Ring array transducers for real-time 3-D imaging of an atrial septal occluder

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2012 Aug;38(8):1483-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2012.03.019. Epub 2012 Jun 12.

Abstract

We developed new miniature ring array transducers integrated into interventional device catheters such as used to deploy atrial septal occluders. Each ring array consisted of 55 elements operating near 5 MHz with interelement spacing of 0.20 mm. It was constructed on a flat piece of copper-clad polyimide and then wrapped around an 11 French O.D. catheter. We used a braided cabling technology from Tyco Electronics Corporation to connect the elements to the Volumetric Medical Imaging (VMI) real-time 3-D ultrasound scanner. Transducer performance yielded a -6 dB fractional bandwidth of 20% centered at 4.7 MHz without a matching layer vs. average bandwidth of 60% centered at 4.4 MHz with a matching layer. Real-time 3-D rendered images of an en face view of a Gore Helex septal occluder in a water tank showed a finer texture of the device surface from the ring array with the matching layer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Septum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Atrial Septum / surgery
  • Computer Systems
  • Echocardiography / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / instrumentation*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Septal Occluder Device*
  • Transducers*