Transmission of 100-MHz-range ultrasound through a fused quartz fiber

We have studied transmission methods of high-frequency ultrasonic waves through a thin fiber for direct observation of the microscopic image of the tissue. We reported that high frequency ultrasonic waves (70 - 175MHz) transmitted approximately 1.6mm in the acoustic coupling medium, and a C-mode image of a coin placed in water was obtained using a tapered fused quartz fiber as the probe. In this paper, we describe that the lateral resolution was improved by focusing ultrasonic-beams radiated from a fused quartz fiber, and the improved C-mode image of an animal bone was obtained.