Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) – I3M Medical Imaging and Therapy Systems

Who are we?

The Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) works on developing Ultrasound-based techniques for both medical and industrial applications.

Some of the ongoing research in the UMIL includes:

Transcranial focused ultrasound and holograms for brain therapy.
Molecular ultrasound imaging: photoacoustic imaging and magneto-motive ultrasound Imaging.
Lensing and vortex beams for biomedical ultrasound imaging and theraphy.
Ultrasonic technology applied to odontology and ophthalmology.
Ultrasound industrial applications.

The UMIL is part of the Instituto de Instrumentación para Imagen Molecular (i3M), a research centre of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The UMIL is located at the Ciutat Politècnica de la Innovació, in València, Spain. If you have any additional inquiries, or if you would be interested in collaborating with our laboratory, please feel free to contact us.

Team members

Francisco Camarena, PhD. Group leader
PhD in Physics by Universitat de València. Permanent researcher at i3M and associate professor at department of Applied Physics at UPV. Head of the UMIL. Director of the Unidad Científica de Innovación Empresarial at i3M, funded by the Agència Valenciana de la Innovacio. Director of the IVIO Chair, dedicated to the promotion, research and transfer of scientific and technological knowledge in the field of odontology.

Email: umil@i3m.upv.es
Publications: Google scholar

José M Benlloch, PhD. I3M director
Research Professor at Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia (Spain). PhD in Fundamental Physics. He worked at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Chicago, EEUU and CERN (Geneva, Switzerland) on DELPHI collaboration. He also was part of the CDF collaboration who in 1995 discover the quark top elemental particle. He worked as staff member at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1991-1996). In 2010 he founded and he currently is the director of the Instituto de Instrumentación para Imagen Molecular (I3M).

Noé Jiménez, PhD. Post-doc researcher
BSc in Telecommunication, MSc in Acoustics and PhD in “nonlinear acoustic waves in complex media” by the Universitat Politècnica de València in 2015. In 2014 I worked for the European Space Agency for noise control at launch pad using periodic structures. In 2015 I joined the French CNRS (UMR6613) for a post-doctoral position to research on acoustic metamaterials. I have been visiting researcher at Columbia University (NY, USA) and at the University of Salford (Manchester, UK). Currently I am “Ramón y Cajal – Senior” post-doctoral researcher at i3M. My research interests concerns from fundamental research in waves in complex and structured media, to biomedical its application ultrasound applications.

Personal web: http://nojigon.webs.upv.es
Publications: Google scholar

Alejandro Cebrecos, PhD. Post-doc researcher
I finished my undergraduate studies in 2011 (BSc in Telecommunication, Sound and Image, MSc in Acoustics) and developed my PhD in Phononic Crystals and acoustic metamaterials at Universitat Politècnica de València, awarded in 2015. Thereafter I joined the French CNRS Laboratoire d’Acoustique de l’Université du Mans for a 3-year postdoc. I was visiting scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder during 9 months in 2014. Nowadays I am devoted to the development of Magneto-Motive Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Tomography systems for biomedical imaging.

Publications: Google scholar

Juan J. García-Garrigós, PhD. Post-Doc Researcher
PhD in Electronic Engineering from Universitat Politècnica de València (2013), MSc in Electronic Engineering, MSc in Artificial Intelligenge and BSc in Theoretical Physics from Universitat de València. He first worked in the industry as R&D engineer on biometric access control systems for Fermax Electrónica. He made his thesis on Beam Instrumentation for the next generation lepton colliders (CLIC-CTF3 collab.) in the Instituto de Física Corpuscular (IFIC, Valencia) and CERN (Geneva, Switzerland). He was project associate researcher at CERN in the Beams department for the LHC until 2014. Post-doctoral researcher at i3M since 2015, he is now focused on biomedical laser applications and photoacoustic imaging.

Alicia Carrión-García, PhD. Post-doc researcher
BSc in Telecommunications Engineering (2011), MSc in Communications Technologies, Systems and Networks (2014) and PhD in Telecommunications (2018) by the Universitat Politècnica de València. Her research was focused on nonlinear signal processing and signal modality characterization applied on ultrasound signals and bioacoustics. She has been involved in different research projects related to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques developing new advanced signal processing algorithms to characterize the level of damage on cement-based materials. Currently, she is post-doctoral researcher (Juan de la Cierva – Formación) at i3M. Her research interests include air-coupled biomedical ultrasound imaging and tissue manipulations using metamaterials. She is also working on NDT applied to odontology.

Publications: Google scholar

Josep Rodriguez-Sendra, PhD. Post-doc researcher
BSc in Telecomunication (2014) and MSc in Acoustics (2015) by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). In 2016 I enrolled the team Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) at I3M to research on ultrasonic technology applied to odontology, funded by the IVIO-UPV Chair. In 2021 I defended my PhD at i3M with a thesis entitled “Focused on ultrasonic monitoring of the guided-bone regeneration processes for oral implantology”, and I am currently post-doctoral researcher at the same institute working in quatitative ultrasound and ultrasound imaging.

Sergio Jiménez-Gambín, PhD. Post-doc researcher
BSc in Telecommunication at the Universidad de Alicante in 2015. Under a research internship, he worked on the detection of accelerated corrosion in concrete using non-linear based-ultrasound techniques. In 2016, he received a MSc in Acoustic engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València. In 2021, he received a PhD candidature at i3M working on focused ultrasound modelling and hologram generation for therapeutic transcranial ultrasound, funded by an FPI grant of the Generalitat Valenciana. He was a visiting researcher at Université du Mans in Le Mans, France, and a visiting researcher at Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory (UEIL) at Columbia University in New York, led by Prof. Elisa Konofagou where he performed the first BBB opening using acoustic holograms. Currently, he is post-doctoral researcher at i3M working on acoustic holograms for biomedical applications.

Publications: Google Scholar

Diana Andrés, MSc. PhD candidate
I received my Degree in Physics at the University of Valencia in 2018. In October 2018 I joined Santander Bank Fellowship on Data Science in Madrid, where I obtained a MSc in Big Data and Data Science. In 2020, I received a MSc in Medical Physics at the University of Valencia. Since October 2019, I am working on focused ultrasound modelling and ultrasonic hologram generation applied to transcranial therapies at the i3M as part of the JAE-Intro Fellowship of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). From September 2020 I am PhD student in the same group granted with an FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU).

Nathalie Lamothe, MSc. PhD candidate
Recently arrived in Valencia, I’m from France where I began my studies at the Superior School of Audiovisual Performance (ESRA) in Paris, with a specialization in sound. Later, I completed the Master’s Degree in Acoustic Engineering at the University of Le Mans where I ended up specializing in the research field. After working on different projects at the Laboratoire d’Acoustique de l’Université du Maine (LAUM), I decided to start a PhD with the ultrasound group of the i3M in Valencia in 2019. Currently I’m working in transcranial ultrasound imaging.

Irene Pi-Martin, MSc. PhD candidate
I obtained a Biomedical Engineering degree and I did my specialization in the branch of Diagnostic and Therapy Devices. Nowadays, I finished a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in 2021. After a JAE Intro research grant at the Spanish Research Council, I am PhD student under grant CIACIF/2021/403 to work in biomedical applications of ultrasound. Currently I am working on photoacoustic tomography using novel biocompatible contrast agents.

Enrique M. González-Mateo, MSc. PhD candidate
BSc in Telecommunications at the University of Alicante in 2019, with specialization in Acoustics. MSc in Acoustic Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in 2021, with specialization in Ultrasound and Instrumentation. In 2018 and 2019, I have worked as a technician in telecommunications and acoustics companies. I am PhD student at the Institute of Instrumentation for Molecular Imaging (I3M) developing medical elastography techniques using acoustic vortices, and other biomedical applications of acoustic vortices.

José Manuel Requena-Plens, MSc. PhD candidate
BSc in Telecommunication at Universidad de Alicante in 2018, with specialization in Acoustics and Audiovisual Technologies and honors in Vibroacoustics and Environmental acoustics. MSc in Acoustic Engineering at Universitat Politècnica de València in 2019, with highest honours and special jury recognition. He has worked as a sound technician for 6 years. In 2020, he obtained a contract as a researcher at the Research Institute for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IGIC) to participate in a project of the European Space Agency (ESA). Currently he is doing his PhD candidature in acoustic metamaterials for biomedical ultrasound applications at Instituto de Instrumentación para Imagen Molecular (I3M).

Personal web: https://jmrplens.github.io/
Publications: Google scholar

Claudia Hernández López, MSc. PhD candidate
BSc in Biomedical Engineering at Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana “José Antonio Echeverría” in 2016 (Cuba). MSc in Chemistry and Biotechnology at Universidad de La Rioja (Spain). In January 2022 I joined the Institute of Instrumentation for Molecular Imaging (I3M) and I’m currently PhD student working on holographic ultrasound devices for treatment of neurological diseases.

Jesús (Suso) Limens, MSc. PhD candidate
BSc in Mechanical Engineering (Universidade de Vigo), MSc in Industrial Engineering (UPV), and MSc in Biomedical Engineering (Universidad Internacional de Valencia). In 2021 I completed an internship at GE Healthcare. Currently, I am PhD student workinng on ultrasound neuromodulation and the biological effects of ultrasound in the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (CNS), in collaboration with Canals Lab at the Institute of Neurosciences (CSIC-UMH).

Juanjo Rodríguez-García, BSc. Research technician
I finished a BSc in Telecomunication, Sound and Image, with specialization in the area of acoustics, at Universidad Politècnica de València in 2019. I have joined the Institute of Instrumentation for Molecular Imaging (I3M) team as an investigator in 2021. I design, manufacture and characterize matched acoustic transducers for novel therapeutical ultrasound such as holography or acoustic-vortex applications.

Jose Luís Alonso, MSc. Research technician
I had studied a BSs on mechanical engeneering and MSc in engineering, processing and characterization of materials in the Universitat Politècnica de València, where I had specialised in the mechanical design, and the mechanical and chemical characterization of plastics. I built an equipment to measure the thermal conductivity of low-thermal conduction materials. In 2021 I joined the Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) at I3M as a mechanical engineer to support research.

Adrián Arándiga, MSc. Research technician
I finished a BSc in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València in 2016, with specialization in computing, and a MSc in Electronic Systems Engineering in 2021, with specialization in digital systems. After working as a consultant and informatic systems technician, I joined the Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) at I3M in 2021 as a laboratory technician to provide support with the scientific instrumentation and electronic system design.

Alba Eroles Simó, MSc. Research technician
BSc in Physics (2022) and MSc in Medical Physics (2023) by the University of Valencia (UV). In 2023 I enrolled the Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) team at i3M as a senior laboratory technician thanks to GVA “Investigo” program, grant INVEST/2022/171, to research on transcranial focused ultrasound modelling and ultrasonic hologram generation applied to brain therapies.

Javier Navarro Calvo, MSc. Research technician
BSc in Biomedical Engineering (2021) by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), I am now studying a MSc in Biomedical Engineering at the UPV. I joined the Ultrasound Medical and Industrial Laboratory (UMIL) at i3M in 2020 to develop a experimental photoacoustic microscopy system as my degree thesis. Currently, I rejoined the team thanks to the GVA “Investigo” program, grant INVEST/2022/171, to work in the development of photoacoustic microscopy devices and its application to the clinical practice.

Former members and Alumni

Research technician (2022-2023): Paula Femenía Ys
Research technician (2021-2022): Andrés Mora-Martínez
Research technician (2021-2022): Jaime Tomás
Research technician (2020-2021): Romain Bouvier
Research technician (2019-2021): Rafael Tarazona
Research technician (2019-2021): M. Consuelo Barrantes
Research technician (2018-2019): Andrei Cristian Marin
Research technician (2017-2018): Miguel Company
Research technician (2015-2018): Alvaro Saenz De Inestrillas Jimenez
Research technician (2014-2015): Pablo Camblor Iglesias
Postdoc intership (2022): Eric Ballestero (Université du Mans, France)
MSc intership (2022): Yves Pillot (Université du Mans, France)
MSc intership (2022): Giovanna Ruiz Fermoso (Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico)
MSc intership (2019): Juan Antonio Sánchez García (UPV)
MSc intership (2019): Jose Antonio López Navarro (UPV)
MSc intership (2018): María Dejoz-Díez (UPV)
MSc intership (2018): Yolanda Pamies Rodriguez (UPV)

Research Lines

Lines

Transcranial focused ultrasound and holograms for brain therapy.
Molecular ultrasound imaging: photoacoustic imaging and magneto-motive ultrasound Imaging.
Lensing and vortex beams for ultrasound imaging and therapy.
Ultrasonic technology applied to odontology and ophthalmology.
Ultrasound industrial applications.

Transcranial focused ultrasound for brain therapy

At the UMIL of the I3M we develop focused transcranial ultrasound devices and protocols for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Holograms and metasurfaces for transcranial focusing

In this research line we develop passive focusing methods based on acoustic holograms to produce focused beams inside the central nervous system (CNS). In particular, we are able to produce beams whose spatial distribution fits a target CNS structure of arbitrary shape. In this way, using 3D-printed holographic lenses at UMIL we are developing low-cost focusing systems that will help to disseminate incoming therapeutic ultrasound techniques as neuromodulation or blood-brain barrier opening to treat neurological disorders.

Transcranial ultrasound for blood-brain barrier opening

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the diffusion of microscopic objects, e.g., protecting the brain from infections. However, it also prevents the passage of most therapeutic drugs. BBB disruption can be achieved by using transcranial focused ultrasound and microbubble injection in an effective, non-invasive, transient, localized and safe manner. Thus, the BBB opening enables drug delivering to specific areas of the brain, which is mandatory in research of treatments for neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. At the UMIL we develop simulations and experiments to define a protocol for the transcranial targeting of the hippocampus of an adult human by using a single-element focused transducer.

Transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation

Ultrasound can interact with tissues in a thermal and mechanical manner. We are currently developing ultrasound devices to mechanically interact with brain tissues to produce neuromodulatory effects. We aim to modulate the response of neurons in a local, noninvasive, safe and transient way, using a low-cost technology. By combining ultrasound and holograms we can focus mechanical energy deep into the brain, producing acoustic either sharp or large focal spots in the brain.

Molecular ultrasound imaging and elastograpy

At the UMIL of the I3M we develop hybrid ultrasound imaging techniques, combining ultrasound with additional physical mechanisms to go a step beyond standard US imaging techniques.

Photoacoustic imaging techniques

When an ultrashort and intense laser illuminates light absorbing materials, a part of the absorbed energy produces locally ultrasonic pulses due to thermoelastic effect. These signals are detected and can be used to reconstruct an image that take into account the absorbance of the tissue. In this way, as the absorbance spectrum varies between tissues, it enables the ultrasonic imaging at molecular level.

(Left): Experimental setup of the laser diode-based Photoacoustic Imaging system developed at the UMIL research group, featuring a laser diode, a phased array system and a 3D motorized axis. (Right). Experimental MMUS system including a B-scan of a gelatin phantom with a metallic sphere embedded in it (see the metallic sphere in the middle of the B-scan image).

Magneto-Motive ultrasound imaging

Magneto-Motive ultrasound imaging detects the presence of superparamagnetic nanoparticles through their mechanical responses to an external transient magnetic excitation. Due to their weak diamagnetic properties, normal tissue constituents do not respond to the magnetic field. However, when tissue is labeled with magnetic nanoparticles, it tends to move towards areas of lower magnetic potential. The magnetically-induced displacement within nanoparticles and the tissue associated with them is detectable by ultrasound imaging. At UMIL we are already developing a first prototype for magnetic nanoparticle detection.

Ultrasound elastography

Ultrasonic elastography is a well-established diagnostic tool for pathologies such as liver fibrosis. At the UMIL we are developing novel elastographic techniques using acoustic radiation force and hybrid techniques.

Ultrasonic technology applied to odontology and ophthalmology

In collaboration with the Valencian Institute of Dental Research (IVIO), within the framework of IVIO-UPV Chair, we develop new ultrasonic techniques for monitoring, diagnosis and treatment in the field of dentistry.

Monitoring guided-bone regeneration during implantation

In particular, we develop ultrasonic characterization methods for guided bone regeneration during implantation in odontology. We aim to characterize the complete regeneration process using ultrasound to guide the treatment, optimize implantation and avoid or detect complications. The use of ultrasound is desirable as it is low cost and non-ionizing radiation, thus, it can be employed to monitor long healing treatments without the risks associated to X-Ray Computed Tomography imaging techniques.

Ultrasonic characterization of teeth and synthetic bone-grafts

Moreover, ongoing research is developed at UMIL to quantitatively characterize the mechanical properties of teeth, e.g., demineralization, and synthetic bone-graft materials using ultrasonic techniques.

Therapeutic ultrasonic beams

Focused ultrasound beams are commonly used for imaging and therapy. At the UMIL of the I3M we study the propagation of focused ultrasonic beams travelling through biological tissues, from small amplitudes to high intensity (nonlinear) ultrasound.

Simulation methods for linear and nonlinear wave propagation

We develop computational methods to model nonlinear acoustic propagation of focused ultrasound beams, as well their associated acoustic radiation forces and thermal patterns. The purpose of this research line is to understand the mechanisms that affect the ultrasonic propagation in a realistic environment shedding light to develop new imaging and therapy techniques.

Industrial applications of ultrasound

Beyond the medical use of ultrasound industrial applications are developed at UMIL, mostly under agreement and contracts with private companies.

Ultrasonic applications for the food industry (AVI)

Funded by the “Agència Valenciana de la Innovació” we develop industrial applications of ultrasound for food texture and quality characterization through the Unitat Científica d’Innovació Empresarial of the UPV at i3M, which is currently dedicated to convert the knowledge of the whole research institute into innovations usable by the companies, as well as to facilitate its transfer to through license concessions, business creation and collaboration in R&D+i projects with companies.

Transducers for industrial applications

Our group has a long experience in developing custom ultrasonic sensors and actuators for specific industrial applications. We are open to design, optimize and fabricate transducers on request for industrial applications.

Results

Peer-reviewed publications

Methods to design and evaluate transcranial ultrasonic lenses using acoustic holography
D Andrés, A Carrión, F Camarena, N Jiménez
Phys. Rev. Applied 20(4), pp.044071 (2023)

Emerging topics in nanophononics and elastic, acoustic, and mechanical metamaterials: an overview
AO Krushynska, (…), N Jiménez, et al.
Nanophotonics, 12 (4), pp. 659-686, (2023)

Holographic Focused Ultrasound Hyperthermia System for Uniform Simultaneous Thermal Exposure of Multiple Tumor Spheroids
D Andrés, I Rivens, P Mouratidis, N Jiménez, F Camarena, GT Haar
Cancers, 15 (9), pp. 2540, (2023)

Numerical study of acoustic holograms for deep-brain targeting through the temporal-bone window
D Andrés, N Jiménez, JM Benlloch, F Camarena
Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 48 (5), pp. 872–886, (2022)

Thermal holographic patterns for ultrasound hyperthermia
D Andrés, J Vappou, N Jiménez, F Camarena
Applied Physics Letters, 120 (8), pp. 084102, (2022)

Acoustic holograms for bilateral blood-brain barrier opening in a mouse model
S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, AN Pouliopoulos, JM Benlloch, EE Konofagou, F Camarena
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 69 (4), pp. 1359 – 1368, (2022)

Optical drills by dynamic high-order Bessel beam mixing
G Kontenis, D Gailevicius, N Jimenéz, K Staliunas
Physical Review Applied, 17 (3), pp. 034059, (2022)

Evaluación del rendimiento de algoritmos de reconstrucción de imágenes para tomografía fotoacústica
I Pi-Martín, JJ García-Garrigós, A Cebrecos, N Jiménez, F Camarena
Revista de Acústica, 53 (1-2), pp. 17-25, (2022)

Modelling the acoustic field generated by vibrating surfaces
D Andrés, F Camarena, N Jiménez
Modelling in Science Education and Learning, 15 (2), pp. 5-23, (2022)

Hologramas acústicos multifocales para la focalización de ultrasonidos en estructuras cerebrales profundas
D Andrés, S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, F Camarena
Revista de Acústica, 52 (1-2), pp. 17-25, (2021)

Characterization of viscoelastic media combining ultrasound and magnetic-force induced vibrations on an embedded soft magnetic sphere
A Cebrecos, N Jiménez, R Tarazona, M Company, JM Benlloch, F Camarena
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, 68 (12), pp. 3540 – 3548, (2021)

Sub-wavelength acoustical vortex beams using self-demodulation
N Jiménez, J Ealo, RD Muelas-Hurtado, A Duclos, V Romero-García
Physical Review Applied, 15 (5), pp. 054027, (2021)

Ultrasonic monitoring of dentin demineralization
J Rodríguez-Sendra, I Torres, N Jiménez, S Sauro, F Camarena
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, 68 (3), pp. 570-578, (2021)

Beamforming for large-area scan and improved SNR in array-based photoacoustic microscopy
A Cebrecos, JJ García-Garrigós, A Descals, N Jiménez, JM Benlloch, F Camarena
Ultrasonics, 111, pp. 106317, (2020)

Transcranial focusing of ultrasonic vortices by acoustic holograms
S Jiménez, N Jiménez, F Camarena
Physical Review Applied, 14 (5), pp. 054070, (2020)

Generating Bessel beams with broad depth-of-field by using phase-only acoustic holograms
S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, JM Benlloch, F Camarena
Scientific Reports, 9 (1), pp. 20104, (2019)

On the Evaluation of the Suitability of the Materials Used to 3D Print Holographic Acoustic Lenses to Correct Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Aberrations
M Ferri, JM Bravo, J Redondo, S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, F Camarena, JV Sánchez-Pérez
Polymers, 11 (9), pp. 1521, (2019)

Holograms to focus arbitrary ultrasonic fields through the skull
S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, JM Benlloch, F Camarena
Physical Review Applied, 12 (1), pp. 014016, (2019)

Monitoring the setting of calcium sulphate bone-graft substitute using ultrasonic backscattering
J Rodríguez-Sendra, N Jiménez, R Picó, J Faus, F Camarena
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 66 (10), pp. 1658-1666, (2019)

Efecto del método de definición de las propiedades acústicas de cráneo humano en la propagación focalizada de ultrasonidos
S Jiménez-Gambín, N Jiménez, F Camarena
Revista de Acústica, 50 (1-2), pp. 22-25, (2019)

Modelización de cerámicas y transductores piezoeléctricos vibrando en espesor mediante matrices de transferencia
N Jiménez, F Camarena
Modelling in Science Education and Learning, 12 (1), pp. 87-109, (2019)

Sharp acoustic vortex focusing by Fresnel-spiral zone plates
N Jiménez, V Romero-García, LM García-Raffi, F Camarena, K Staliunas
Applied Physics Letters, 112 (20), pp. 204101, (2018)

Design and performance of a metal-shielded piezoelectric sensor.
Á Sáenz de Inestrillas, F Camarena, M Bou-Cabo, J Barreiro, A Reig.
Sensors, 17(6), 1284 (2017).

Dynamic Nonlinear Focal Shift in Amplitude Modulated Moderately Focused Acoustic Beams
N Jiménez, F Camarena, N González-Salido
Ultrasonics, 75, pp. 106-114, (2017)

Formation of high-order acoustic Bessel beams by spiral diffraction gratings
N Jiménez, R Picó, V Sánchez-Morcillo, V Romero-García, L García-Raffi, K Staliunas
Physical Review E, 94 (5), pp. 053004, (2016)

Time-Domain Simulation of Ultrasound Propagation in a Tissue-Like Medium Based on the Resolution of the Nonlinear Acoustic Constitutive Relations
N Jiménez, F Camarena, J Redondo, V Sánchez-Morcillo, Y Hou, EE Konofagou
Acta Acustica united with Acustica, 102 (5), pp. 876–892, (2016)

Radiation-force-based estimation of acoustic attenuation using harmonic motion imaging (HMI) in phantoms and in vitro livers before and after HIFU ablation
J Chen, GY Hou, F Marquet, Y Han, F Camarena, EE Konofagou
Physics in Medicine and Biology (6) 7499–7512 (2015)

Nonlinear focal shift beyond the geometrical focus in moderately focused acoustic beams
F Camarena, S Adrián-Martinez, N Jiménez, V Sánchez-Morcillo
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 134 (2), pp. 1463-1472, (2013)

Explicit finite-difference time-domain scheme for the simulation of 1-3 piezoelectric effect in axisymmetrical configurations
M Ferri, F Camarena, J Redondo, R Picó, M R Avis
Wave Motion, 6 (49), 569 – 584 (2012)

PhD thesis

Josep Rodríguez-Sendra, Monitorización Ultrasónica de Tejidos Odontológicos, Universitat Politècnica València, September 2021.

Sergio Jiménez-Gambín, Transcranial Ultrasound Holograms for the Blood-Brain Barrier Opening, Universitat Politècnica València, June 2021.

Noé Jiménez, Nonlinear Acoustic Waves in Complex Media, Universitat Politècnica València, June 2015.

Ongoing PhD thesis:

Diana Andrés, Ultrasound holograms for the treatment of neurological diseases.
Nathalie Lamothe, Towards quantitative cavitation mapping for transcranial ultrasound holographic therapy.
José M. Requena-Plens, Acoustic metamateriales for biomedical ultrasound applications.
Enrique González-Mateo, Acoustic vortices for biomedical ultrasound applications.
Irene Pi-Martín, Photoacoustic Imaging studies with innovative biocompatible nanoparticles.
Claudia Hernández López, Holographic devices for transcraneal ultrasound.

Funding

European Union, “Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana: IDIFEDER/2021/004
European Union, “Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana: IDIFEDER/2018/022
European Union: “Next Generation EU” – PTI Salud Global” SGL2103046
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Proyecto Nacional Generación de Conocimento” MAGNUS PID2022-142719OB-C21 funded by MCIN / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033.
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Proyecto Nacional Retos i+d” EARMAP PID2019-111436RB-C22 and PID2019-111436RB-C21 funded by MCIN / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Ramón y Cajal” RYC2021-034920-I
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Juan de la Cierva – Incorporación” IJC2018-037897-I
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Juan de la Cierva – Formación” FJC2019-040453-I
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: “Juan de la Cierva – Formación” FJC2016-29430
Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: FPU19/00601
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: “Estratégicos en Cooperación”, INNEST/2022/345
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: “Valorización, L1” INNVA1/2022/37
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: “Valorización, L1” INNVAL10/19/016
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: “Valorización, L1” INNVA1/2020/92
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: “Valorización, L2” INNVA2/2022/11
Agència Valenciana de la Innovació: INNCON/2021/8
Generalitat Valenciana: CIPROM/2021/003
Generalitat Valenciana: CIAICO/2022/052
Generalitat Valenciana: AICO/2020/268
Generalitat Valenciana: AICO/2016/108
Generalitat Valenciana: GV/2018/011
Generalitat Valenciana: CIAPE/2022/15
Generalitat Valenciana: CIAPOS/2021/275
Generalitat Valenciana: APOSTD/2018/229
Generalitat Valenciana: APOSTD/2017/042
Generalitat Valenciana: ACIF/2017/045
Generalitat Valenciana: BEFPI/2019/075
Generalitat Valenciana: GRISOLIAP/2021/029
Generalitat Valenciana: FDEGENT/2019/004
Generalitat Valenciana: INVEST/2022/171
Generalitat Valenciana: EDGJID/2021/189
Generalitat Valenciana: EDGJID/2021/260
Generalitat Valenciana: GJIDI/2018/A/249
Universitat Politècnica de València: AP2021-08
Universitat Politècnica de València: AP2020-19
Universitat Politècnica de València: AP2020-32
Universitat Politècnica de València: FISABIO-2020-B15
Universitat Politècnica de València: PAID-10-19

Open Positions

We offer PhD and Post-Doc positions, plus summer and Masters projects for undergraduates.

Undergraduate and Masters projects

Please send a CV to umil@i3m.upv.es. Please also indicate the period over which you would like to undertake the project.

PhD positions

Excellent students with a keen interest in ultrasonic, acoustics and/or medical physics are encouraged to apply at any time. Please send a Curriculum Vitae to umil@i3m.upv.es if interested. This should include information about prior education, previous research which you have performed.

PostDoc positions

We welcome applications from motivated and capable researchers with a strong background in ultrasound. Please send a Curriculum Vitae to umil@i3m.upv.es if interested. This should include information about prior education, previous research which you have performed, and the name and contact addresses of two referees.

Valued research experience – PhD and PostDoc

Knowledge in the following areas will be highly valued:

Background in medical imaging (ultrasound, MRI, PET, CT, etc), NDT and acoustics.
Design and characterization of ultrasonic and acoustic systems.
Numerical simulation of acoustic, ultrasonic or elastic waves.
Multiphysics numerical simulations using COMSOL/Ansys.
Programming skills for ultrasound imaging and beamforming, in particular using VERASONICS systems.
Programming Graphical User Interfaces and software for instrumentation control using LabVIEW/Matlab.
CAD design using AutoCAD/SolidWorks.
Laser instrumentation and experiments.
Digital acquisition systems, programming for experimental control.
Digital/Analog electronics, design of circuits.