METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SPECTRO-ACOUSTICALLY ENHANCED ULTRASONIC DETECTION FOR DIAGNOSTICS

摘要

An apparatus for detecting a discontinuity in a material includes a source of electromagnetic radiation (110) has a wavelength and an intensity sufficient to induce an enhancement in contrast between a manifestation of an acoustic property in the material (10) and of the acoustic property in the discontinuity (20), as compared to when the material is not irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation. An acoustic emitter directs acoustic waves to the discontinuity in the material. The acoustic waves have a sensitivity to the acoustic property. An acoustic receiver (120) receives the acoustic waves generated by the acoustic emitter after the acoustic waves have interacted with the material (10) and the discontinuity (20). The acoustic receiver also generates a signal representative of the acoustic waves received by the acoustic receiver. A processor (130), in communication with the acoustic receiver and responsive to the signal generated by the acoustic receiver, is programmed to generate informational output about the discontinuity (134) based on the signal generated by the acoustic receiver.