Photo Acoustic Thermal for Human Bone Characterization: A Feasibility Study ()
Received 8 July 2016; accepted 9 August 2016; published 12 August 2016
1. Introduction
The constraints associated with the safety in microwave and X-ray imaging, the high resolution inquired in medical imaging and limitation of the penetration depth for the energy inside human body, have raised concerns by medical researchers in achieving and accommodating high performance modality that provides the patient with safety and accepted resolution. The reliability of the modality is quite important in the diagnostic process; therefore, the image quality is of high demand in the practical model of the diagnostic system. In the past decade, the PA tomography has offered acceptable modality that overcomes such challenges [1] [2] . The concept of this modality is based on the absorption of the optical energy into acoustic energy. Since the wavelength of the acoustic wave is much higher than that of the optical waves, the PA based modalities are advantageous when dealing with the speed of blood flow [3] , and the metabolic rate of oxygen [4] . Since the PA imaging provides higher penetration depth, its applications in vascular imaging is unique. In a comparative study between this modality and others, the PA can support higher resolution at a greater depth within the human tissue or bone layer. The contrast level is a big feature in this case with minimum artifacts. In comparison with the X-ray, the PA will not result in blood ionizing case, and rather, the application of the laser illumination beam in the PA modality is non-ionizing process. In terms of the high-speed process modality, this one features a better speed as compared to the MRI imaging. Furthermore, this approach may feature applications to patients who may not be eligible to use MRI for limitation to pace makers or others. The broader impact and uniqueness of the use of this modality have attracted research interests in vascular surgery, neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, etc. [5] - [11] . The input source in this case is thermal, while the output is both thermal and acoustic.
2. Mathematical Model
The acoustic wave equation used by COMSOL is given by:
where Pt = P + Pb, and Pb is bio thermal pressure, P is the acoustic pressure, and
,
Boundary conditions
where m is the mass density, r is the location in space, and ω is the radian frequency. The sound hard boundary equation, matching normal where n is the unit vector normal to the surface. P is the acoustic pressure, c is the speed of sound, ρ is the material density, and k is the wave number.
The Bioheat equations are given as:
where q is the progressing source via the various layers of the materials, 
is the bio heat source, 
is the bio thermal temperature, and 
is the mass density of the material under bio thermal effect.
The effect of the thermo acoustic takes place at the interface between the catheter and the bone material. Therefore, it is important to consider the penetration depth throughout the materials. The drop over the interface is related to the mismatch of the acoustic impedance. The thermal penetration depth is the distance that the heat may travel through. The phonons in the sound possess same characteristics as in heat, therefore, the characteristic length for the thermal interaction between two media may be characterized by δ given as:
where k is the thermal conductivity, Vm the molar volume, and C is the molar heat capacity, given at constant pressure. In the simulation, the heat source 1 is given a constant number of Q0 centered at 2.46 cm, at a starting temperature T0 (was given 293.6 K) with a tissue of 2.46 cm.
3. Simulation Results
The mathematical models presented in Section 2 above were combined by COMSOL software to present the thermal distribution and the acoustic wave spread out within the bone layer. The parameters of the human bones used in the simulation are presented in Table 1.
The data presented here was based on comparative study for three different sources providing energy providing energy for 1 s, 3 s, and 5 s. The amount of energy is then released into the bone material, providing the dynamic fall time response for different energies. The sound pressure level is presented in Figure 1. This was based on 1 MPa, and was allowed for near 4.6 cm distance. It is noticeable that the higher pressure occurs at a level of higher thermal energy. The change in pressure from 1 s energy to 3 s energy sources was not quite the same as the change from 3 s energy to 5 s energy, citing a non-linearity in the pressure distribution with the magnitude of the source energy. The thermal temperature contours for the three types of sources were given in Figure 2. It is clear that the contour profile as well as the temperature distribution between the three energy sources were different. The hot spot at the focus point differ from 0.44 K at 1 s to 2.9 K for 3 s, and near 3.3 K at 5 s. Figure 3 gives the dynamic temperature response; rise time and fall time, for the three sources of energy. The temperature difference between the focus and 0.5 m far from focus was reported to be near 0.5 K, while for the 3 s source was found to be 0.7 K, and for the 5 s source was found near 1 K. Figure 4 presents the temperature distribution at the source site for 1 s and 2 s periods taken for the 1 s source. The intensity profile has been
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Table 1. Properties for human bone (cancellous) at 1 MHZ.
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Figure 1. 2-D sound pressure for 1, 3, and 5 second sources (given from left to right).
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Figure 2. Temperature contours for 1, 3, and 5 second sources (given from left to right).
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Figure 3. Temperature rise vs. time at focus and 0.5 mm off focus for 1, 3, and 5 second sources (given from left to right).
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Figure 4. The temperature and acoustic dynamic profiles for 1 s and 2 s.
found well proportional with the acoustic pressure. The theory supports power transmission for temperature and acoustic energy near 2.5 cm from both sides.
4. Conclusion and Future Work
The data presented here indicates the feasibility to have photo acoustic imaging that may penetrate to the cm range and diagnose multiple layers within the human body. The safety factor of this novel modality will bring research attention to future practical models. The work presented here serves as a first phase of a project that simulates multiple layers from the body skin, bone, and human arteries where fat cholesterol can be diagnosed. The properties of the acoustic reflected and transmitted powers in addition to the thermal expansion of the layers may be detected for the practical model, and this is reserved for future considerations. The various sources of energy emphasized the thermal response with a wide range of temperature difference from 0.5 K to 1 K. This data give promising approach to detect the temperature distribution across the bone materials. A typical practical model then can be followed using infrared scanner to detect the temperature distribution within the materials and their boundaries. In the future, this approach may be expanded to cover multiple layers including fat material inside the human arteries. The application towards cardiovascular is reserved for future consideration.
Acknowledgements
The authors and co-authors offer their great appreciation for the INDI Center at IUPUI for their support during the work of this study.