New formulations for realization and characterization of homogeneous tissue mimicking materials for HIFU exposures

In this paper a novel formulation for the realization of homogenous transparent and tunable attenuating tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) has been reported. Although many hydrogel based materials have been proposed for high intensity ultrasonic field characterization, no one fully satisfies the requested acoustic and optical properties. Using concentrated salts solutions and different polysaccharide molecules, a simple preparation method has been developed to obtain this new class of TMMs. Physical properties of these TMMs have been investigated by an accurate mechanical and acoustic characterization. Furthermore, a short discussion about the mechanism of ultrasonic attenuation given by salts solutions embedded in polymeric matrix has been conducted. Finally, by means of an experiment on protein denaturation induced by HIFU, the different mechanism underlying lesions formation occurring in a transparent TMM with and without salt has been revealed. Shown results supply a new starting point for the production of TMMs suitable for HIFU characterization.