2025/06/01 by Fernanda F. F. Lucena, André L. Baggio, José P. Leão-Neto +1 · 1 voice
Engineering · Medicine · #Ultrasonics and Acoustic Wave Propagation #Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research #Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography
paper · doi:10.1121/10.0036813
openalex publication_date 2025/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
We propose an ultrasound waveguide system based on a cascade of spherical lenses, capable of guiding and achieving subwavelength focusing beams. Using COMSOL multiphysics, we performed numerical simulations of an acoustic waveguide system comprising one to four cascaded spherical lenses, irradiated by a 1 MHz single-element flat transducer. Experimental analyses were conducted to validate the numerical model. The waveguide and subwavelength characteristics were measured by their full width and full length at half maximum, and the normalized acoustic intensity in the shadow region of each configuration. Our results demonstrate that the system can transmit subwavelength-focused beams over millimeter distances with minimal acoustic intensity loss. Notably, the focused beam remains effective even when the lenses are misaligned. This waveguide system shows promise for practical applications, such as non-destructive testing (NDT), where its ability to propagate highly focused waves with minimal loss improves defect detection in complex materials. Its scalability and robustness against misalignment also make it ideal for portable or fiber-based acoustic imaging devices. These features broaden its utility in minimally invasive biomedical imaging, where precision and adaptability are critical.