Remote measurement of material properties from radiation force induced vibration of an embedded sphere.

A quantitative model is presented for a sphere vibrated by two ultrasound beams of frequency omega1 and omega2. Due to the interference of two sound beams, the radiation force has a dynamic component of frequency omega2-omega1. The radiation impedance and mechanical impedance of the sphere are then used to compute the vibration speed of the sphere. Vibration speed versus vibration frequency is measured by laser vibrometer on several spheres, both in water and in gel phantom. These experimental results are used to verify the model. This method can be used to estimate the material properties of the medium (e.g., shear modulus) surrounding the sphere.