Leon A. Frizzell

Leon Frizzell received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Rochester in 1976. He is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UIUC, Chair of the Bioengineering Faculty and a full-time Beckman Institute faculty member in the Bioacoustics Research Laboratory. His fields of professional interest are ultrasonic biophysics and ultrasonic bioengineering.

Honors and awards: Fellow, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine; Fellow, Acoustical Society of America.

Leon Frizzell's work in the Beckman Institute deals with the interaction of ultrasound with biological materials. He makes measurements of the properties that affect ultrasonic propagation in tissues, such as the absorption coefficient, speed, and nonlinearity parameter. For many years Professor Frizzell has conducted investigations of the biological effects of ultrasound and the mechanisms responsible for damage. He has also been involved in the development of ultrasonic transducer systems for hyperthermic treatment of tumors and surgical applications.

Knowledge of the ultrasonic propagation properties in tissue is necessary to understanding both therapeutic and diagnostic applications of ultrasound. Current studies involve determination of the elastic properties of bone and theoretical examination of the role of mode conversion from longitudinal to shear waves in bone.

Ultrasonically produced heat and cavitation can cause damage to tissues at high intensities, but have not been observed to cause damage in patients at levels used clinically. The helpful biological effect of acceleration of bone healing by ultrasound is being examined in collaboration with colleagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The use of higher frequency ultrasound transducers and multiple frequency applicators for hyperthermic treatment of tumors is being investigated. Sparse, phased array ultrasound applicators are being developed for high intensity focal surgery applications.

Frizzell's sources of research support are the NIH and companies.

Contact Information:
4215 Beckman Institute
University of Illinois
405 N. Mathews
Urbana, IL 61801
email: frizzell@uibrl.brl.uiuc.edu