Design of a 3D-printed ultrasound phase-interference compensator (UPIC) for various test sample environment scenarios

Abstract

For ultrasound propagation through a complex tissue composite such as the skull, phase-interference induced wave degradation may occur due to anatomical variations in shape and composition. A fundamentally simplistic passive twin-layer ultrasound phase-interference compensator (UPIC) has recently been introduced, creating an environment of constant path-length (spatial criterion) and constant transit time (temporal criterion) throughout the test sample. The aim of this Note was to develop UPIC designs for various test sample environment scenarios ranging from both sample and UPIC created from the same 3D print material, a single sample material whose ultrasound velocity may not be matched by a 3D print material, to a multi-material compartment sample of complex shape. A simplified solution is presented where a rectangular analysis region may be defined. Future clinical development of the UPIC concept could utilise conventional DICOM-format x-ray CT and MR image data within the design process.