Spatial placement of multiple ultrasound transducers for bending thin catheter in vivo blood vessel

Abstract

We are currently developing a research to control a thin catheter by forming acoustic radiation force. In an actual medical practice, positioning of the transducers on body surface is limited due to various shape of body surface or blood vessel on each patient. The purpose of this study to examine with various spatial placement conditions of the transducer to bend a thin catheter. Acoustic radiation force were produced to bend of the catheter in the direction perpendicular to the sound axis with various placement of transducers in line or point symmetrically. Focal position of the sound field was arranged with a step by 0.2 mm to measure the displacement of the catheter. We found that more displacement was obtained with a line symmetric arrangement rather than a point symmetric arrangement. Also, we compared the superiority of each arrangement condition through the obtained displacement.