Thermal dosimetry models for diagnostic ultrasound

Research work carried out on the potential thermal impact of diagnostic ultrasound is reviewed and extended. In particular, the heated disk approach developed as part of the ongoing National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) effort is reviewed in some detail. Computer simulations have been developed and exercised to generate axial temperature profiles. The results of these simulations are presented to demonstrate the effects various transducer and tissue parameters have on the axial profiles. The role of the transducer as a thermal element and a source of heat is discussed. Extensions of two-dimensional scanning are discussed along with simplified thermal models