High Resolution Biomedical Imaging Using Ultrasonic Metamaterials
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Hutchins DA
(2016)
Ultrasonic propagation in finite-length granular chains.
in Ultrasonics
Adams C
(2017)
An Adaptive Array Excitation Scheme for the Unidirectional Enhancement of Guided Waves.
in IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Harput S
(2017)
Generation of Ultrasound Pulses in Water Using Granular Chains with a Finite Matching Layer
in Physical Review Applied
Nie L
(2018)
Combining Acoustic Trapping With Plane Wave Imaging for Localized Microbubble Accumulation in Large Vessels.
in IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Boni E
(2018)
Ultrasound Open Platforms for Next-Generation Imaging Technique Development.
in IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Adams C
(2018)
HIFU Drive System Miniaturization Using Harmonic Reduced Pulsewidth Modulation
in IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control
Nie L
(2019)
High-Frame-Rate Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiography Using Diverging Waves: 2-D Motion Estimation and Compensation.
in IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Laureti S
(2020)
Trapped air metamaterial concept for ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water.
in Scientific reports
Askari M
(2020)
An ultrasonic metallic Fabry-Pérot metamaterial for use in water
in Additive Manufacturing
Askari M
(2020)
Additive manufacturing of metamaterials: A review
in Additive Manufacturing
Nie L
(2021)
A Metallic Additively Manufactured Metamaterial for Enhanced Monitoring of Acoustic Cavitation-Based Therapeutic Ultrasound
in Advanced Engineering Materials
Astolfi L
(2021)
Holey-structured tungsten metamaterials for broadband ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Astolfi L
(2022)
Optimised polymer trapped-air lenses for ultrasound focusing in water exploiting Fabry-Pérot resonance.
in Ultrasonics
| Description | Acoustic metamaterials constructed from conventional base materials can exhibit exotic phenomena not commonly found in nature, achieved by combining geometrical and resonance effects. However, the use of polymer-based metamaterials that could operate in water is difficult, due to the low acoustic impedance mismatch between water and polymers. In this project we have developed the concept of "trapped air" metamaterial, fabricated via vat photopolymerization, which makes ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water using polymeric metamaterials highly effective. This concept is demonstrated for a holey-structured acoustic metamaterial in water at 200-300 kHz, via both finite element modelling and experimental measurements, but it can be extended to other types of metamaterials. The new approach, which outperforms the usual designs of these structures, indicates a way forward for exploiting additive-manufacturing for realising polymer-based acoustic metamaterials in water at ultrasonic frequencies for sub-wavelength imaging. |
| Exploitation Route | Experimental validation is still progressing but we have demonstrated the use of rapid prototype manufacture processes in the design of metamaterials for sub-wavelength imaging. Imaging with metamaterials in water is problematic and this research presents a solution applicable to biomedical imaging. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Electronics Energy Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | This research has led to new materials useful in medical ultrasound imaging. It's properties have been shown to filter out unwanted signals before the signal research the ultrasound receiver. This allows only those signals of interest though, leading to clearer images and potentially better diagnosis. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Description | MetacMed: Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials for biomedical and energy harvesting applications |
| Amount | £260,676 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Y036204/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | High Resolution Biomedical Imaging Using Ultrasonic Metamaterials |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leeds provide experimental and simulation expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners at Nottingham provide materials, materials manufacture and rapid prototyping of metamaterials for acoustic characterization by Leeds and Warwick |
| Impact | Publications are reported elsewhere in this award. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Talk - BMUS (British Medical Ultrasound Society) Meeting, York |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This invited talk was present to the British Medical Ultrasound Society, a multi-disciplinary body drawn from a wide range of disciplines including medical and paramedical professions, physicists, engineers, nurses, midwives, technicians, general practitioners, vets and others with an interest in medical ultrasound both in the United Kingdom and overseas. The talk focussed on hardware beamformers and their critical role in resolution of the resultant image and hence greatly influential on diagnostic quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |