Search Results (596)

Background: The relationship between spleen and bone marrow stiffness, and other features of abnormal myeloproliferation has long been described. However, the scientific knowledge in this area remains very superficial. This review evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of various ultrasound (US) methods in the assessment of neoplastic myeloproliferation using spleen stiffness measurement (SSM). Aim: To explore the diagnostic accuracy of US techniques in assessing spleen stiffness, determining which of them may be suitable for the diagnosis of myeloproliferative diseases in adults. Methods: The review included original retrospective or prospective studies published in the last five years (2019–2024) in peer-reviewed medical journals that reported receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) for SSM and the articles concerning the relation between SSM values and neoplastic myeloproliferation. The studies were identified through PubMed searches on 1 July and 1 December 2024. Quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results were tabulated according to the diagnostic method separately for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MNs) and for other clinical findings. Results: The review included 52 studies providing ROCs for SSM or compatibility between operators, and five studies covering the relation between SSM values and MNs. Conclusions: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), transient elastography (TE), and point shear wave elastography (p-SWE) are promising methods for measuring SSM that can be incorporated into the diagnosis, screening, and monitoring system in MNs. Full article

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the third leading cause of disability and death globally. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is the most commonly used imaging modality for the characterization of vulnerable plaques. The development of novel intravascular imaging and therapy devices requires dedicated open systems (e.g., for pulse sequences for imaging or thrombolysis), which are not currently available. This paper presents the development of a novel multifunctional FPGA-based pulser/receiver system for intravascular ultrasound imaging and therapy research. The open platform consists of a host PC with a Matlab-based software interface, an FPGA board, and a proprietary analog front-end board with state-of-the-art electronics for highly flexible transmission and reception schemes. The main features of the system include the capability to convert arbitrary waveforms into tristate bipolar pulses by using the PWM technique and by the direct acquisition of raw radiofrequency (RF) echo data. The results of a multicycle excitation pulse applied to a custom 550 kHz therapy transducer for acoustic characterization and a pulse-echo experiment conducted with a high-voltage, short-pulse excitation for a 19.48 MHz transducer are reported. Testing results show that the proposed system can be easily controlled to match the frequency and bandwidth required for different IVUS transducers across a broad class of applications. Full article

This study aims to address the challenges posed by uneven energy amplitude and a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the total focus imaging of coarse-crystalline elastic anisotropic materials. A novel method for acoustic field correction vector-coherent total focus imaging, based on the materials’ properties, is proposed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this method, a test specimen, an austenitic stainless steel nozzle weld, was employed. Seven side-drilled hole defects located at varying positions and depths, each with a diameter of 2 mm, were examined. An ultrasound simulation model was developed based on material backscatter diffraction results, and the scattering attenuation compensation factor was optimized. The acoustic field correction function was derived by combining acoustic field directivity with diffusion attenuation compensation. The phase coherence weighting coefficients were calculated, followed by image reconstruction. The results show that the proposed method significantly improves imaging amplitude uniformity and reduces the structural noise caused by the coarse crystal structure of austenitic stainless steel. Compared to conventional total focus imaging, the detection SNR of the seven defects increased by 2.34 dB to 10.95 dB. Additionally, the defect localization error was reduced from 0.1 mm to 0.05 mm, with a range of 0.70 mm to 0.88 mm. Full article

Background: Boiling histotripsy (BH) uses high-amplitude, short-pulse focused ultrasound to disrupt tissue mechanically. Oncolytic virotherapy using reovirus has shown modest clinical benefit in pancreatic cancer patients. Here, reovirus and BH were used to treat pancreatic tumours, and their effects on the immune transcriptome of these tumours were characterised. Methods: Orthotopic syngeneic murine pancreatic KPC tumours grown in immune-competent subjects, were allocated to control, reovirus, BH and combined BH and reovirus treatment groups. Acoustic cavitation was monitored using a passive broadband cavitation sensor. Treatment effects were assessed histologically with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Single-cell multi-omics combining whole-transcriptome analysis with the expression of surface-expressed immune proteins was used to assess the effects of treatments on tumoural leukocytes. Results: Acoustic cavitation was detected in all subjects exposed to BH, causing cellular disruption in tumours 6 h after treatment. Distinct cell clusters were identified in the pancreatic tumours 24 h post-treatment. These included neutrophils and cytotoxic T cells overexpressing genes associated with an N2-like and an exhaustion phenotype, respectively. Reovirus decreased macrophages, and BH decreased regulatory T cells compared to controls. The combined treatments increased neutrophils and the ratio of various immune cells to Treg. All treatments overexpressed genes associated with an innate immune response, while ultrasound treatments downregulated genes associated with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) complex. Conclusions: Our results show that the combined BH and reovirus treatments maximise the overexpression of genes associated with the innate immune response compared to that seen with each individual treatment, and illustrate the anti-immune phenotype of key immune cells in the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. Full article

This study establishes a multiphysics coupling model of acoustics, mechanics, and electrostatics through COMSOL, systematically explores the sound field distribution and stress–strain characteristics of tailing particles in sand silos under different frequencies of ultrasonic radiation, and proposes an optimization scheme for the sound field. The simulation results show that under 28 kHz ultrasonic radiation, the amplitude of sound pressure in the sand silo (173 Pa) is much lower than that at 40 kHz (1220 Pa), which can avoid damaging the original settlement mode of the tail mortar. At the same time, the periodic fluctuation amplitude of its longitudinal sound pressure is significantly greater than 25 kHz, which can promote settlement by enhancing particle tensile and compressive stress, achieving the best comprehensive effect. The staggered placement scheme of the transducer eliminates upward disturbance in the flow field by changing the longitudinal opposing sound field to oblique propagation, reduces energy dissipation, and increases the highest sound pressure level in the compartment to 130 dB. The sound pressure distribution density is significantly improved, further enhancing the settling effect. This study clarifies the correlation mechanism between ultrasound parameters and tailings’ settling efficiency, providing a theoretical basis for parameter optimization of ultrasound-assisted tailing treatment technology. Its results have important application value in the optimization of tailings settling in metal mine tailing filling. Full article

Medical phantoms are essential to imaging calibration, clinician training, and the validation of therapeutic procedures. However, most ultrasound phantoms prioritize acoustic realism while neglecting the viscoelastic and anisotropic properties of fibrous soft tissues. This gap limits their effectiveness in modeling realistic biomechanical behavior, especially in wave-based diagnostics and therapeutic ultrasound. Current materials like gelatine and agarose fall short in reproducing the complex interplay between the solid and fluid components found in biological tissues. To address this, we developed a soft, anisotropic composite whose dynamic mechanical properties resemble fibrous biological tissues such as skin and skeletal muscle. This material enables wave propagation and vibration studies in controllably anisotropic media, which are rare and highly valuable. We demonstrate the tunability of damping and stiffness aligned with fiber orientation, providing a versatile platform for modeling soft-tissue dynamics and validating biomechanical simulations. The phantoms achieved Young’s moduli of 7.16–11.04 MPa for skin and 0.494–1.743 MPa for muscles, shear wave speeds of 1.51–5.93 m/s, longitudinal wave speeds of 1086–1127 m/s, and sound absorption coefficients of 0.13–0.76 dB/cm/MHz, with storage, loss, and complex moduli reaching 1.035–6.652 kPa, 0.1831–0.8546 kPa, and 2.138–10.82 kPa. These values reveal anisotropic response patterns analogous to native tissues. This novel natural fibrous composite system affords sustainable, low-cost ultrasound phantoms that support both mechanical fidelity and acoustic realism. Our approach offers a route to next-gen tissue-mimicking phantoms for elastography, wave propagation studies, and dynamic calibration across diverse clinical and research applications. Full article

This study aimed to compare the efficiency of four extraction methods, hot water (HW), hot alkaline (HA), ultrasound-assisted water (UW), and ultrasound-assisted alkaline (UA), for extracting crude β-glucan from Lentinula edodes, focusing on yield, functionality, and antidiabetic potential. The response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction conditions. Among all methods, UW yielded the highest β-glucan content (34.51 ± 0.82 g/100 g dry extract), indicating enhanced extraction efficiency through acoustic cavitation. However, HW demonstrated the most preserved structural integrity, exhibiting superior and consistent swelling power across all tested pH conditions, which indicated an excellent water-holding capacity. The ability of HA to scavenge antioxidants was significantly higher than that of other methods, likely due to the enhanced release of phenolic residues under alkaline conditions. UA showed the most potent inhibition against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 1.46 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 1.21 mg/mL), demonstrating the potential for type 2 diabetes management. These results highlight that while UW is optimal for yield, HW preserves functional integrity, HA enhances antioxidant properties, and UA is promising for enzyme inhibition. The findings provide insights into tailoring extraction strategies for targeted functional or nutraceutical applications. Full article

Background: Percutaneous electrolysis (PE) is an emerging therapeutic approach for tendinopathies, applying a galvanic current through a dry-needling needle to induce regenerative tissue responses. However, current dosing strategies are often empirical and lack objective physiological feedback. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the echogenic effects of different galvanic current intensities on cadaveric tendon tissue using quantitative ultrasound. Methods: An ex vivo study was conducted on 29 cadaveric patellar tendon samples, each exposed to a single intensity (0–10 mA for 1 s). Quantitative ultrasound analysis was performed post-intervention, and echogenic variables were extracted using UZ eDosifier software. A composite variable, Electrolysis_UZ_Dose, was created via multiple regression to capture the overall ultrasound-visible changes. Data were analyzed using correlation, regression models, and dose–range comparisons. Results: An intensity-dependent response was observed in key echogenic parameters. Minimal changes occurred at low intensities (0–2 mA), whereas a progressive response emerged between 2 and 6 mA. Beyond 6 mA, a plateau effect suggested either tissue saturation or imaging limitations due to gas-induced acoustic shadowing. The Electrolysis_UZ_Dose variable strongly correlated with applied intensity (R² = 0.732). Conclusions: This study suggests an intensity-dependent echogenic effect of PE on tendon tissue in key ultrasound-derived parameters (A_Number, A_Area, A_Perimeter, A_Homogeneity, and A_ASM). However, as this study was conducted under experimental conditions with a single 1 s application per sample, the results should not be extrapolated to clinical practice without further validation. Full article

It has been theoretically suggested that the de Broglie wavelength of Li ions could become longer than the Li atomic distance in solid electrolytes under coherent acoustic phonons at room temperature when thermal noise is sufficiently suppressed by them. This suggests that some quantum effect of Li ions (not electrons) could appear under this condition, which could possibly result in the superconductivity of ⁶Li⁺ ions (bosons) in solid electrolytes at room temperature. A lower frequency of coherent phonons is better for this possibility. A mechanism for the generation of coherent phonons by repetitive pulsed-laser irradiation or possibly by ultrasound irradiation using a transducer is also discussed. Full article

The increasing demand for accurate and accessible medical imaging has driven efforts to develop technologies that overcome limitations associated with conventional imaging techniques, such as MRI and CT scans. This study presents the design and implementation of an electronic interface for acquiring signals from a piezoelectric ultrasound sensor with the aim of improving image reconstruction quality by addressing electromagnetic interference and speckle noise, two major factors that degrade image fidelity. The proposed interface is installed between the ultrasound transducer and acquisition system, allowing real-time signal capture without altering the medical equipment’s operation. Using a printed circuit board with 110-pin connectors, signals from individual piezoelectric elements were analyzed using an oscilloscope. Results show that noise amplitudes occasionally exceed those of the acoustic echoes, potentially compromising image quality. By enabling direct observation of these signals, the interface facilitates the future development of analog filtering solutions to mitigate high-frequency noise before digital processing. This approach reduces reliance on computationally expensive digital filtering, offering a low-cost, real-time alternative. The findings underscore the potential of the interface to enhance diagnostic accuracy and support further innovation in medical imaging technologies. Full article

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain tumor with limited therapeutic options, particularly due to the limited blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, can prolong drugs’ circulation time and enhance their accumulation within brain tumors, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes. Controlled drug release further contributes to high local drug concentrations while minimizing systemic toxicity. Oleic acid (OA), a monounsaturated fatty acid, is commonly used to enhance drug loading and increase lipid membrane fluidity. In this study, we developed liposomal formulations with optimized temozolomide (TMZ)’s loading and analyze its response to focused ultrasound (FUS). Methods: We synthetized OA-based liposomes with different lipid composition, performed physicochemical characterization (DLS, TEM) and analyzed the TMZ loading efficiency. Different FUS parameters were tested for effective OA-based liposomes destruction. Safety of selected parameters was evaluated in vivo by MRI, histological staining and RT-PCR of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: All the formulations exhibited comparable hydrodynamic diameters; however, OA-containing liposomes demonstrated a significantly higher TMZ encapsulation efficiency and enhanced cytotoxicity in U87 glioma cells. Moreover, it was shown that OA-liposomes were disrupted at lower acoustic pressures (5 MPa), while conventional liposomes required higher thresholds (>8 MPa). A safety analysis of FUS parameters indicated that pressures exceeding 11 MPa induced brain edema, necrotic lesions and elevated cytokine levels within 72 h post-treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that OA-based liposomes possess favorable characteristics, with an increased sonosensitivity for the site-specific delivery of TMZ, offering a promising strategy for glioma treatment. Full article

Trees play a vital role in urban environments by mitigating heat islands, floods, and pollution, while promoting public health and well-being. Acoustic tomography is an effective tool for assessing tree integrity, but its high-cost limits widespread use. To reduce costs, this study evaluated the use of ultrasonic tomography with standardized velocity thresholds (VTs) for detecting cavities and decay in trunks. A total of 38 discs from 21 trees species were analyzed using different VTs (35%, 40%, 45%, and 50%). The results showed that thresholds of 35% Vmax for cavity detection and 50% Vmax for cavity with decay detection can be adopted for tomographic image assessments of trees, regardless of species. Using the same velocity thresholds regardless of species enables the practical application of the technology, with average accuracy losses (below 5%) that are quite reasonable considering the variability of the material under inspection. These findings support the broader use of technology in tree failure risk assessments. Full article

In recent years, defect detection based on ultrasound B-scan images has been widely utilized in industry to detect the quality and presence of defects in products. However, there are still some difficulties in the process of processing B-scan images, such as sampling noise, the large amount of data, and so on. In this paper, we analyze the acoustic characteristics of an ultrasound B-scan image time series, design an image preprocessing method to make the image information gray-scale lossless, and propose a screening method for ultrasound B-scan image segments containing defects based on the theory of image entropy and a recurrence diagram. Comparison experiments between this method and the traditional image entropy screening algorithm show that this method can solve the above difficulties to a certain extent and has its own superiority. The method proposed in this paper provides a new idea for processing ultrasound B-scan image sequences and presents a new choice when the traditional method is limited. Full article

Ultrasound technology has emerged as a transformative tool in modern food science, offering non-destructive, real-time assessment and enhancement of food quality attributes. This review systematically explores the fundamental mechanisms by which ultrasound interacts with food matrices, including mechanical effects such as acoustic cavitation, localized shear forces, and microstreaming, as well as thermal and acoustic attenuation phenomena. Applications of ultrasound in food texture evaluation are discussed across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on its role in assessing moisture distribution, fat content, structural integrity, and microstructural alterations in meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. The versatility of ultrasound—spanning low-intensity quality assessments to high-intensity processing interventions—makes it an invaluable technology for both quality control and product innovation. Moreover, emerging innovations such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, non-thermal pasteurization, and real-time quality monitoring are highlighted, demonstrating the synergy between ultrasound and advanced technologies like AI-driven data interpretation and portable, handheld sensing devices. Despite these advances, challenges related to technical limitations in heterogeneous food systems, high initial investment costs, scalability, and the absence of standardized protocols remain critical barriers to widespread adoption. The future directions emphasize the integration of ultrasound with multi-modal approaches, the development of miniaturized and cost-effective equipment, and the establishment of global regulatory standards to facilitate its broader application. Overall, ultrasound is positioned as a key enabler for sustainable, efficient, and non-invasive quality assurance across the global food industry. Full article

The propagation of high-frequency ultrasound waves will generate both physical and chemical effects as they propagate through a liquid medium, such as acoustic streaming, an acoustic fountain, and atomization. These phenomena are believed to be the main factors that contribute to the enhancement of mass transfer in the gas–liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption system. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation is one of the powerful tools that can be used to model the complex hydrodynamic behavior induced by the propagation of ultrasound waves in the liquid medium. In this study, the ultrasonic irradiation forces were simulated via the momentum source term method using commercial CFD software (ANSYS Fluent V19.1). In addition, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the influences of absorber height and ultrasonic power on the hydrodynamic mixing performance. The simulation results indicated that enhanced mixing and a higher intensification factor were achieved with increased fountain flow velocity, particularly at the lowest absorber height and highest ultrasonic power. Conversely, the energy efficiency was improved with the increase of absorber height and decrease of ultrasonic power. To determine the optimal combination of absorber height and ultrasonic power, this trade-off between the energy efficiency and intensification in the ultrasonic-assisted absorption system (UAAS) is a crucial consideration during process scale-up. Full article