RESUMO
Our objective consists in validating a new set-up which will permit us to carry out simultaneously ultrasonic and X-ray diffraction measurements under pressure. To validate the results obtained by this new set-up, the elastic properties of a single crystal of germanium were studied. Our results are in good agreement with those of Goncharova et al. and McSkimin and Andreatch. The results of the present study are compared with those of Menoni et al. and obtained by X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell.
RESUMO
The current work deals with the use of high-frequency quantitative backscatter acoustic microscopy for the evaluation of the biointegration of microporous polymer implants used as support of artificial cornea. A three-dimensional (3-D) 80 MHz ultrasound microscope (25 microns axial resolution at focus) was used for the imaging and characterization of the progressive biointegration of polymers implanted in rabbit cornea. In-vitro and in-vivo studies were performed. Quantitative assessment of the structural changes in the biomaterial was performed using the spectral analysis of the radio frequency signal and the estimation of acoustic parameters in the 10-65 MHz frequency bandwidth. Correlation of in-vitro ultrasound data with histologic findings has shown that attenuation and backscatter coefficients are sensitive to the changes in the polymer pore content with time. Our results obtained in vivo demonstrated that 3-D 80 MHz echography coupled with quantitative characterization provide a unique tool for the non-invasive and objective follow-up of the implant biointegration and should contribute to clinical management of artificial cornea.