Journal Article

A Tiled Ultrasound Matrix Transducer for Volumetric Imaging of the Carotid Artery

Kim, Taehoon, Pertijs, Michiel A. P., Verweij, Martin D., Vos, Hendrik J., Rozsa, Nuriel, Mozaffarzadeh, Moein, Noothout, Emile, Bosch, Johan G., de Jong, Nico, Shabanimotlagh, Maysam, dos Santos, Djalma Simões, Fool, Fabian

2022

Overview

High frame rate three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging would offer excellent possibilities for the accurate assessment of carotid artery diseases. This calls for a matrix transducer with a large aperture and a vast number of elements. Such a matrix transducer should be interfaced with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for channel reduction. However, the fabrication of such a transducer integrated with one very large ASIC is very challenging and expensive. In this study, we develop a prototype matrix transducer mounted on top of multiple identical ASICs in a tiled configuration. The matrix was designed to have 7680 piezoelectric elements with a pitch of 300 μm × 150 μm integrated with an array of 8 × 1 tiled ASICs. The performance of the prototype is characterized by a series of measurements. The transducer exhibits a uniform behavior with the majority of the elements working within the −6 dB sensitivity range. In transmit, the individual elements show a center frequency of 7.5 MHz, a −6 dB bandwidth of 45%, and a transmit efficiency of 30 Pa/V at 200 mm. In receive, the dynamic range is 81 dB, and the minimum detectable pressure is 60 Pa per element. To demonstrate the imaging capabilities, we acquired 3D images using a commercial wire phantom.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) / Application-specific integrated circuits / Arrays / Atherosclerosis / Carotid arteries / Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging / Circuit components / Custom integrated circuits / Design / Equipment Design / high-frame rate / Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods / lead zirconate titanate (PZT) / matrix array / Phantoms, Imaging / Three dimensional imaging / three-dimensional (3D) / Transducers / Ultrasonic imaging / Ultrasonography - methods / Ultrasound imaging / ultrasound transducer