title: The speed of sound and attenuation of an IEC agar-based tissue-mimicking material for high frequency ultrasound applications.
abstract: This study characterized the acoustic properties of an International Electromechanical Commission (IEC) agar-based tissue mimicking material (TMM) at ultrasound frequencies in the range 10-47 MHz. A broadband reflection substitution technique was employed using two independent systems at 21°C ± 1°C. Using a commercially available preclinical ultrasound scanner and a scanning acoustic macroscope, the measured speeds of sound were 1547.4 ± 1.4 m∙s(-1) and 1548.0 ± 6.1 m∙s(-1), respectively, and were approximately constant over the frequency range. The measured attenuation (dB∙cm(-1)) was found to vary with frequency f (MHz) as 0.40f + 0.0076f(2). Using this polynomial equation and extrapolating to lower frequencies give values comparable to those published at lower frequencies and can estimate the attenuation of this TMM in the frequency range up to 47 MHz. This characterisation enhances understanding in the use of this TMM as a tissue equivalent material for high frequency ultrasound applications.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. C.Sun-2@sms.ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: Jacinta E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janeczko
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Mairead B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sboros
authors.forename: Adrian J W
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brewin
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
authors.forename: Carmel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000362:Agar