2014 PAN AMERICAN HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES (PAHCE). CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS. COOPERATION / LINKAGES.

INTERCAMBIOS DE CUIDADO MÉDICO PANAMERICANOS. CONFERENCIA, TALLERES Y EXHIBICIONES. COOPERACIÓN / ENLACES.

A transducer array design for Acoustic Frozen Waves generation with a kerf
optimization for Biomedical applications
L. Castellanos, I. Bazán, A. Ramírez-García
SEPI ESIME-Zacatenco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional,
Unidad ALM, Edif. Z, Acceso 3, 3er. Piso, Del. GAM, C.P. 07738, D.F., México
Email: 99071684l@gmail.com, Ph. (+52)55-57296000, ext. 54622.

Abstract –– In this paper, a design of transducer array to
implement Biomedical Applications by Acoustics Frozen
Waves, such as diathermy, hyperthermia, tissue ablation tissue,
is presented. The example shows a method to obtain an optimal
space between rings (kerf) for each Fz, based on minimization
of RMSE. The results of kerf VS RMSE, for our synthesizing
functions Fz, show that the minimum kerf is the best for a
minor RMSE. However, the optimum kerf is dependent of field
pattern Fz, over z axis. Finally, we proposed the inspection of
other parameters such as the position of each ring, the
harmonic distortion of the driving signals, the variations on the
amplitude and phase of the driving signals, and others, are
proposed.
over a certain space with a previous chosen longitudinal
field pattern.
In the present work, an example of transducer array design
for Acoustic Frozen Waves generation is shown, based on
similar method of J.-Y. Lu et. al. [6]. The present design is
different from [6] in the selection of a constant step for the
central radius of the rings, and the step value is related
directly with the maximum frequency in the longitudinal
field pattern. In this example, a optimization of the space
between rings (kerf) of array for a specific longitudinal
function pattern Fz is presented.

Keywords –– Acoustic Frozen Waves, Transducer Array

Design, Kerf Optimization. II. METHODOLOGY

IIa. Acoustics Frozen Waves Method

I. INTRODUCTION
Castellanos et. al. proposed a methodology to obtain
Frozen Waves (FW) are limited-diffraction solutions for Acoustics FW by the integration over β parameter of Bessel
the scalar wave equation. FW are a superposition of Bessel Beams, in [4]. Similar to the method of Dartora et. al. in
Beams with the same frequency but with different optics [9], the required steps are:
longitudinal wave numbers. The main characteristics of FW
are that remain static in space and keep the arbitrary i) To choose: the maximum profundity of depth Zmax, the
longitudinal field pattern [1]. maximum radius of transducer array a, the longitudinal
function pattern to synthesizing Fz, the wave number
ଶగ௙
A patent in [2], by Recami et. al., describes the method and ݇ ൌ బ , the sampling frequency Fs, and the parameters γ,
௖
apparatus to generating FW in optics. Prego et. al. in [3], Q, βmax and βmin. The following equations are employed [4]:
propose an annular array to generate Acoustics FW. In [4],
Castellanos et. al. proposed a method to overcome the high
constrains in the annular array construction to produce FW. ௞ ௔మ
‫ܨ‬௦ ൐ ට మ మ (1)
గ ௓ ೘ೌೣ ା௔
In the Annular array design thematic, specific for Bessel
beams, four of the main methods for transducer design of
the Bessel transducer are the next: 1) to apply a Bessel ೋ೘ೌೣ
polarization over a piezoelectric disc implemented by D. K. ೌ
మ
݇൏ߛ൏ͳ (2)
Hsu et. al. [5], 2) to construct an annular array using some ටଵାቀೋ೘ೌೣ ቁ
ೌ
rings implemented by J.-Y. Lu et. al. [6], 3) to construct an
annular array from a piezoelectric disc of discrete Bessel
polarization presented by J. A. Eiras et. al. [7], 4) or using ೋ೘ೌೣ
the radial modes in homogeneously poled piezoelectric discs ௞
ܳൌ ቌ ೌ
మ
൅ ߛቍ (3)
ଶ ටଵାቀೋ೘ೌೣ ቁ
presented by H. Calás et. al. [8]. ೌ

The conventional transducers can generate only a fixed

acoustics field, while the transducer array for acoustic ೋ೘ೌೣ
Frozen Wave Generation can generate energy deposition ߚ௠௜௡ ൌ ೌ
మ
݇െܳ (4)
ටଵାቀೋ೘ೌೣ ቁ
ೌ

APRIL 7 – 12, 2014, BRASILIA, BRAZIL ISBN: 978-1-4799-3555-0

978-1-4799-3555-0/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE IEEE Catalog Number: CFP1418G-ART
 2014 PAN AMERICAN HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES (PAHCE). CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS. COOPERATION / LINKAGES.
INTERCAMBIOS DE CUIDADO MÉDICO PANAMERICANOS. CONFERENCIA, TALLERES Y EXHIBICIONES. COOPERACIÓN / ENLACES.

ߚ௠௔௫ ൌ ߛ݇ െ ܳ (5) Castellanos et al. [4] propose a method to design a

Piezoelectric Annular Array Transducer to produce
Acoustics FW. For this case, a Sampling Frequency of the
Where c is the velocity of propagation in the medium and f0 Maximum Radius of annular Array is obtained in (1). To
is the central frequency of transducer. choice the best kerf the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)
was evaluated by:
ii) To obtain Fβ, by the Fourier transform of Fz the
following equation is used:
మ
σಹ
೓సబൣః೏ ሺ௥ୀ଴ǡ௭೓ ሻିః೏̴೏೔ೞ೎ೝ೐೟೐ ሺ௥ୀ଴ǡ௭೓ ǡ௞௘௥௙ሻ൧
ܴ‫ ܧܵܯ‬ൌ ට (10)
ு
ଵ ାஶ
‫ܨ‬ఉ ൌ ‫ି ݁ ܨ ׬‬௝ఉ௭ ݀‫ݖ‬
ଶగ ିஶ ௭
(6)

where H are the number points to evaluate the Acoustics FW

iii) To find the apodization function the following over z axis, zh is a point over the z axis, ߔௗ is the continuous
equation is used: diffracted Acoustic FW given by (8) and (9), ߔௗ̴ௗ௜௦௖௥௘௧௘ is
the annular array diffracted Acoustic FW.

ఉ
‫ܨ‬௔௣ ൌ ‫׬‬ఉ ೘ೌೣ ‫ܨ‬ఉ ‫ܬ‬଴ ሺߙ‫ݎ‬ሻ߲ߚ (7)
೘೔೙
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

iv) To produce the simulated acoustic FW field, by
driving the annular array with the apodization function Fap
and by simulate the diffraction process. For this example,
the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld equation in cylindrical
coordinates is used:
For this example, the following values were chosen: Zmax =
100 mm , a = 15 mm, ݇ ൌ ͳͷ͹Ͳͺ (F0 = 3.85 MHz), γ = 1, Q
= 15655 in (3), βmax = 87.0803 and βmin = -87.0803 in (4) and
(5), the sampling frequency Fs > 741.7 [1/mm] in (1), and:

‫ܨ‬௭ ൌ ߜ൫‫ ݖ‬െ ܼ௣ ൯ (11)

௔ ଶగ ௔ ଶగ
௝௞௥బభ ௝௞௥బభ
‫ݖ‬ ݁ ‫ݖ‬ ݁
ߔௗ ൌ න න ‫ܨ‬௔௣ ଶ ߲߲߮‫ ݎ‬൅ න න ‫ܨ‬௔௣ ଷ ߲߲߮‫ݎ‬
݆ߣ ‫ݎ‬଴ଵ ʹߨ ‫ݎ‬଴ଵ
଴ ଴ ଴ ଴ Where G is a Kronecker Delta Function, Zp is the position
(8) over z axis of the function Fz, in our case employ 3 different
points [Zmax/3, Zmax/2, 2Zmax/3]. From the (6) and (11), we
‫ݎ‬଴ଵ ൌ ඥ‫ݖ‬଴ଶ ൅ ‫ ݎ‬ଶ ൅ ‫ݎ‬଴ଶ െ ʹ‫ݎ‬଴ ‫ݏ݋ܿݎ‬ሺ߮ሻ (9) can to obtain the function Fβ:

Where λ is the wavelength, M is the azimuth angle in the ‫ܨ‬ఉ ൌ

cylindrical coordinates reference, r is the Euclidean distance
from the z axis, and r01 is the distance from a point over
circular aperture with apodization Fap(r, M) to a viewpoint
P0=(r0, z0).
IIb. Annular Transducer Design for Acoustics FW
generation
Some parameters are critic in the construction of
piezoelectric transducers for production of acoustic FW
applied to Biomedical cases. For example, with the
conventional method to produce Acoustics FW are
necessary some sets of ten rings elements [3]. Each element
requires precise amplitudes and precise phase driving
signals to form the approximated longitudinal pattern signal
Fz. Furthermore, these elements have width of less than one
millimeter, which makes their construction difficult.
ଵ
݁ ି௝ఉ௓೛ (12)
ଶగ
We obtain the numerical solution for continuous (complete
aperture transducer) and discrete cases (annular array
transducer), from computing the numerical solution of Fap
from (7), and using this in the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld, from
(8) and (9). The above equations ware programmed in C,
and Gnuplot was used for the figures. Finally, from the (10),
the RMSE was calculated and it is shown in the figure 1, for
the 3 points in the z axis.
For the three cases the smaller RMSE is for the minor kerf
value, in the practice this parameter is constrained by the
size of the cut tool and the precision of the machine
engraving. Also, the RMSE is different for each function Fz,
and cannot be generalized for all functions Fz.

APRIL 7 – 12, 2014, BRASILIA, BRAZIL ISBN: 978-1-4799-3555-0

IEEE Catalog Number: CFP1418G-ART
 2014 PAN AMERICAN HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES (PAHCE). CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS. COOPERATION / LINKAGES.
INTERCAMBIOS DE CUIDADO MÉDICO PANAMERICANOS. CONFERENCIA, TALLERES Y EXHIBICIONES. COOPERACIÓN / ENLACES.

the transducer face for discrete FW are more difficult to

synthesize, but have good agreement over the far distance.
The main characteristic of FW is to achieve a beamforming
of a chosen Fz over the z axis, with a high focused pressure
field. The Acoustic FW field can be employed to produce
hot points on of tissue for diverse applications such as
diathermy, hyperthermia, tissue characterization, acoustic
scalpel, ablation tissue, etc.

Fig. 1. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for diverse Kerfs distributed over
0.25 to 0.75 mm, for 3 different positions of FZ function (Kronecker Delta).

From the sampling frequency Fs and radius a, can be

obtained the minimum number of rings, in our case is 12.
The figure 2 and 3 shows the discretization of the aperture
transducer, for the relative amplitude and phase for each
element of annular array.

Fig. 3. Relative Phase of Driving Signals in continuous (thin line) and

discrete (thick line) case, for 3 different positions of FZ function (Kronecker
Delta).

Fig. 2. Relative Amplitude of Driving Signals in continuous (thin line) and

discrete (thick line) case, for 3 different positions of FZ function (Kronecker
Delta).
The relative acoustic pressure field over the z axis, in r = 0
mm (see figure 4), was generated from driving the annular
array with the sine signals characterized with the amplitudes
and phases shown in figures 2 and 3. Three cases are
presented for the three points over z in [Zmax/3, Zmax/2,
2Zmax/3]. The plot shows that the simulations of field near to
Fig. 4. Relative Acoustic Pressure Field generated by Acoustic FW in
continuous (thin line) and discrete (thick line) case, for 3 different
positions of FZ function (Kronecker Delta).
The results show a good performance for this example with
a new methodology of Transducer Array design for the
Frozen Waves construction. As future work it is planned to

APRIL 7 – 12, 2014, BRASILIA, BRAZIL ISBN: 978-1-4799-3555-0

IEEE Catalog Number: CFP1418G-ART
 2014 PAN AMERICAN HEALTH CARE EXCHANGES (PAHCE). CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS. COOPERATION / LINKAGES.
INTERCAMBIOS DE CUIDADO MÉDICO PANAMERICANOS. CONFERENCIA, TALLERES Y EXHIBICIONES. COOPERACIÓN / ENLACES.

construct a Hardware system and a Transducer Array with
the present design to generate Frozen Waves. The future
experimental implementation can be used in the diathermy
or hyperthermia of tissue, for example in the treatment of
cancer.
homogeneously poled piezoelectric disks: Modeling and
experimental analysis”, Physics Procedia, No. 3, pp. 585-591,
2010.
[9] Dartora C. A., Nobrega K. Z., Dartora A., Viana G. A.,
Tertuliano A., Filho S., “A general theory for the frozen waves
and their realization through finite apertures”. Optics
Comunnications, Vol. 265, pp. 481-487, 2006.

V. CONCLUSION

In this paper, an example of array transducer design to

produce Acoustic FW was showed. A method to obtain an
optimal kerf for each Fz, based on minimization of RMSE is
described. The results of figure 1 (kerf VS RMSE), for our
synthesizing function Fz, shows that the minimum kerf is the
best for a smaller RMSE. The transducer of FW is different
of Bessel transducer in the size of rings. However, in the FW
case the optimum kerf is dependent of pattern field Fz, over z
axis. Finally, we proposed an inspection of other parameters
like: the position of each ring, the harmonic distortion of the
driving signals, the variations on the amplitude and phase of
the driving signals, to obtain a best optimization and
analysis.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was developed in the Instituto Politécnico

Nacional, ESIME-Zacatenco Ultrasound Research
Laboratories. The Post-Doctoral Research of L. Castellanos
in SEPI-ESIME-IPN are being supported by CONACYT
Estancias Postdoctorales Convocatoria 2013(1).

REFERENCES

[1] Zamboni-Rached M., Recami E., Hernández-Figueroa H. E.,

“Theory of “frozen waves”:modelon the shape of stationary
wave fields”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, Vol. 22, No. 11, pp. 2465-
2475, 2005.
[2] Recami E., Zamboni-Rached M, Hernández-Figueroa H. E.,
Abate V., Dartora C. A., Nobrega K. Z., MAttiuzzi M., Patent:
“Method and apparatus for producing stationary intense wave
fields of arbitrary shape”, Patent US 20110100880 A1, 2011.
[3] Prego J. L., Zambino-Rached M., Recami E., Hernández-
Figueroa H. E., “Producing Acoustic “Frozen Waves”:
Simulated experiments”, UFFC, 60 (11): 2414-2425, 2013.
[4] Castellanos L., Bazán I., “Acoustics Frozen Waves by the
integration over beta parameter of Bessel Beams”, unpublished,
in revision on Acta Acústica united with Acustica.
[5] D. K. Hsu, F. J. Margetan, D. O. Thompson, “Bessel Beam
Ultrasonic Transducer: Fabrication Method and Experimental
Results”, Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 55 (20), p. 2066, 1989.
[6] J.-Y. Lu, J. F. Greenleaf, “Ultrasonic non-diffracting transducer
for medical imaging”, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonic,
Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp 438-
447, 1990.
[7] J. A. Eiras, E. Moreno, H. Calas, A. Aulet, C. A. Negreira, L.
Leija, G. Gonzáles, “Vibration modes in ultrasonic Bessel
transducer”, IEEE Ultrasonic Symp., pp. 1314-1317, 2003.
[8] H. Calás, J. A. Eiras, D. Conti, L. Castellanos, A. Ramos, E.
Moreno, “Bessel-like response in transducer based on

APRIL 7 – 12, 2014, BRASILIA, BRAZIL ISBN: 978-1-4799-3555-0

IEEE Catalog Number: CFP1418G-ART