Measurement of radical production as a result of cavitation in medical ultrasound fields

This paper describes the use of the terephthalate dosimeter to measure the threshold and extent of cavitation arising from medical ultrasound sources at high frequencies. Significant hydroxyl radical production was noted from a physiotherapy source and low level activity was also detected when using a pulsed, diagnostic type transducer system. The effect of sound intensity and the type of field is described. The possibility of using polymer degradation to monitor the cavitation is also discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.