Development of an Automated System to Fluidic Coupling Medium Control in Focused Ultrasound Applications

Focused Ultrasound (FUS) is an advanced bioengineering technology used in clinical applications such as tumor ablation and drug delivery. Its effectiveness relies on the coupling medium (CM), which ensures efficient acoustic energy transmission between the ultrasound transducer and the patient’s skin. This requires precise control of properties such as dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and temperature. However, current solutions often depend on manual adjustments of human users, limiting repeatability and efficiency. In collaboration with Soundsafe Care, an Italian startup that combines robotics and ultrasound for non-invasive surgical treatments, this thesis presents a novel system for automating CM conditioning, integrating fluidics, electronics, and computational control. The system includes fluidic components to guarantee degassing and cooling, and sensors to automate the process and monitor CM parameters in real time. Controlled by a Raspberry Pi and supported by a graphical user interface (GUI), the system is user-friendly and designed for integration into existing FUS platforms. Tests validated its efficiency in reducing DO levels below 4 mg/L within acceptable timeframes, accurate automatic filling, and adaptability to operational conditions. Real-case scenario tests demonstrated effective monitoring of pressure and temperature during treatment. The inline recirculation system successfully reduced rising temperatures, ensuring equipment safety and enabling its use during sonication, making the system highly suitable for enhancing FUS treatments.