Work

Ultrasonic Imaging of the Electroacoustic Effect in Macromolecular Gels

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: The electroacoustic effect occurs in electrolytes and colloidal suspensions. It describes the phenomenon in which a voltage applied to the sample produces an acoustic signal or vice versa. The basic mechanism is that charged particles in the sample have various mobilities due to different masses and viscosities. Under an external voltage they respond differently to the electrical force. This results in an overall acoustic vibration. The electroacoustic effect has been the basis for many measurement tools of solutions and other materials. In this note a method to image macromolecular gel samples using the electroacoustic effect at ultrasound frequencies is presented. Radiofrequency electrical excitation produces ultrasonic signal due to spatial changes in the electroacoustic some amplitude of the sample, which is used to construct an image similar to ultrasonography. This method is demonstrated in agar gel and egg-white protein phantoms. The image contrast mechanism is also discussed.

Source: Ultrasonic Imaging

DOI: 10.1177/016173469802000405

Authors: Han Wen, Robert S. Balaban

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Language: English

Topic: Ultrasonics and Acoustic Wave Propagation

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Award: New imaging techniques