Application of linear ultrasonic array to investigation of non-homogeneous media

Abstract

An ultrasonic array approach is proposed for the investigation of the structure of a liquid non-stationary medium. Numerous experiments were performed with chemical polymerization and native human blood clotting. The transducer array is 8×8 mm, a single strip is 2 mm width. The chamber inner diameter is 13 mm, the length is 6 mm and the volume is 0.8 ml. The chamber is gold coated for biocompatibility which is necessary in order not to influence the blood clotting process. The chamber operates in a pulse-echo mode. Ultrasonic pulses are periodically transmitted into the sample through a short plastic buffer rod. An optimal wave propagation direction and array orientation with respect to the gravitation vector was found, which gives the best information about structure in various sections of the medium.