Determination of deployable transducer array dimensions for treating ocular melanomas
Open Access
- Author:
- Moore, Nicholas
- Area of Honors:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Ryan L Harne, Thesis Supervisor
Daniel Humberto Cortes Correales, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Ultrasound
transducer array
HIFU
Miura-Ori
Ocular Melanomas - Abstract:
- One promising new treatment method for solid tumors uses high intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU, generated from a transducer array to focus a necessary acoustic pressure at the site of the tumor to induce thermal ablation [1]. In current operation, these transducer arrays are large and extracorporeal, limiting the treatment to tumors that are not deep within the body [1]. This project is focused on negating the drawbacks of current HIFU treatments by developing the design parameters for a smaller, foldable array that can be implanted within the body using laparoscopic surgery to treat ocular melanomas. This process increases the proximity of the array to tumors deep within the body so that they can be treated with this new procedure. One candidate for an array design uses a tessellated Miura-ori geometry to mimic the shape of a hemisphere. Using an analytical model that predicts the acoustic pressure generated by the array design and the subsequent thermal rises attributed, the efficacy of a given design for treating ocular melanomas can be determined. Using the same method, it was first determined that an ideal arc transducer had the ability to achieve necessary focusing to thermally ablate a tumor comparable to an ocular melanoma. After proving the ability of transducer arrays to treat these solid tumors, tailoring the dimensions, driving power, and positioning of the Miura-ori array through parametric investigation determined that a Miura-ori tessellated geometry mimicking that of an ideal arc transducer is able to achieve necessary focusing for ocular melanoma treatment. With these determined design parameters, a prototype HIFU probe can be manufactured by external collaborators and used in pre-clinical testing.