Characterization of changes in therapeutic ultrasound transducer performance over time using the angular spectrum method.

Strongly focused large aperture transducers used in high-intensity focused ultrasound treatments are prone to manufacturing defects and degradation. Current methods for evaluating transducer quality measure only bulk physical changes of transducers. We have determined the pressure distribution at the transducer surface, using the angular spectrum method, to detect defects of the transducer. Three ...