The objective of this work was to optimize the process of apodization of piezoelectric ceramic discs, looking for the better relationship between oil bath temperature and time of electrical field application. The apodization was performed to reduce the diffraction in the acoustic field generated by ultrasonic transducers. We used 12.7mm diameter and 1mm thickness PZT-5A discs. The apodization field (2kV/mm thickness) has been shaped by a 5mm radius spherical electrode throughout the apodization processes we have used. The apodized ceramic discs which showed electromechanical coupling coefficient value, for the thickness mode of vibration, equal or larger than 0.37, were considered well apodized. We used initial oil bath temperatures from 120°C to 250°C and the electric field was applied for periods of at least 2 minutes to up to 4 hours. The results showed that if the poling electric field was applied to the piezoelectric ceramic even before the oil was heated, we obtained larger piezoelectric coupling coefficients; in higher temperatures (250°C) this was not necessary. We concluded that using higher temperatures (250°C) it was possible to reduce the apodization process, with satisfactory results, from 4-5 hours to 2 minutes. Ultrasound transducers were built with apodized ceramics and their acoustic fields showed larger depth of field relative to non apodized ones.
B-mode ultrasound images are characterized by speckle artefact, which results from interference effects between returning echoes, and may make the interpretation of images difficult. Consequently, many methods have been developed to reduce this problematic feature.
One widely used method, popular in both medical and non-destructive-testing applications, is a 1D method known as Split Spectrum Processing (SSP), or also as Frequency Diversity. Although this method was designed for speckle reduction applications, the final image experiences a resultant loss of resolution, impinging a trade-off between speckle reduction and resolution loss. In order to overcome this problem, we have developed a new method that is an extension of SSP to 2D data using directive filters, called Split Phase Processing (SPP). Instead of using 1D narrow band-pass filters as in the SSP method, we use 2D directive filters to split the RF ultrasound image in a set of wide band images with different phases.
The use of such filters substantially avoids the resolution loss usually associated with SSP for speckle reduction, because they effectively have the same bandwidth as the original image.
It is concluded that the Split Phase Processing, as introduced here, provides a significant improvement over the conventional Split Spectrum Processing.
The Doppler velocimeter developed allows determining the angle between the ultrasonic beam and the velocity vector of the flow, and utilizes this angle to calculate the blood flow in a vessel. Four piezoelectric transducers constitute the Doppler velocimeter. Three of these transducers are positioned to form an equilateral triangle (base of a pyramid). When these transducers move simultaneously, backward or forward from the initial position, the emitted ultrasonic beams focalize on a position (peak of the pyramid) closer or farther from the transducers faces, according to the depth of the vessel where we intend to measure de flow. The angle between the transducers allows adjusting the height of this pyramid and the position of the focus (where the three beams meet). A forth transducer is used to determine the diameter of the vessel and monitor the position of the Doppler velocimeter relative to the vessel. The results showed that with this technique it is possible to accomplish measurement of blood flow and to reduce Doppler measurements subjectivity.
In this work we have investigated the influence of the backing layer composition and the matching layer thickness in the performance of ultrasound transducers constructed with piezoelectric ceramic disks. We have constructed transducers with backing layers of different compositions, using mixtures of epoxy with alumina powder and/or Tungsten powder and with λ/4 or 3λ/4 thickness epoxy matching layers. The evaluation tests were performed in pulse-echo mode, with a flat target, and in transmission/reception mode, with a calibrated PVDF hydrophone. The acoustical field emitted by each transducer was mapped in order to measure the on-axis and transverse field profiles, the aperture size and the beam spreading. The bandwidths of the transducers were determined in pulse-echo mode. Comparing the evaluation tests results of two transducers constructed with the same backing layer, the one constructed with λ/4 thickness epoxy matching layer showed better performance. The results showed that the transducers constructed with epoxy, alumina and Tungsten powders backing layers have larger bandwidth. The larger depth of field was measured for transducers constructed with epoxy and Tungsten powder backing layers. These transducers and those constructed with epoxy, Tungsten and alumina powders backing layers showed the larger field intensities in the measured transverse profiles.
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