To many, the term medical ultrasound conjures snowy images of nascent life in the womb. Indeed, its relatively low cost, portability, and impeccable safety profile have propelled diagnostic ultrasound into becoming one of the most widespread imaging methods in the world. So it may seem somewhat contradictory that ultrasound can also induce a broad spectrum of bioeffects in tissue.
Ultimately, ultrasound is a form of energy. It interacts with the body’s tissues during propagation, and in the process it can deposit heat, displace tissues, and initiate cavitation events in which gas bubbles form and violently oscillate or collapse. Those interactions can in turn elicit bioeffects, albeit at exposure levels that are typically orders of magnitude higher than those used for imaging purposes.
From the inception of the field of biomedical ultrasound in the mid 20th century, researchers have appreciated the potential implications of ultrasound-induced bioeffects—both from the perspective of designing...
