Development of a 35-MHz piezo-composite ultrasound array for medical imaging

IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2006 Jan;53(1):224-36. doi: 10.1109/tuffc.2006.1588408.

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of a 64-element 35-MHz composite ultrasonic array. This array was designed primarily for ocular imaging applications, and features 2-2 composite elements mechanically diced out of a fine-grain high-density Navy Type VI ceramic. Array elements were spaced at a 50-micron pitch, interconnected via a custom flexible circuit and matched to the 50-ohm system electronics via a 75-ohm transmission line coaxial cable. Elevation focusing was achieved using a cylindrically shaped epoxy lens. One functional 64-element array was fabricated and tested. Bandwidths averaging 55%, 23-dB insertion loss, and crosstalk less than -24 dB were measured. An image of a tungsten wire target phantom was acquired using a synthetic aperture reconstruction algorithm. The results from this imaging test demonstrate resolution exceeding 50 microm axially and 100 microm laterally.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Ceramics*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design*
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Microelectrodes*
  • Miniaturization / methods
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Transducers*
  • Ultrasonography / instrumentation*