Which intensity measurement is used to determine peak pressure?

The correct measurement for determining peak pressure in ultrasound is the Spatial Peak Temporal Peak intensity, commonly abbreviated as SPPT. This specific intensity measurement evaluates the highest intensity of the ultrasound beam at a particular spatial location and at a specific moment in time.

When ultrasound waves travel through a medium, they create pressure variations, and measuring peak pressure requires focusing on the maximum pressure amplitude achieved during the cyclical wave. SPPT is significant because it accounts for the temporal aspect, indicating that the measurement considers the moment of peak intensity rather than averaging over time or space. This makes it the most relevant measure for applications where understanding the maximum potential pressure is crucial, such as in assessing tissue effect or safety in therapeutic ultrasound.

The other intensity measurements serve different purposes. For instance, SPTA (Spatial Peak Temporal Average) includes an averaging aspect over time, while SPPA (Spatial Peak Pulse Average) focuses on the average intensity during a pulse, and SATA (Spatial Average Temporal Average) looks at the average intensity over both space and time, making them less suitable for identifying peak pressure scenarios.