A 100-200 MHz ultrasound biomicroscope.

The development of higher frequency ultrasound imaging systems affords a unique opportunity to visualize living tissue at the microscopic level. This work was undertaken to assess the potential of ultrasound imaging in vivo using the 100-200 MHz range. Spherically focused lithium niobate transducers were fabricated.

A new ultrasound instrument for in vivo microimaging of mice.

We report here on the design and evaluation of the first high-frequency ultrasound (US) imaging system specifically designed for microimaging of the mouse. High-frequency US or US biomicroscopy (UBM) has the advantage of low cost, rapid imaging speed, portability and high resolution. In combination with the ability to provide functional information on blood flow, UBM provides a powerful method for the investigation of development and disease models.

Magnetic resonance imaging of ultrasound fields: gradient characteristics.

Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to image particle displacements arising from a 0.515-MHZ focused ultrasound (US) field. The technique used a phase-locked, self-resonant gradient matched to the US frequency in conjunction with a spin-echo sequence to generate phase images of US-induced displacement parallel to the US propagation direction.

A high-frequency pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound system for the detection and imaging of blood flow in the microcirculation.

Previous work with a 40-MHz continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound system has demonstrated the potential of high-frequency Doppler ultrasound (HFD), operating in the frequency range 20-200 MHz, to detect blood flow in the microcirculation. This paper describes a directional, pulsed-wave high-frequency Doppler ultrasound (PW HFD) system that was designed and constructed further to investigate this potential. The PW HFD system electronics have a dynamic range of > 80 dB, a noise floor of 250 nV, a directional isolation of 45 dB and operate over the frequency range 1-200 MHz.

A 40-100 MHz B-scan ultrasound backscatter microscope for skin imaging.

There is a growing interest in high resolution, subsurface imaging of cutaneous tissues using higher frequency ultrasound, and several commercial systems have been developed recently which operate at 20 MHz. Some of the possible applications of higher frequency skin imaging include tumour staging, boundary definition, and studies of the response of tumours to therapy, investigations of inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, and basic studies of skin aging, sun damage and the effects of irritants. Investigation of these areas is quite new, and the role of ultrasound skin imaging is continuing to evolve.