Miniaturized ultrasound imaging probes enabled by CMUT arrays with integrated frontend electronic circuits

• Published in: 2010 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Vol. 2010; pp. 5987 - 5990
• Main Authors: Khuri-Yakub, B T, Oralkan, Ömer, Nikoozadeh, A, Wygant, I O, Zhuang, S, Gencel, M, Jung Woo Choe, Stephens, D N, de la Rama, A, Chen, P, Feng Lin, Dentinger, A, Wildes, D, Thomenius, K, Shivkumar, K, Mahajan, A, Chi Hyung Seo, O'Donnell, M, Uyen Truong, Sahn, D J
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Array signal processing; Catheterization; Catheters; Electrocardiography; Electronic circuits; Electronics, Medical - instrumentation; Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - instrumentation; Integrated circuits; Microtechnology - instrumentation; Phantoms, Imaging; Sus scrofa; Transducers; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonics - instrumentation
• ISBN: 1424441234; 9781424441235
• ISSN: 1094-687X; 1557-170X; 1558-4615
• DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2010.5627580

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays are conveniently integrated with frontend integrated circuits either monolithically or in a hybrid multichip form. This integration helps with reducing the number of active data processing channels for 2D arrays. This approach also preserves the signal integrity for arrays with small elements. Therefore CMUT arrays integrated with electronic circuits are most suitable to implement miniaturized probes required for many intravascular, intracardiac, and endoscopic applications. This paper presents examples of miniaturized CMUT probes utilizing 1D, 2D, and ring arrays with integrated electronics.