Polyacrylamide hydrogel, an ultrasonic coupling agent: optimization process and acoustic performance characterization
10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1635
- VernacularTitle:超声耦合剂聚丙烯酰胺水凝胶的配比优化工艺及其声学性能表征
- Author:
Jianwen HUANG
1
;
Botian HUANG
;
Wenbin ZHAO
;
Mengzhen MIN
;
Kun LI
;
Shuyi LI
;
Hailiang WANG
;
Chao ZHANG
Author Information
1. 中山大学生物医学工程学院
- From:
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
2019;23(10):1533-1539
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Ultrasonic coupling agent is indispensable in ultrasonic imaging. The service life and change frequency of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the internal coupling agent of the chosen hydrogel material. Due to defects in the existing gel-formula, after a period of time in use it can cause the surface depression of probes and thus influence the ultrasonic imaging quality. OBJECTIVE: To optimize the gel formula of the coupling agent. METHODS: The amplified synthesis process of polyacrylamide hydrogel was optimized by changing the ratio of monomer concentration to N, N-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker in the synthesis conditions, and the factors influencing its acoustic properties were explored to meet the technical requirements in the clinical use process. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the monomer concentration was set to 70 g/L and the mass ratio of monomer to crosslinker was 7:1, the polyacrylamide hydrogel was in the best state. The obtained polyacrylamide hydrogel had a stable swelling rate, had a strong ability to keep water and make the volume reduce under the influence of the operating temperature of ultrasound, and its relative amplitude changed less with the change of ultrasonic frequency. The sound attenuation coefficient of polyacrylamide hydrogel would be higher when the frequency of ultrasonic sound source was higher. The changes of monomer concentration would have significant impacts on the acoustic properties of polyacrylamide hydrogel. Therefore, by controlling the monomer concentration ratio, we can prepare the coupling agent that exhibits relatively stable acoustic properties at an optimum concentration and achieves an optimal imaging effect.
