Dual-Frequency Ultrasound Transducers for the Detection of Morphological Changes of Deep-Layered Muscles

It is evident that surface electromyography (sEMG)-based sensing approach for human–machine interfaces has some inherent limitations for applications requiring morphological changes information of deep-layered muscles, such as dexterous prosthetic hands. In this paper, the design, simulation, fabrication, and evaluation for a series of novel structured ultrasound transducers are conducted in order to develop a type of A-mode ultrasound transducers that overcome the drawbacks of the sEMG-based sensing. The transducers cover single-frequency and dual-frequency types. Their key parameters, the acoustic impedance and thickness of the matching layer, are simulated and verified by PZFlex. The parameters are designed as 0.3 times of the 1–3 composite piezoelectric’s acoustic impedance and 0.25 times of the wavelength, respectively. The characterizations of the dual-frequency transducers significantly outperform single-frequency transducers. The experiments of recognizing dexterous hand gesture are designed to detect morphological changes information of deep-layered muscles. The classification accuracy improvements with linear discrimination analysis are 7.3% and 4.7%, and with support vector machine are 14.1% and 13.4% for the horizontal stacked and annulus array. This preliminary study concludes that the dual-frequency transducers have huge potential for applications that need contraction information of deep-layered muscles over the single-frequency transducers, letting alone sEMG-based sensors.

[1]  Mehran Jahed,et al.  An exploratory study to design a novel hand movement identification system , 2009, Comput. Biol. Medicine.

[2]  J. Topete,et al.  Annular multifrequency piezoelectric array for enhanced wideband ultrasonic response , 2014, IEEE SENSORS 2014 Proceedings.

[3]  N. de Jong,et al.  Dual-pulse frequency compounded superharmonic imaging , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[4]  Huzefa Rangwala,et al.  Novel Method for Predicting Dexterous Individual Finger Movements by Imaging Muscle Activity Using a Wearable Ultrasonic System , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[5]  F. Stuart Foster,et al.  Hybrid dual frequency transducer and Scanhead for micro-ultrasound imaging , 2009, 2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[6]  Jianguo Ma,et al.  Acoustic radiation force (ARF) generation with a novel dual-frequency intravascular transducer , 2014, 2014 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[7]  Honghai Liu,et al.  Multi-Modal Sensing Techniques for Interfacing Hand Prostheses: A Review , 2015, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[8]  Thor Andreas Tangen,et al.  Nonlinear propagation acoustics of dual-frequency wide-band excitation pulses in a focused ultrasound system. , 2010, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

[9]  Carlo Menon,et al.  Exploration of Force Myography and surface Electromyography in hand gesture classification. , 2017, Medical engineering & physics.

[10]  Christopher M. Frost,et al.  Development of a Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface for Control of a Neuroprosthetic Limb , 2016, BioMed research international.

[11]  Honghai Liu,et al.  A New Wearable Ultrasound Muscle Activity Sensing System for Dexterous Prosthetic Control , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[12]  Paul A. Dayton,et al.  A 3 MHz/18 MHz dual-layer co-linear array for transrectal acoustic angiography , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS).

[13]  Xiaoning Jiang,et al.  Design factors of intravascular dual frequency transducers for super-harmonic contrast imaging and acoustic angiography , 2015, Physics in medicine and biology.

[14]  Xiaoning Jiang,et al.  Dual-frequency IVUS transducer for acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS).

[15]  Douglas N. Stephens,et al.  Spatial and Temporal-Controlled Tissue Heating on a Modified Clinical Ultrasound Scanner for Generating Mild Hyperthermia in Tumors , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[16]  Jing-Yi Guo,et al.  Recognition of finger flexion motion from ultrasound image: a feasibility study. , 2012, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[17]  Thomas L. Szabo,et al.  Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging: Inside Out , 2004 .

[18]  Jing-Yi Guo,et al.  Recognition of Finger Flexion from Ultrasound Image with Optical Flow: A Preliminary Study , 2010, 2010 International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science.

[19]  Qinghua Huang,et al.  Continuous Monitoring of Sonomyography, Electromyography and Torque Generated by Normal Upper Arm Muscles During Isometric Contraction: Sonomyography Assessment for Arm Muscles , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[20]  Honghai Liu,et al.  Performances of surface EMG and Ultrasound signals in recognizing finger motion , 2016, 2016 9th International Conference on Human System Interactions (HSI).

[21]  Xuecang Geng,et al.  Design and phantom testing of a bi-frequency co-linear array , 2014, 2014 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[22]  Josef Parvizi,et al.  Hand posture classification using electrocorticography signals in the gamma band over human sensorimotor brain areas , 2013, Journal of neural engineering.

[23]  C. Prins,et al.  Super-harmonic imaging: development of an interleaved phased-array transducer , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[24]  J. Mcmeeken,et al.  The relationship between EMG and change in thickness of transversus abdominis. , 2004, Clinical biomechanics.

[25]  Nico de Jong,et al.  A new ultrasonic transducer for improved contrast nonlinear imaging. , 2004, Physics in medicine and biology.

[26]  Jana Kosecka,et al.  Real-time, ultrasound-based control of a virtual hand by a trans-radial amputee. , 2016, Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference.

[27]  Jianguo Ma,et al.  A preliminary engineering design of intravascular dual-frequency transducers for contrast-enhanced acoustic angiography and molecular imaging , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control.

[28]  Jana Kosecka,et al.  Real-Time Classification of Hand Motions Using Ultrasound Imaging of Forearm Muscles , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[29]  Akira Sasaki,et al.  Dual frequency array transducer for ultrasonic-enhanced transcranial thrombolysis , 2003, IEEE Symposium on Ultrasonics, 2003.

[30]  Hairong Zheng,et al.  A sensitive TLRH targeted imaging technique for ultrasonic molecular imaging , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[31]  F. Stuart Foster,et al.  Acoustic Angiography: A New Imaging Modality for Assessing Microvasculature Architecture , 2013, Int. J. Biomed. Imaging.

[32]  Kathryn Ziegler-Graham,et al.  Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. , 2008, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[33]  Yuefeng Li,et al.  Human-machine interface based on multi-channel single-element ultrasound transducers: A preliminary study , 2016, 2016 IEEE 18th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom).

[34]  Qifa Zhou,et al.  Multi-frequency intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control.

[35]  Qifa Zhou,et al.  High-Resolution Acoustic-Radiation-Force-Impulse Imaging for Assessing Corneal Sclerosis , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging.

[36]  Jianguo Ma,et al.  Small aperture, dual frequency ultrasound transducers for intravascular contrast imaging , 2013, 2013 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS).

[37]  M. Legros,et al.  3F-6 Ultra-Wide Bandwidth Array for New Imaging Modalities , 2007, 2007 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Proceedings.

[38]  A. Ergun,et al.  Efficient array design for sonotherapy , 2008, Physics in medicine and biology.

[39]  L. Hoff,et al.  Design and prototyping of dual layer linear arrays , 2014, 2014 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[40]  Zhi-Hong Mao,et al.  Limitations of Surface EMG Signals of Extrinsic Muscles in Predicting Postures of Human Hand , 2006, 2006 International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[41]  N. Birbaumer,et al.  Brain–computer interfaces for communication and rehabilitation , 2016, Nature Reviews Neurology.

[42]  Akira Sasaki,et al.  Dual-frequency ultrasound imaging and therapeutic bilaminar array using frequency selective isolation layer , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[43]  Daniel R Merrill,et al.  Development of an implantable myoelectric sensor for advanced prosthesis control. , 2011, Artificial organs.

[44]  R. Cobbold.  Foundations of Biomedical Ultrasound , 2006 .

[45]  A. Sasaki,et al.  Prototype dual frequency bilaminar array transducer capable of therapeutic exposure at 500 kHz and Doppler monitoring at 2 MHz , 2004, IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2004.

[46]  Claudio Castellini,et al.  Ultrasound image features of the wrist are linearly related to finger positions , 2011, 2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

[47]  Paul A Dayton,et al.  Mapping microvasculature with acoustic angiography yields quantifiable differences between healthy and tumor-bearing tissue volumes in a rodent model. , 2012, Radiology.

[48]  A. Nitz,et al.  Measurement of lumbar multifidus muscle contraction with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. , 2007, Manual therapy.

[49]  A. Bouakaz,et al.  Dual-frequency transducer for nonlinear contrast agent imaging , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[50]  Dalong Liu,et al.  Real-time implementation of a dual-mode ultrasound array system: In vivo results , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium.

[51]  Jin Chang,et al.  Ultrasound transducer and system for real-time simultaneous therapy and diagnosis for noninvasive surgery of prostate tissue , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[52]  Y. Zheng,et al.  Sonomyography: monitoring morphological changes of forearm muscles in actions with the feasibility for the control of powered prosthesis. , 2006, Medical engineering & physics.

[53]  Angkoon Phinyomark,et al.  EMG feature evaluation for improving myoelectric pattern recognition robustness , 2013, Expert Syst. Appl..

[54]  C. Castellini,et al.  Using Ultrasound Images of the Forearm to Predict Finger Positions , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[55]  Jing-Yi Guo,et al.  Dynamic monitoring of forearm muscles using one-dimensional sonomyography system. , 2008, Journal of rehabilitation research and development.