In vitro ultrasonic heating of fetal bone.

The temperature increase measured in vitro in human fetal femurs exposed to 1 MHz, continuous wave ultrasound at 37 degrees C is reported. The temperature is measured with a thermocouple probe and is given for several gestational ages. The initial rate of the temperature increase in the specimens is evaluated and compared to known values of absorption in soft tissue. For example, the initial rate of temperature increase in the 108-day gestational age specimen resulting from exposure to ultrasound is 30 times greater in the fetal bone than that of soft tissue with an absorption coefficient of 0.05 cm-1.