The development of ultrasound phased array applicators for hyperthermia cancer therapy. Phased arrays allow tumor volumes to be heated ultrasonically by electronic scanning of a focused beam over the treatment volume or by directly synthesizing a diffuse intensity pattern overlying tumor geometry. The inverse problem of determining the correct amplitude and phase of the driving signal for each applicator element provides interesting problems in acoustic wave propagation, thermal modeling, and optimization. Design of the complicated system requires extensive simulations often requiring use of supercomputers. Ultrasonic activation and delivery of pharmaceutical agents.
Intense ultrasound can activate certain drugs to be highly cytotoxic in situ.
The primary mechanism is most likely acoustic cavitation. Since ultrasound can be highly localized noninvasively, this promises to be an attractive drug delivery system, particularly for anticancer agents. Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, vol. Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, vol.