Optical Micromachined Ultrasound Transducers (OMUT) for High Resolution 3D Imaging

该项目的目标是开发用于高分辨率成像探头的光学微机械超声换能器(OMUT)技术，该探头可安装在针尖或小直径管道上。该设计依赖于激光产生的超声波和超声波的光学检测。因此，所有进出该设备的信号通信都是光学的。超声波是通过在薄膜中快速吸收短激光脉冲而产生的。具有柔性顶膜的光学微腔谐振器形成了高灵敏度的超声探测器，OMUTS的小型化和全光连接两个关键特征使其成为心血管介入治疗的实时引导、腹腔镜手术和脑深部电极植入等医疗应用的理想技术。这项技术的另一个附加价值是在单一设备中促进脉冲/回声超声成像和光声成像(PAI)。超声成像和PAI的结合为设计多模式、功能和分子成像系统提供了一系列可能性，从而在医学诊断和治疗指导中具有更高的特异性。

The objective of this project is to develop Optical Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer (OMUT) technology for high-resolution imaging probes mountable on a tip of a needle or small diameter tubing. The design relies on laser generated ultrasound and optical detection of ultrasound. Therefore all signal communication to and from the device is optical. Ultrasound is generated by rapid absorption of short laser pulses in a thin film. Optical micro-cavity resonators having a flexible top membrane form high sensitivity ultrasound detectors.The two key features of OMUTs, miniaturization and all-optical connectivity, make it an ideal technology for medical applications such as real-time guiding of cardiovascular interventions, laparoscopic surgery, and deep brain electrode implantation. Another added value of this technology is the facilitation of pulse/echo ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in a single device. Combining ultrasound imaging and PAI provides a range of possibilities for the design of multi-modality, functional, and molecular imaging systems for higher specificity in medical diagnosis and therapy guidance.