Abstract:
Ultrasonic energy can stimulate the healing process of tissue by bringing the
temperature to the maximal tolerated level. Because the patient's sensation of
temperature is not reliable as a guide in treating deep tissue, a standard ultrasound
setting must be used in routine treatment. For this study, an ANSYS 5.4 (finite
element software) command log file was written to perform and analyse heat
distribution in any material sonicated by therapeutic ultrasound under conditions
stipulated by the user in a simulation model. Heat distributions can be displayed in
two-dimensional simulation, graphic displays, etc. In this study the focus was on fat,
muscle, and bone tissue. The study confirmed that the increase in temperature
depends not only on ultrasonic intensity but also on physical properties of the tissue,
such as thermal conductivity. With increase in depth, the temperature of fat and
muscle tissue decays exponentially but bone tissue temperature decays more rapidly.
A model with three layers of tissue shows that peak temperature is attained inside the
bone tissue within 25-30 seconds, then inside fat tissue, and finally shifts toward
muscle tissue. After 165 seconds of application of ultrasound at an intensity of 1
W/cm2, the temperatures in the middle of muscle, fat, and bone tissue reach 43, 46.2,
and 44.5° C, respectively. So, when muscle tissue temperature reaches the treatment
range of 40 - 45°, pain is evoked in fat tissue. The therapist must adjust the
application to obtain optimum treatment, such as by moving the sound applicator. The
results obtained by using this command log file can be used to plan the appropriate
procedure for various ultrasound treatments