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Dynamics of cavitation bubble cloud dynamics in a high intensity focused ultrasound field: effect of confinement
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive clinical procedure used for the ablation of tumours and stones. It consists of precisely focusing ultrasound on a target site within the body to generate a cavitation bubble cloud which, under the acoustic excitation, oscillates and eventually collapses by releasing enough energy to erode neighbour tissues up to ablation. Because of an elusive comprehension of the cloud dynamics, optimal operating conditions are not well identified which results in strong side effects (e.g., haemorrhage or metastasis arise). In this context, extensive research efforts on the bubble cloud dynamics are crucial as HIFU stands out as a promising clinical procedure for multiple pathologies.
Keywords: Ultrasound, cavitation, bubble cloud, X-ray, experiments, medicine
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive clinical procedure used for the ablation of tumours and stones. It consists of precisely focusing ultrasound on a target site within the body to generate a cavitation bubble cloud which, under the acoustic excitation, oscillates and eventually collapses by releasing enough energy to erode neighbour tissues up to ablation. Because of an elusive comprehension of the cloud dynamics, optimal operating conditions are not well identified which results in strong side effects (e.g., haemorrhage or metastasis arise). In this context, extensive research efforts on the bubble cloud dynamics are crucial as HIFU stands out as a promising clinical procedure for multiple pathologies.
The present project aims to experimentally characterize the time-dependant behaviour of cavitation bubble clouds in the neighborhood of tissue phantoms (e.g., blood vessel, stones, etc.) mimicking the human body. The objective is to understand the effect of such confinements on the canonical dynamics of cavitation bubble cloud in boundary-free environment. After preliminary experiments involving conventional imaging, an experimental test campaign will be conducted at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Grenoble, France) where high-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging will be performed. The combination of both conventional and X-ray imaging should hopefully enable to both investigate peripheral and internal individual bubbles.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive clinical procedure used for the ablation of tumours and stones. It consists of precisely focusing ultrasound on a target site within the body to generate a cavitation bubble cloud which, under the acoustic excitation, oscillates and eventually collapses by releasing enough energy to erode neighbour tissues up to ablation. Because of an elusive comprehension of the cloud dynamics, optimal operating conditions are not well identified which results in strong side effects (e.g., haemorrhage or metastasis arise). In this context, extensive research efforts on the bubble cloud dynamics are crucial as HIFU stands out as a promising clinical procedure for multiple pathologies.
The present project aims to experimentally characterize the time-dependant behaviour of cavitation bubble clouds in the neighborhood of tissue phantoms (e.g., blood vessel, stones, etc.) mimicking the human body. The objective is to understand the effect of such confinements on the canonical dynamics of cavitation bubble cloud in boundary-free environment. After preliminary experiments involving conventional imaging, an experimental test campaign will be conducted at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Grenoble, France) where high-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging will be performed. The combination of both conventional and X-ray imaging should hopefully enable to both investigate peripheral and internal individual bubbles.
The project is composed of the following steps:
1. **Learn** about the topic:
(a) Ohl et al., Bubbles with shock waves and ultrasound: a review, Interface 2015.
(b) Personal literature review
2. **Select** and **design** tissue phantoms
3. **Perform** preliminary experiments with **conventional imaging**
4. **Organize** ESRF campaign and p**erform X-ray imaging**
5. **Analyse** results and **discuss** the effects of the various confinements
6. **Documentation**: Write a report, create a poster, and present your work.
The project is composed of the following steps:
1. **Learn** about the topic: (a) Ohl et al., Bubbles with shock waves and ultrasound: a review, Interface 2015. (b) Personal literature review 2. **Select** and **design** tissue phantoms 3. **Perform** preliminary experiments with **conventional imaging** 4. **Organize** ESRF campaign and p**erform X-ray imaging** 5. **Analyse** results and **discuss** the effects of the various confinements 6. **Documentation**: Write a report, create a poster, and present your work.
Interested candidates please send an email with a recent transcript of records to lbiasiori@ethz.ch.
Interested candidates please send an email with a recent transcript of records to lbiasiori@ethz.ch.