Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound to Improve Food Processing Efficiency: A Review

The use of non-thermal processing technologies has grown in response to an ever-increasing demand for high-quality, convenient meals with natural taste and flavour that are free of chemical additions and preservatives. Food processing plays a crucial role in addressing food security issues by reducing loss and controlling spoilage. Among the several non-thermal processing methods, ultrasound technology has shown to be very beneficial. Ultrasound processing, whether used alone or in combination with other methods, improves food quality significantly and is thus considered beneficial. Cutting, freezing, drying, homogenization, foaming and defoaming, filtration, emulsification, and extraction are just a few of the applications for ultrasound in the food business. Ultrasounds can be used to destroy germs and inactivate enzymes without affecting the quality of the food. As a result, ultrasonography is being hailed as a game-changing processing technique for reducing organoleptic and nutritional waste. This review intends to investigate the underlying principles of ultrasonic generation and to improve understanding of their applications in food processing to make ultrasonic generation a safe, viable, and innovative food processing technology, as well as investigate the technology’s benefits and downsides. The breadth of ultrasound’s application in the industry has also been examined. This will also help researchers and the food sector develop more efficient strategies for frequency-controlled power ultrasound in food processing applications.

Quantitative evaluation of hepatic steatosis using novel ultrasound technology normalized local variance (NLV) and its standard deviation with different ROIs in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: a pilot study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of novel ultrasound technology normalized local variance (NLV) and the standard deviation of NLV (NLV-SD) using different ROIs for hepatic steatosis in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and to identify the factors that influence the NLV value and NLV-SD value, using pathology results as the gold standard. Methods We prospectively enrolled 34 consecutive patients with suspected MAFLD who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy for evaluation of hepatic steatosis from June 2020 to December 2020. All patients underwent ultrasound and NLV examinations. NLV values and NLV-SD values were measured using different ROIs just before the liver biopsy procedure. Results The distribution of hepatic steatosis grade on histopathology was 4/19/6/5 for none (< 5%)/ mild (5–33%)/ moderate (> 33–66%)/ and severe steatosis (> 66%), respectively. The NLV value with 50-mm-diameter ROI and NLV-SD value with 50-mm-diameter ROI showed a significant negative correlation with hepatic steatosis (spearman correlation coefficient: − 0.449, p = 0.008; − 0.471, p = 0.005). The AUROC of NLV (50 mm) for the detection of mild, moderate, and severe hepatic steatosis was 0.875, 0.735, and 0.583, respectively. The AUROC of NLV-SD (50 mm) for the detection of mild, moderate, and severe hepatic steatosis was 0.900, 0.745, and 0.603, respectively. NLV (50 mm) values and NLV-SD (50 mm) values between two readers showed excellent repeatability and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.930 (p < 0.001) and 0.899 (p < 0.001). Hepatic steatosis was the only determinant factor for NLV value and NLV-SD value (p = 0.012, p = 0.038). Conclusion The NLV (50 mm) and NLV-SD (50 mm) provided good diagnostic performance in detecting the varying degrees of hepatic steatosis with great reproducibility. This study showed that the degree of steatosis was the only significant factor affecting the NLV value and NLV-SD value.

Recent Advances in Ultrasound Technology: Ultra-High Frequency Ultrasound for Reconstructive Supermicrosurgery

Background Currently, microsurgeons are in the era of supermicrosurgery and perforator flap reconstruction. As these reconstructions frequently utilize vessels that are smaller than a single millimeter, understanding of location of lymphatic vessels and perforator anatomy preoperatively is essential. To change with the times, the role of ultrasound has changed from just an adjunct to primary imaging of the choice in reconstructive supermicrosurgery. Recently, a novel ultrasonographic technique involving the use of ultra-high frequency ultrasound (UHFUS) frequencies has entered the scene, and appears a promising tool in surgical planning. Methods The literatures on the applications of UHFUS in reconstructive supermicrosurgery were retrieved and reviewed from more than 60 literatures have been published on the surgical applications of UHFUS. Results Nine studies were retrieved from the literature on the applications of UHFUS in reconstructive supermicrosurgery. The articles report both application for lymphatic surgery and perforator flaps. Conclusions UHFUS application involves an increasing number of reconstructive supermicrosurgery field. UHFUS is a valuable and powerful tool for any reconstructive surgeons who are interested in performing supermicrosurgery.

Designing Anterolateral Thigh Flap Using Ultrasound

Background Preoperative knowledge of themicrovascular anatomy of a patientmay improve safetyand efficacy and reduce morbidity. Today, with the advancement in technology, ultrasound can provide minute details of the structures within the body, which makes this technology very helpful in preoperative evaluation of the traditional perforator flaps as well as thin, superthin, and pure skin perforator flaps. Methods In this article, we will describe the design of one of the most popular perforator flaps, the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, using high-frequency and ultrahigh-frequency ultrasound technology. Results Ultrasound technology allows to study preoperatively the ALT donor-site and its microvascular anatomy by using different US modalities in order to provide a virtual surgical plan to the operating surgeon. Conclusion Ultrasound technology allow to expand preoperative knowledge of flap microvascular anatomy and its course within the subcutaneous tissue up to and within the dermis, allowing to select the best perforator for the given reconstruction and the plane of elevation for thin, superthin and pure skin perforator flap.

Machinery Fault Detection Through Ultrasound Technology

Ultrasound is a versatile advanced technology that is utilized in the oil and gas industry for various mechanical and electrical applications such as bearing's faults detection, pump's cavitation, valve's leakage, steam traps, electrical faults, gearbox's issues, compressed air and gas leak's detection..etc. The technology allows the end-user to measure dynamic data using contact (Structure borne) and non-contact (air borne) sensors and converts the ultrasound waves to an audible range for humans to associate sounds with the measured signal. As a result, the sound of the machine can be heard and recorded as voice clip as well as time wave form, which in turn can be translated into frequency spectrum for analysis. The technology has recently evolved in the industry as an important condition monitoring tool, to increase the reliability of rotating equipment. Moreover, it used as a complementary tool to vibration analysis. As well, it can be used as a tool for troubleshooting and preventive maintenance inspection. Background Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies that are higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. The human hearing limit varies from person to another, and it is approximated to be around 20Hz to 20 kHz. This is in contrary to the ultrasound range, which is above 20,000 Hz, and hence, it is in audible to human. This range is used widely in various industrial processes, including: cleaning, cutting, forming, testing of materials, and welding. It is characterized by its directional waves, unlike normal sound waves that travel in all directions. This directional characteristic makes ultrasound useful for many applications. Furthermore, ultrasound technology is used in different fields: medical, automotive, etc. and recently in the oil and gas industry as non-destructive-testing tool (NDT). The ultrasound technology in the oil and gas industry is used primarily in the following area's, for example Leak detection. Steam traps inspection. Bearing condition monitoring. Bearing lubrication monitoring. Electrical Inspection. Valve condition monitoring. Pump cavitation. Gearbox issues.

Surface imaging of breast implants using modern high-frequency ultrasound technology in comparison to high-end sonography with power analyses for B-scan optimization1

AIM: This study aims to evaluate optimized breast implant surface-structure analysis by comparing high-end ultrasound technology with a new high frequency technique. This comparative study used new breast implants with different surfaces in an in vitro setting. METHODS: Nine idle silicon or polyurethane (PU) breast implants were examined by two investigators in an experimental in vitro study using two high-end ultrasound devices with multi-frequency transducers (6–15 MHz, 9–16 MHz, 12.5–33 MHz). The ultrasound B-Mode was optimized using tissue harmonic imaging (THI), speckle reduction imaging (SRI, level 0–5), cross beam (high, medium, low) and photopic. Using a standardized ultrasound protocol, the implants were examined in the middle (point of highest projection) and lateral, by two independent examiners. Image evaluation was performed on anonymized digital images in the PACS. The aim was to achieve an artifact-free recording of the surface structure, the surface coating, the total image structures and, as far as possible, an artifact-free internal representation of the implants. For independent surface evaluation a score was used (0 = undetectability of surface structures, rich in artifacts, 5 = best possible, artifact free image quality). RESULTS: The quality of ultrasound imaging of breast implant surfaces after the optimization of B-Scan differed significantly comparing high-end ultrasound technology with modern high-frequency ultrasound technology (p < 0,05). The following setting has been found to be the best setting with the highest image quality: B-Mode, SRI value 3, Crossbeam high level with color coded imaging for B- mode. In the total examined frequency range of 6–33 MHz, the highest image quality was found in the average frequency range of 12.5–33 MHz at both measured points. For both devices, device 1 (high-end) and device 2 (high frequency) ultrasound, the image quality was in the 12.5–33 MHz frequency range with an average image quality of 3.236. It was significantly higher, than in the lower frequency ranges and the same frequency range with THI. (p < 0,05). The image quality of the high-end sonography device was superior to the conventional high-frequency ultrasound device in all frequency ranges. CONCLUSION: High-end ultrasound imaging technology was superior in the quality of implant surface evaluation in comparison to high-frequency ultrasound sonography. The gained knowledge can serve as a basis for further multicenter clinical application and studies with the aim to develop an objective, precise tool to evaluate the implant and the surrounding tissue with ultrasound.