Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering

A special issue of Acoustics (ISSN 2624-599X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 31988

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 32826, USA
Interests: turbulence; acoustics; data acquisition; CFD; FEA; hemodynamics; cardiovascular diseases; fluid–structure interactions
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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Interests: multiscale computational modeling; fluid mechanics; vibrations; signal and image processing; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Interests: vibrational and acoustic phenomena in biological systems; acoustic models of soft tissues; flow induced vibrations; vibro-acoustic sensors; electromechanical systems; digital signal processing; biostatistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to present the very latest progress in acoustics, vibrations, and fluid–structure interactions techniques that would be a beneficial for sound analysis in biomedical applications. For biomedical applications, there are many situations such a listening to the blood flow through patients' heart valves from the chest/skin, or listening to the air flow in patients' lung airways with different levels of stenosis. In these cases, air and blood turbulent flows exist in a flow-bounded domain which interact with solid rigid/elastic/moving bodies like mechanical heart valves or tumors in lung airways.

Our aim is to publish studies that reveal how mechanical vibration and sound impact the design and performance of engineered medical devices and improve non-invasive monitoring, analysis and diagnostic techniques of biological systems. This Special Issue: “Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering”, covers research results involving the application of mechanical and electrical engineering principles with a focus on developments in numerical methods and experimental techniques. “Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering” publishes original research and review articles in a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:

  • Cardiovascular and respiratory biomechanics: mechanics of blood-flow, air-flow, mechanics of the soft tissues, flow-tissue or flow-prosthesis interactions
  • Computational methods for analyzing the performance of medical devices, artificial organs, and prostheses
  • Bioacoustics and sound in biological systems
  • Biomedical signal processing and medical device development
  • Structural acoustics and vibration
  • Engineering acoustics, sound transducers, and measurements
  • Fluid-structure Interactions and Flow-induced vibration
  • Acoustic Signal Processing

Dr. Fardin Khalili
Dr. Amirtahà Taebi
Dr. Hansen A. Mansy
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Acoustics
  • Vibration
  • Sound transducers and measurements
  • Bioacoustics
  • Fluid-structure Interactions (FSI)
  • Flow-induced vibration
  • Acoustic Signal Processing

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 9317 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Stimuli Level on Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission in Normal Hearing Adults
by Maryam Naghibolhosseini
Acoustics 2023, 5(1), 72-86; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics5010005 - 10 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2302
Abstract
The goal of this study is to compare three of the most commonly used primary-level relation paradigms (i.e., Scissors, Boys Town ‘Optimal’, and Equal-Level) in generation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in normal hearing adults. The generator and reflection components were extracted [...] Read more.
The goal of this study is to compare three of the most commonly used primary-level relation paradigms (i.e., Scissors, Boys Town ‘Optimal’, and Equal-Level) in generation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in normal hearing adults. The generator and reflection components were extracted from DPOAEs in each paradigm. The generator and reflection component levels and input/output (I/O) functions were compared across paradigms and primary-tone levels. The results showed a different I/O function growth behavior across frequency and levels among paradigms. The Optimal paradigm showed a systematic change in the generator and reflection component levels and I/O slopes across primary levels among subjects. Moreover, the levels and slopes in the Optimal paradigm were more distinct across levels with less variations across frequency leading to a systematic change in the DPOAE fine structure across levels. The I/O functions were found to be more sensitive to the selected paradigm; especially the I/O function for the reflection component. The I/O functions of the reflection components showed large variability across frequencies due to different frequency shifts in their microstructure depending on the paradigm. The findings of this study suggested the Optimal paradigm as the proper primary-level relation to study cochlear amplification/compression. The findings of this study shows that care needs to be taken in comparing the findings of different studies that generated DPOAEs with a different level-relation paradigm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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8 pages, 1428 KiB  
Article
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shockwave Affected STMV Virus to Measure the Frequencies of the Oscillatory Response
by Jeffrey Burkhartsmeyer and Kam Sing Wong
Acoustics 2022, 4(1), 268-275; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics4010016 - 18 Mar 2022
Viewed by 3105
Abstract
Acoustic shockwaves are of interest as a possible means of the selective inactivation of viruses. It has been proposed that such inactivation may be enhanced by driving the virus particles at frequencies matching the characteristic frequency corresponding to acoustic modes of the viral [...] Read more.
Acoustic shockwaves are of interest as a possible means of the selective inactivation of viruses. It has been proposed that such inactivation may be enhanced by driving the virus particles at frequencies matching the characteristic frequency corresponding to acoustic modes of the viral structures, setting up a resonant response. Characteristic frequencies of viruses have been previously studied through opto-mechanical techniques. In contrast to optical excitation, shockwaves may be able to probe acoustic modes without the limitation of optical selection rules. This work explores molecular dynamics simulations of shockwaves interacting with a single STMV virus structure, in full atomistic detail, in order to measure the frequency of the response of the overall structure. Shockwaves of varying energy were set up in a water box containing the STMV structure by assigning water molecules at the edge of the box with an elevated velocity inward—in the direction of the virus. It was found that the structure compressed and stretched in a periodic oscillation of frequency 65 ± 6.5 GHz. This measured frequency did not show strong dependency on the energy of the shockwave perturbing the structure, suggesting the frequency is a characteristic of the structure. The measured frequency is also consistent with values predicted from elastic theory. Additionally, it was found that subjecting the virus to repeated shockwaves led to further deformation of the structure and the magnitude of the overall deformation could be altered by varying the time delay between repeated shockwave pulses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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8 pages, 17403 KiB  
Article
Use of Ultrasound Microscopy for Ex Vivo Analysis of Acoustic Impedance in Mouse Liver with Steatohepatitis
by Hideki Kumagai, Kazuto Kobayashi, Sachiko Yoshida, Koji Yokoyama, Norio Hirota and Takanori Yamagata
Acoustics 2021, 3(1), 3-10; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics3010002 - 24 Dec 2020
Viewed by 3388
Abstract
Scanning acoustic microscopy reveals information on histology and acoustic impedance through tissues. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether acoustic impedance values in the liver over time reflect the progression of steatohepatitis through different grades and stages, and whether this [...] Read more.
Scanning acoustic microscopy reveals information on histology and acoustic impedance through tissues. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether acoustic impedance values in the liver over time reflect the progression of steatohepatitis through different grades and stages, and whether this approach can visualize histologic features of the disease. Mice were divided into two groups: a control group and a steatohepatitis group prepared by keeping the mice on a methionine and choline-deficient diet for 56 weeks. The hepatic lobe was excised for measurement of impedance and observation of microscopic structure using a commercially available scanning acoustic microscopy system with a central frequency of 320 MHz. Scanning acoustic microscopy revealed that acoustic impedance through liver tissue with steatohepatitis temporarily decreased with the degree of fat deposition and then increased in parallel with the progression of inflammation and fibrosis. However, the acoustic images obtained did not allow discrimination of detailed microstructures from those seen using light microscopy. In conclusion, estimation of acoustic impedance appears to have potential clinical applications, such as for monitoring or follow-up studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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12 pages, 2184 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulations of the Nonlinear Interaction of a Bubble Cloud and a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Field
by Christian Vanhille and Kullervo Hynynen
Acoustics 2019, 1(4), 825-836; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1040049 - 29 Oct 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4438
Abstract
We studied the effects of a small bubble cloud located at the pre-focal area of a high-intensity focused ultrasound field. Our objective is to show that bubbles can modify the bioeffects of an ultrasound treatment in muscle tissue. We model a three-dimensional ultrasound [...] Read more.
We studied the effects of a small bubble cloud located at the pre-focal area of a high-intensity focused ultrasound field. Our objective is to show that bubbles can modify the bioeffects of an ultrasound treatment in muscle tissue. We model a three-dimensional ultrasound field in an idealized configuration of real operating conditions. Simulations are performed using a combined method based on the Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov equation, describing the ultrasound propagation, and a Rayleigh-Plesset equation, modeling the bubble oscillations. The nonlinear interaction of the ultrasound field and the bubble oscillations is considered. Results with and without bubbles for different void fractions of the cloud and different acoustic powers are compared. The cloud induces scattering, nonlinear distortion, and shielding of ultrasound, which increase the mechanical index in the pre-focal zone, shift the location, reduce the size, and modify the shape of the volume of tissue of high mechanical index values, and lower the pressure at the intended focus considerably. Although some hypothesis and parameters used in the models do not fit the real HIFU situations, the simulation results suggest that the effects caused by a bubble cloud located in the pre-focal area should be considered and monitored to ensure the safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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10 pages, 404 KiB  
Article
Nonlinear Distortions and Parametric Amplification Generate Otoacoustic Emissions and Increased Hearing Sensitivity
by Frank Böhnke
Acoustics 2019, 1(3), 608-617; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1030036 - 2 Aug 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4023
Abstract
The ear is able to detect low-level acoustic signals by a highly specialized system including a parametric amplifier in the cochlea. This is verified by a numerical mechanical model of the cochlea, which reduces the three-dimensional (3D) system to a one-dimensional (1D) approach. [...] Read more.
The ear is able to detect low-level acoustic signals by a highly specialized system including a parametric amplifier in the cochlea. This is verified by a numerical mechanical model of the cochlea, which reduces the three-dimensional (3D) system to a one-dimensional (1D) approach. A formerly developed mechanical model permits the consideration of the fluid and the orthotropic basilar membrane in a 1D fluid-structure coupled system. This model shows the characteristic frequency to place transformation of the traveling wave in the cochlea. The additional inclusion of time and space dependent stiffness of outer hair cells and the signal level dependent stiffness of the string enables parametric amplification of the input signal. Due to the nonlinear outer hair cell stiffness change, nonlinear distortions follow as a byproduct of the parametric amplification at low levels constituting the compressive nonlinearity. More distortions are generated by the saturating displacements of the string at high input levels, which can be distinguished from the low-level distortions by the order of additional harmonics. Amplification factors of 15.5 d B and 24.0 d B are calculated, and a change of the traveling-wave mapping is postulated with parametric amplification representing the healthy state of the cochlea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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13 pages, 2535 KiB  
Article
The 3D Spatial Autocorrelation of the Branching Fractal Vasculature
by Kevin J. Parker, Jonathan J. Carroll-Nellenback and Ronald W. Wood
Acoustics 2019, 1(2), 369-381; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1020020 - 9 Apr 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5389
Abstract
The fractal branching vasculature within soft tissues and the mathematical properties of the branching system influence a wide range of important phenomena from blood velocity to ultrasound backscatter. Among the mathematical descriptors of branching networks, the spatial autocorrelation function plays an important role [...] Read more.
The fractal branching vasculature within soft tissues and the mathematical properties of the branching system influence a wide range of important phenomena from blood velocity to ultrasound backscatter. Among the mathematical descriptors of branching networks, the spatial autocorrelation function plays an important role in statistical measures of the tissue and of wave propagation through the tissue. However, there are open questions about analytic models of the 3D autocorrelation function for the branching vasculature and few experimental validations for soft vascularized tissue. To address this, high resolution computed tomography scans of a highly vascularized placenta perfused with radiopaque contrast through the umbilical artery were examined. The spatial autocorrelation function was found to be consistent with a power law, which then, in theory, predicts the specific power law behavior of other related functions, including the backscatter of ultrasound. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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21 pages, 5938 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nonlinear Propagation of Focused Ultrasound on the Stable Cavitation of a Single Bubble
by Marjan Bakhtiari-Nejad and Shima Shahab
Acoustics 2019, 1(1), 14-34; https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1010003 - 6 Dec 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6083
Abstract
Many biomedical applications such as ultrasonic targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and molecular imaging entail the problems of manipulating microbubbles by means of a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) pressure field; namely stable cavitation. In high-intensity acoustic field, bubbles demonstrate translational instability, the well-known [...] Read more.
Many biomedical applications such as ultrasonic targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and molecular imaging entail the problems of manipulating microbubbles by means of a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) pressure field; namely stable cavitation. In high-intensity acoustic field, bubbles demonstrate translational instability, the well-known erratic dancing motion, which is caused by shape oscillations of the bubbles that are excited by their volume oscillations. The literature of bubble dynamics in the HIFU field is mainly centered on experiments, lacking a systematic study to determine the threshold for shape oscillations and translational motion. In this work, we extend the existing multiphysics mathematical modeling platform on bubble dynamics for taking account of (1) the liquid compressibility which allows us to apply a high-intensity acoustic field; (2) the mutual interactions of volume pulsation, shape modes, and translational motion; as well as (3) the effects of nonlinearity, diffraction, and absorption of HIFU to incorporate the acoustic nonlinearity due to wave kinematics or medium—all in one model. The effects of acoustic nonlinearity on the radial pulsations, axisymmetric modes of shape oscillations, and translational motion of a bubble, subjected to resonance and off-resonance excitation and various acoustic pressure, are examined. The results reveal the importance of considering all the involved harmonics and wave distortion in the bubble dynamics, to accurately predict the oscillations, translational trajectories, and the threshold for inertial (unstable) cavitation. This result is of interest for understanding the bubble dynamical behaviors observed experimentally in the HIFU field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics in Biomedical Engineering)
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