Process for testing the accuracy and the performance of an ultrasound transducer

Inventors

PENOT, Robin • Suarez, Daniel • REMOND, Mathieu • KWIECINSKI, Wojciech

Assignees

Cardiawave

Abstract

A method for testing the accuracy and the performance of an ultrasound transducer able to generate cavitation bubbles by placing in a volume of an ultrasound-transmitting medium an elastomer block at an expected cavitation region of the ultrasound transducer, activating the ultrasound transducer so as to generate cavitation bubbles in the elastomer block, detecting in the elastomer marks corresponding to the generated cavitation bubbles and deducing from the marks the three-dimensional characteristics of a real cavitation region of the ultrasound transducer. A system comprising volume of an ultrasound-transmitting medium, an elastomer block disposed in the volume of an ultrasound-transmitting medium, and an ultrasound transducer is also provided.

Core Innovation

A method is provided for testing the accuracy and the performance of an ultrasound transducer able to generate cavitation bubbles. The method places an elastomer block in an ultrasound-transmitting medium at an expected cavitation region of the ultrasound transducer, activates the ultrasound transducer to generate cavitation bubbles in the elastomer block, and detects marks corresponding to the generated cavitation bubbles in the elastomer block.

From the detected marks, the method deduces three-dimensional characteristics of a real cavitation region of the ultrasound transducer. The disclosure describes comparing a real cavitation region to an expected cavitation region using marks formed by the cavitation bubbles, with detection performed visually and/or using imaging.

The disclosure further provides system and material features to support the test, including elastomer optical and mechanical properties and an ultrasound-transmitting medium suitable for cavitation bubble generation. Graduation elements may be embedded in the elastomer block to resist distortion or mechanical damage caused by the generated cavitation bubbles, and an imaging system may be aligned or verified using the graduation structure and the marks.

A system is described that includes a volume of an ultrasound-transmitting medium comprising an acoustic coupling medium, an elastomer block disposed in the volume, and an ultrasound transducer mounted on a support structure so the transducer is within the acoustic coupling medium or acoustically coupled with the volume. The arrangement may be contained in a vessel or implemented as a solid block configuration with an access port and openings for viewing or replacement, and acoustic property matching between components is also described.

Claims Coverage

The disclosed subject matter includes two independent claims. The inventive coverage centers on a cavitation-bubble mark detection method that deduces three-dimensional real cavitation region characteristics from marks in an elastomer block, and a corresponding system architecture that places an elastomer block within an ultrasound-transmitting medium and acoustically couples a mounted ultrasound transducer to that volume.

Across the independent claims, the main inventive elements are the elastomer-block cavitation mark generation and detection workflow that deduces three-dimensional real cavitation region characteristics, and the system that acoustically couples a mounted ultrasound transducer to a volume containing an elastomer block within an ultrasound-transmitting medium. Dependent claims further define elastomer optical and mechanical constraints, embed graduation elements, optionally include imaging systems, and specify medium/container structures and acoustic property matching.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications