Transfontanelle Thermoacoustic Imaging Characterization: Simulation Study

Thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) utilizes the advantages of excellent penetration depth and contrast of microwave energy and the high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging. We evaluate the use of TAI for the detection of hemorrhage in the neonatal brain through fontanelle. We use a 3D human neonatal brain model, a dipole antenna, and a linear array transducer in simulation to characterize the thermoacoustic signal and corresponding reconstructed images. All the characterizations are conducted using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Studio Suite based on finite integration in technique (FIT). The absorbed electric field by the target and the time varying heating function data are extracted from the absorbed energy with a spatial resolution of 100 mu m. To evaluate the impact of the applied microwave beam on the generated acoustic pressure wave, two different pulse widths of 200ns and 300ns at 1GHz are tested.