Ultrasound Power Measurement Techniques at NIST

Published

November 12, 1995

Author(s)

Steven E. Fick

Abstract

Megahertz-frequency sound waves with submillimeter wavelengths are widely used to probe the interior regions of many types of structures. When human tissues are exposed to ultrasound for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, the applied power levels must be both known and minimized. Calibration of ultrasonic equipment used in industry, medicine, and research is supported by NIST ultrasound power measurement services based on a radiation force balance (RFB) constructed at NBS in 1974. In this apparatus, incident waterborne ultrasound exerts on an absorptive target a radiation force proportional to the time-averaged spatially-integrated power. Special RFB design features allow this force to be isolated from confounding ones consequent to buoyancy, surface tension, and vibration, and to be balanced by a counterforce generated by an actuator calibrated against reference masses using dc current as the transfer variable. Minimization of instrumental measurement uncertainties for the RFB has required the development of equipment and techniques which, while perhaps too elaborate for general use in ultrasound power measurements, are described as elements of possible solutions to other measurement problems.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the 1995 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, 95-WA/NCA-18 (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

Conference Dates

November 12-17, 1995

Conference Location

San Francisco, CA

Conference Title

1995 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Medical ultrasonic, Ultrasonics, Ultrasound power measurement

Citation

Fick, S. (1995), Ultrasound Power Measurement Techniques at NIST, Proceedings of the 1995 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, 95-WA/NCA-18 (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers), San Francisco, CA (Accessed April 18, 2024)