Acoustic impedance measurement of tissue mimicking materials by using scanning acoustic microscopy

Tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) play a key role in the quality assurance of ultrasound diagnostic equipment and should have acoustic properties similar to human tissues. We propose a method to quantify the acoustic properties of TMM samples through the use of an 80 MHz Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM), which provides micrometer resolution and fast data recording. We produced breast TMM samples in varying compositions that resulted in acoustic impedance values in the range of 1.373 +/- 0.031 and 1.707 +/- 0.036 MRayl. Additionally, liver TMM and blood mimicking fluid (BMF) samples were prepared that had acoustic impedance values of 1.693 +/- 0.085 MRayl and 1.624 +/- 0.006 MRayl, respectively. The characterization of the TMMs by SAM may provide reproducible and uniform acoustic reference data for tissue substitutes in a single-run microscopy experiment.