The acoustic properties, centered on 20 MHZ, of an IEC agar-based tissue-mimicking material and its temperature, frequency and age dependence

The purpose of this study was to characterize the ultrasonic properties of agar-based tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) at ultrasound frequencies centered around 20 MHz. The TMM acoustic properties measured are the amplitude attenuation coefficient alpha (dB cm(-1)MHz(-1)), the speed of sound (ms(-1)) and the backscattered power spectral density (distribution of power per unit frequency normalized to the total received power) characteristics of spectral slope (dB MHz(-1)), y-axis intercept (dB) and reflected power (dB). The acoustic properties are measured over a temperature range of 22 to 37 degrees C. An intercomparison of results between two independent ultrasound measurement laboratories is also presented. A longitudinal study of the acoustic properties over a period of two years is also detailed, and the effect of water immersion on the acoustic properties of TMM is measured. In addition, the physical parameters of mass density rho (kg m(-3)) and specific heat capacity C (J kg(-1) K(-1)) are included. The measurement techniques used were based on the substitution technique using both broadband and narrowband pulses centered on 20 MHz. Both the attenuation coefficient and speed of sound (both group and phase) showed good agreement with the expected values of 0.5 dB cm(-1) MHz(-1) and 1540 ms(-1), respectively, with average values over the three-year period of 0.49 dBcm(-1)MHz1 (SD +/- 0.05) and 1540.9 ms(-1) (SD +/- 8.7). These results also showed agreement between the two independent measurement laboratories. Speed of sound and attenuation coefficient were shown to change with temperature with rates of + 2.1 m s(-1) degrees C(-1) and -0.005 dB cm(-1) MHz(-1) degrees C(-1), respectively. Attenuation changed linearly with frequency at the high frequency range of 17 to 23 MHz, and speed of sound was found to be independent of frequency in this range. The spectral slope of relative backscattered power for the material increased with frequency at typically 1.5 dB MHz(-1). This compared favorably with theoretical spectral slope values, calculated for a variety of scatterer sizes, albeit at a lower frequency range. It is also noticed that, on extrapolation back to lower frequencies, the backscatter is comparable with that measured at 7 MHz. Overall, this non-commercial agar-based TMM is shown to perform as expected at the higher frequency range of 17 to 23 MHz and is seen to retain its acoustic properties of attenuation and speed of sound over a three-year period.