Probe Array Research Articles

P0660 Comparative Accuracy and Reliability of Handheld versus Cart-Based Ultrasound in assessing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity

Abstract Background Bowel wall thickness (BWT) and vascularity are key parameters for assessing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity. Handheld ultrasound devices (HHUS) provide a portable and affordable alternative for incorporating intestinal ultrasound (IUS) into IBD management. However, their diagnostic accuracy and reliability compared to cart-based ultrasound (CBUS) remain uncertain. This study assesses the diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility, and practitioner confidence with HHUS in comparison to CBUS for assessing BWT and vascularity. Methods In this prospective, comparative study, 12 patients with IBD, with body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m², were assessed. Each patient underwent ultrasound scanning of 2–3 pre-specified bowel segments using five devices: one CBUS device (Samsung™) and four HHUS devices (Clarius™ L15 HD3, GE™ Vscan Air CL, Mindray™ TE Air, and Philips™ Lumify L12-4). Linear probes were used for all devices except Mindray™, which employs a phased array probe optimised for cardiac imaging. Scans were conducted by two to three gastroenterologists accredited by the Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS), who were blinded to each other’s findings to reduce bias. BWT and Doppler vascularity, as well as other standard IUS parameters, were assessed for each segment. Diagnostic accuracy and inter-/intra-expert agreement were analysed using statistical models. Results Among the 12 patients (42% male; median age: 26 years, IQR: 23–36) with CD (n=6) and UC (n=6), a total of 29 bowel segments were assessed with all devices (Table 1). BWT measurements showed high concordance across devices for active segments (mean BWT: 4.3–4.6 mm, p=0.73). However, significant discrepancies were noted in inactive segments (p<0.001), particularly with the Mindray™ device showing larger deviations from the CBUS measurements. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for intra-expert BWT measurements were good to excellent across devices (ICC 0.79–0.97), while inter-expert agreement was good for all devices (ICC 0.70–0.77) except for Mindray™ (ICC 0.36) (Figure 1B). Significant confidence was noted for BWT, vascularity, stratification, mesenteric fat, and inflamed bowel length across devices, highlighting consistent measurement reliability for these parameters (Table 1). Conclusion The majority of HHUS devices used in this study demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility in assessing IBD activity and are comparable to CBUS for identifying and assessing active disease. This study supports the integration of HHUS into IBD management as a portable and accessible tool while highlighting the importance of recognising device-specific limitations when selecting devices for clinical practice.

A cost-effective and innovative detector for iron ions.

Severe environmental contamination can result from high concentrations of iron ions, which can have a detrimental impact on human health and well-being. Consequently, it is imperative to develop novel materials that can address environmental issues. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess unique properties that render them efficient fluorescent probes for the rapid and precise detection of these pollutants. A diverse array of MOF probes have been developed to detect iron ions. Nevertheless, their practical application is significantly impeded by the high production cost, which is a critical factor. This raises the question: why not implement a cost-effective, sensitive detector instead? Our research group has developed a novel MOF material, [Zn2(bpy)(APA)2(H2O)] n , that is specifically designed for MOF-based "off" sensors in aqueous media. This material not only demonstrates high sensitivity, and is manufactured from low-cost raw materials, but it also holds significant commercial potential, with production costs that are 98.4% lower than those of existing alternatives.

Novel Probe Array Design for Fast and Cost-Effective Array Antenna Verification in Production Environments

Novel Probe Array Design for Fast and Cost-Effective Array Antenna Verification in Production Environments

Effects of turbulence spreading and symmetry breaking on edge shear flow during sawtooth cycles in J-TEXT tokamak

The effect of sawteeth on plasma performance and transport in the plasmas of tokamak is an important issue in the fusion field. Sawtooth oscillations can trigger heat and turbulence pulses that propagate into the edge plasmas, and thus enhance the edge shear flow and induce a transition from low confinement mode to high confinement mode. The influences of turbulence spreading and symmetry breaking on edge shear flow with sawtooth crashes are observed in the J-TEXT tokamak. The edge plasma turbulence and shear flow were measured using a fast reciprocating electrostatic probe array. The experimental data were analyzed using methods such as conditional average and probability distribution function. After sawtooth crashes, the heat and turbulence pulses in the core propagate to the edge, with the turbulence pulse being faster than the heat pulse. Figures 1 (a)-(e) show the core electron temperature, and the edge electron temperature, turbulence intensity, turbulence drive and spreading rates, Reynolds stress and its gradient, and shearing rates, respectively. Following sawtooth crashes, the edge electron temperature increases and the edge turbulence is enhanced, with turbulence preceding temperature. The enhanced edge turbulence is mainly composed of two parts: turbulence driven by local gradient and turbulence spreading from core to edge. The development of the estimated turbulence spreading rates is prior to that of the turbulence driving rates. The increase in the turbulence intensity can cause the enhancements of the turbulent Reynold stresses and its gradient, thereby enhancing shear flows and radial electric fields. Turbulence spreading leads to the development of edge Reynolds stresses and shear flow faster than edge electron temperature. The Reynolds stress arises from the symmetry breaking of the turbulence wave number spectrum. After sawtooth collapse, the joint probability density function of radial and poloidal wave numbers of turbulence intensity became highly skewed and anisotropic, exhibiting strong asymmetry, as seen in the figures 1 (f) and (g). The development of turbulence spreading flux at the edge is also prior to the particle flux driven by turbulence, indicating that turbulent energy transport is not simply accompanied by turbulent particle transport. These results show that turbulence spreading and symmetry breaking can enhance turbulent Reynolds stress, thereby driving shear flows, after sawtooth crashes.

Comprehensive evaluation of lens and planar circular ultrasonic transducer combinations to enhance C-scan imaging: a phantom study at 10 and 15 MHz

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the imaging capabilities of four polydimethylsiloxane-based acoustic lenses with subsonic refractive indices, focusing on a spherical lens and three designed aspherical lenses with varying focus. Approach. We investigated a spherical lens with a radius curvature of 8 mm (SL-R8), two aspherical lenses with focal lengths of 15 mm and 10 mm (AL15 and AL10), and an aspherical folding lens with a focal length of 10 mm (AFL10). The equation cross-section profile of an aspherical lens is calculated using the assumption that all trajectories passing through the lens have the same flight duration when they reach the focal point. Furthermore, we observed that we can fold this aspherical lens without greatly diminishing its focusing capability. Utilizing circular planar ultrasonic transducers at frequencies of 10 MHz and 15 MHz, we examined the reflected waveforms via pulse-echo tests and measured focal points and beam widths using a needle hydrophone in the acoustic intensity measurement system. The target resolution was assessed using a C-Scan imaging system. Main results. Analysis of the axial and lateral beam profiles revealed that AFL10 and AL10 lenses exhibited narrower beam widths at the focal point. We evaluate the AFL10 and AL10 lenses combined with a 15 MHz transducer for preclinical testing using standard medical phantoms containing microparticles in gelatin- and agar-based matrices. In conclusion, using these twocombinations, C-Scan imaging successfully formed a 25 µm backscatter inside the phantom image. Significance. Due to their high-resolution capabilities, applying cross-sectional profile equations in the lateral plane of the lens surface in linear ultrasonic array probes offers promises for early-stage medical diagnostics.

Molecular characterization of ovarian squamous cell carcinoma originating from mature teratoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the ovary, an uncommon form of gynecologic cancer, typically originates from the malignant transformation of a pre-existing mature ovarian teratoma (MOT). However, due to its rarity, the molecular pathways driving its development are not well understood. To address this knowledge gap, we performed molecular inversion probe (MIP) array analysis and targeted sequencing of 275 cancer susceptibility genes on 11 ovarian SCC samples derived from MOTs. Additionally, we conducted the same molecular tests on two samples of ovarian metastases of SCCs that originated from primary sites outside the ovary, specifically, one from endometrial cancer and one from cervical SCC. Utilizing MIP arrays, we identified failures in meiosis I and II, as well as instances of endoreduplication within haploid ova, in five, two, and four samples of ovarian SCCs arising from MOTs, respectively. Notably, such alterations were absent in samples of ovarian metastases, implying that primary ovarian SCCs may derive from teratoma cells. Targeted sequencing identified TP53 as the most frequently mutated gene in ovarian SCCs, occurring in 82% of cases. This was followed by mutations in PIK3CA (36%), PTEN (27%), and KMT2D (27%). Furthermore, mutations in CDKN2A and copy number loss of 9p21.3 were observed in 54.5% of the cohort. In summary, our study elucidates the germ cell origin of ovarian SCC and provides a comprehensive analysis of its genomic landscape, which may assist in differential diagnosis and inform the development of targeted therapies with potential clinical benefits. KEY MESSAGES: Failures in meiosis I/II and endoreduplication found in primary ovarian SCCs. Ovarian SCCs may derive from germ cells in mature teratomas. Alterations absent in ovarian metastases from SCC aid differential diagnosis. TP53 mutations found in 82% of ovarian SCC cases. CDKN2A mutations and 9p21.3 loss observed in 54.5% of ovarian SCC cohort.

Observation of coexistence of low and high frequency oscillations with reduced neutral density in a linear plasma device.

Abstract A linear plasma device has been developed at IASST producing uniform and quiescent (δne/ne < 0.5%) laboratory plasma for performing basic wave and instability experiments in a precise manner. Uniform plasma produced in the device is very quiescent (δne/ne < 0.5%) in nature in a wide neutral pressure range of ~ (3 − 6) × 10−4 mbar. However, beyond this neutral pressure range, onset of plasma instabilities leads to increase density fluctuations, thereby raising the value of δne/ne and reducing the degree of plasma quiescence. Recorded floating potential fluctuations with an array of Langmuir probes indicate the coexistence of low and high frequency oscillations at lower neutral pressure range. The nature of these plasma instabilities appear to be similar to those observed in the plume mode of hollow cathode discharges. A linear plasma device will facilitate the investigation of these self-excited oscillations in a controlled environment.

Experimental research on heat transfer enhancement by a wall-proximity circular cylinder under an axial magnetic field

This work experimentally investigates the flow and heat transfer of liquid metal around a cylinder in a rectangular channel with a heated bottom wall under an axial magnetic field. Wall electrical potential probes measure the streamwise and vertical velocity components, while an immersed array probe measures the temperature distribution in the vertical profile. The coupling effects of the gap ratio (ratio of the distance between the center of the cylinder and the wall to the diameter of the cylinder) and the magnetic field on heat transfer enhancement are studied. The experimental results suggest that the Lorentz force suppresses the wall recirculation zone from shedding secondary vortices and alters the trajectory of the vortex street, affecting the thermal boundary layer. The probability density function of temperature indicates that the magnetohydrodynamics effect causes a bimodal distribution due to a quasi-two-dimensional vortex street and a trimodal distribution due to additional secondary vortices. The vortex street notably reduces the thermal boundary layer thickness and the local temperature of the heated wall. The analysis of the correlation coefficients between velocity and temperature fluctuations and the frequency spectrum reveals the physical mechanism enhancing heat transfer. The wall-proximity effect and buoyancy strengthen flow fluctuations and enhance heat transfer. For Ha (Hartmann number) ranging from 161.6 to 646.4, optimal heat transfer occurs at G/d = 1.0, whereas for 808 ≤ Ha ≤ 1131.2, optimal heat transfer is achieved at G/d = 0.5, which is attributed to the coupling effect of the magnetic field and gap flow on vortex dynamics.

Experimental investigation of defect imaging using a phased array probe with a stacked plate buffer

Experimental investigation of defect imaging using a phased array probe with a stacked plate buffer

Effectiveness of the technology of automated eddy current flaw detection with array probe

Effectiveness of the technology of automated eddy current flaw detection with array probe

Development of ultrasonic phased array technique for inspection of fir-tree type turbine blade root and disc-rim in nuclear power plant

ABSTRACT Steam turbines are crucial in both nuclear and thermal power plants, serving a key role in electricity generation. However, the operational lifespan of these turbines is often limited by failures in the turbine blade roots and disc rims due to fatigue, stress corrosion cracking and creep. Usage of reliable non-destructive technique during in-service inspection of turbine assembly is very important for decision making and safe operation of power plant. The conventional ultrasonic technique which is being employed currently suffers from access limitation, high inspection time and false calls during defect detection due to complex geometry of blade roots and disc rims. To address these issues, an advanced ultrasonic inspection technique using phased array technology was developed, specifically tailored for fir-tree type blade roots and disc rims. Ultrasonic Simulation studies were performed to determine the optimal parameters for phased array probes, ensuring the effective detection and precise sizing of crack-like defects. This manuscript presents the findings from these simulations, along with experimental results from phased array inspections of turbine blade root and disc rim mockup of turbine assembly in nuclear power plant.

Risk-based ultrasound probe quality assurance - a single center proof-of-concept study.

Ultrasound probe quality assurance is an underserved and underregulated area in medical imaging. While several testing methods exist, their availability and adoption remains varied, and the frequency of testing is often insufficient. Here we aimed to conduct a user-driven simple and rapid probe quality testing approach and to evaluate its rationale.Testing was based on physical examination of probe integrity (all probes) and in-air reverberation check (for curvilinear and linear array probes), findings, as well as probe age were registered. Prior to assessment, probes were divided into a high-risk vs. a low-risk category, based on the perceived risk of probe damage as a result of the typical application (e.g., non-invasive vs. interventional, inpatient vs. point-of-care).17.4% of the low-risk and 31.4% of high-risk probes demonstrated physical wear or damage. Reverberation artifacts were significantly more frequent (68%) in the high-risk category vs. the low-risk one (29.4%). Probes with either physical or reverberation faults were significantly older on average.The simple, rapid investigational technique uncovered an alarming percentage of probe damage or faults. It also identified immediately solvable technical issues (e.g., poor cable contact mimicking dropout). High-risk probe usage resulted in an increased rate of reverberation errors and physical damage. Risk-based, frequent rapid observational testing of ultrasound probes could substantially improve both diagnostic quality and patient safety.

Feasibility of Backscattering Coefficient Evaluation of Soft Tissue Using High-Frequency Annular Array Probe.

The objective of this work is to address the need for versatile and effective tissue characterization in abdominal ultrasound diagnosis using a simpler system. We evaluated the backscattering coefficient (BSC) of several tissue-mimicking phantoms utilizing three different ultrasonic probes: a single-element transducer, a linear array probe for clinical use, and a laboratory-made annular array probe. The single-element transducer, commonly used in developing fundamental BSC evaluation methods, served as a benchmark. The linear array probe provided a clinical comparison, while the annular array probe was tested for its potential in high-frequency and high-resolution ultrasonic observations. Our findings demonstrate that the annular array probe meets clinical demands by providing accurate BSC measurements, showcasing its capability for high-frequency and high-resolution imaging with a simpler, more versatile system.

Highly Sensitive Phased Array Probes based on Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers

Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (CMUTs) offer a wide freedom of design for ultrasonic phased arrays. They are characterized, in comparison to piezoelectric transducers, by a higher sensitivity in receiving and a wider bandwidth based on their physical properties. Especially in combination with integrated preamplifiers the high receiving sensitivity compensates or rather overcompensates the lower transmission power of the CMUT in single probe applications with pulse-echo technique. This asymmetric behavior opens new opportunities in the application. In medical diagnostics it allows to meet the maximum permissible ultrasonic radiation force with the best sensitivity. In nondestructive testing the transmission power can be increased by the combination of a piezoelectric probe for transmitting and a CMUT probe for receiving. Especially in double probe techniques, such as pitch-catch or time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD), this is an efficient extension of the conventional approach with two piezoelectric transducers. The CMUT array probes developed by Fraunhofer IPMS with integrated preamplifier and bias voltage converter powered by a standard USB-A connector can be applied as one to one substitute for piezoelectric phased arrays with commercially available ultrasonic devices without adaption or additional electronics. The CMUT arrays are best suited for immersion technique and medical sonography because of their natural matching to water-like materials. They are applicable as well for solid surfaces with a special coating. We present the first results of ultrasonic imaging with our CMUT array probes in comparison with a commercially available piezoelectric phased array probe.

Automated self-adjustment of array probe with a robotic ultrasonic test system

Ultrasonic testing of objects with complex geometries often requires the use of a robotic arm to position the probe perpendicular to the local surface. Using immersion makes it possible to test these objects with standard ultrasonic linear array probes. Here, the probe positions and orientations provided by the robot are used for merging the locally acquired image data into a 3D-reconstruction. The quality of this reconstruction is highly dependent on the alignment of the position of the physical probe with the position used in the digital model. For common industrial tools, the tool center point (TCP) is usually acquired using geometric features of the tools. However, for ultrasonic arrays in immersion, there is a water standoff between the probe and the test object, therefore the TCP is in free space in front of the array and cannot be acquired with the common method. To overcome this challenge, we propose a method that allows the robotic ultrasonic system to automatically self-adjust the position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe using a test block made of steel with defined geometric features as a target for referencing. For each of the six degrees of freedom, a scan and adjustment routine are established using the data based on the actual ultrasound characteristics of the probe. Given a coarse pre-definition of the tool position and the known target test block, minimal human interaction is required to supervise the adjustment method, leading to higher quality reconstructions than with manual adjustment.

Hardware-Independent Deep Signal Processing: A Feasibility Study in Echocardiography.

Deep learning (DL) models have emerged as alternative methods to conventional ultrasound (US) signal processing, offering the potential to mimic signal processing chains, reduce inference time, and enable the portability of processing chains across hardware. This paper proposes a DL model that replicates the fine-tuned BMode signal processing chain of a high-end US system and explores the potential of using it with a different probe and a lower-end system. A deep neural network was trained in a supervised manner to map raw beamformed in-phase and quadrature component data into processed images. The dataset consisted of 30,000 cardiac image frames acquired using the GE HealthCare Vivid E95 system with the 4Vc-D matrix array probe. The signal processing chain includes depth-dependent bandpass filtering, elevation compounding, frequency compounding, and image compression and filtering. The results indicate that a lightweight DL model can accurately replicate the signal processing chain of a commercial scanner for a given application. Evaluation on a 15 patient test dataset of about three thousand image frames gave a structural similarity index measure of 98.56 ± 0.49. Applying the DL model to data from another probe showed equivalent or improved image quality. This indicates that a single DL model may be used for a set of probes on a given system that targets the same application, which could be a cost-effective tuning and implementation strategy for vendors. Further, the DL model enhanced image quality on a Verasonics dataset, suggesting the potential to port features from high-end US systems to lower-end counterparts.

An Experimental Study of Wave Impact Loads on an FPSO Bow in 2D Wave-Tank

In harsh environments, an floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) is occasionally damaged by impact loads, such as bow flare slamming and green water. This study conducted an impact load measurement experiment on a model of an FPSO bow in a 2D wave tank. Three types of frequency-focused waves (steep, spilling, and plunging) were generated, and the speed and slope of the waves were measured. Seven wave probes were placed in a row, and the wave elevation was measured to determine the speed and slope of the waves. In addition, the side of the 2D wave tank was photographed with a high-speed camera. The speed and slope of the waves obtained from the wave probe array agreed well with those obtained from the photographs taken using a high-speed camera. In the case of a steep wave, wave runup occurred at the bow before the wave reached the bow of the FPSO, so no impact load was generated, and only hydrostatic pressure was measured. Impact loads were generated in the spilling and plunging waves, and the magnitude of impact loads using the Von Karman’s estimation formula and the impact loads measured in model tests showed similar values.

Ultrasonographic approach to visualize the medial shoulder compartment and diagnose medial glenohumeral ligament and subscapularis lesions in dogs.

To provide a video tutorial on the diagnostic ultrasound approach to the medial compartment of the canine shoulder and provide comparisons of normal and pathological images with corresponding MRI. Dogs undergoing diagnostic ultrasound of the medial shoulder. The medial shoulder was positioned in flexion with external rotation to allow transducer access, clipped, and scrubbed with dilute chlorhexidine. A 2- to 14-MHz linear array probe with a footprint of 50 mm (V8 ultrasound system; Samsung) was used to visualize the medial glenohumeral ligament (MGL), subscapularis, and coracobrachialis with coupling gel, confirmed by cadaveric ultrasound-guided dye injection and dissection. Ultrasound and corresponding MRI were then used to contrast normal anatomy to a live sedated dog with clinical subscapularis tendinopathy and MGL desmopathy. Proton density-weighted MRI sequences (1.5T Vantage Orian; Canon) using a flex coil were able to identify all 3 structures and corresponded to ultrasound findings for normal and pathological anatomy. Diagnostic ultrasound identified normal and abnormal structures of the medial shoulder (coracobrachialis, subscapularis, and MGL). All imaging correlated well to MRI. Medial compartment disease of the shoulder is a well-described cause of canine lameness, but diagnosis has traditionally relied on MRI or arthroscopy. Prior ultrasound approaches did not distinguish MGL components, failed to consistently identify normal or surgically transected ligaments, and have not been studied in vivo. Our approach is different and can play an important role in diagnosing medial compartment lesions, as it possesses greater anatomical visualization than arthroscopy and is noninvasive, accomplished with sedation, and relatively accessible and affordable.

Two-dimensional magnetic field diagnostics of plasma based on nano-thin-film probe

In this paper, we propose a method to determine the diagnostics of magnetic fields based on arrays of nano-thin-film probes that are manufactured by using magnetron sputtering-based fabrication and arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) topological design. Measurements of the magnetic field and its wave number based on the proposed method were validated in a linear cylindrical plasma device, the linear experimental advanced device. We manufactured nano-thin-film probes, each with a thickness of 500 nm, a diameter of 9 mm, and a shape similar to the Greek letter “omega” by depositing silver nanoparticles generated through magnetron sputtering to improve the accuracy of the fabrication as well as their time response. The 2D topological arrangement of the array of probes enabled the determination of the diagnostics of the magnetic field and its wave number at a high spatial resolution. Measurements of the amplitude of the magnetic field and its wavenumber obtained using the proposed method were in good agreement with the results of theoretical simulations in COMSOL, which verifies its high reliability and accuracy in obtaining low-pressure plasma diagnostics. In future work, we plan to apply our diagnostic method based on the array of thin-film probes to scenarios that require a high spatial resolution.

Synthesis of group-IV ternary and binary semiconductors using epitaxy of GeH3Cl and SnH4

Ge1−x−ySixSny alloys were grown on Ge buffers via reactions of SnH4 and GeH3Cl. The latter is a new CVD source designed for epitaxial development of group-IV semiconductors under low thermal budgets and CMOS-compatible conditions. The Ge1−x−ySixSny films were produced at very low temperatures between 160 and 200 °C with 3%–5% Si and ∼5%–11% Sn. The films were characterized using an array of structural probes that include Rutherford backscattering, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution x-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. These studies indicate that the films are strained to Ge and exhibit defect-free microstructures, flat surfaces, homogeneous compositions, and sharp interfaces. Raman was used to determine the compositional dependence of the vibrational modes indicating atomic distributions indistinguishable from those obtained when using high-order Ge hydrides. For a better understanding of the growth mechanisms, a parallel study was conducted to investigate the GeH3Cl applicability for synthesis of binary Ge1−ySny films. These grew strained to Ge, but with reduced Sn compositions and lower thicknesses relative to Ge1−x−ySixSny. Bypassing the Ge buffers led to Ge1−ySny-on-Si films with compositions and thicknesses comparable to Ge1−ySny-on-Ge; but their strains were mostly relaxed. Efforts to increase the concentration and thickness of Ge1−ySny-on-Si resulted in multiphase materials containing large amounts of interstitial Sn. These outcomes suggest that the incorporation of even small Si amounts in Ge1−x−ySixSny might compensate for the large Ge–Sn mismatch by lowering bond strains. Such an effect reduces strain energy, enhances stability, promotes higher Sn incorporation, and increases critical thickness.