffusion of ultrasonic energy at the focal point, a focal region with white or opaque appearance increases accordingly such that a focal region of the focused ultrasound is clearly shown in the ultrasonic phantom; and (c) stopping the ultrasound irradiation, whereby with a dissipation of heat, and a corresponding decrease in temperature to below the denaturation temperature, the focal region with white or opaque appearance in the ultrasonic phantom reverts to the colorless and transparent appearance.