MULTIFREQUENCY ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER ARRAYS

超声医学成像系统因其独特的性能而得到广泛的应用 通用性强，成本相对较低。这些设备的诊断能力 在过去的几年里，随着计算机的进步，设备越来越多 硬件和软件。传感器技术的发展并没有 几乎同样戏剧性，所以换能器现在提供了一个障碍 诊断性超声的进一步进展。我们提出了一种新的技术 基于物理气相沉积的超声换能器的制造 (PVD)和半导体行业中使用的其他标准技术。 这一过程将允许不同频率的声学元件 在单个换能器阵列上共存的特征。一个多- 频率传感器是谐波成像的理想选择，是一种强大的 一种新的高分辨率成像方式，换能器接收 超声波的回波频率是发射频率的两倍。我们的换能器 将增加这种药物的临床潜力和市场渗透率 成像方式。在这个项目的第一阶段，原型将是 为论证多频阵列的可行性而构建。 在第二阶段，我们将建立一个临床换能器阵列的原型，并 执行初步验证研究。这项工作的最终结果将是 新一代超声换能器，将显著提高 超声成像的诊断能力。 建议的商业应用： 医用超声换能器市场负责300美元 每年上百万美元的全球收入，而且还在继续增长 迅速地。在以下领域，超声波已经是一种重要的诊断工具 心脏病学、妇产科和肿瘤学。Creare的技术承诺将 提高超声在当前应用中的性能，并开放 通向强大的新的高分辨率模式的大门，如Harmonic 成像。

Ultrasonic medical imaging systems are widely used because of their versatility and relatively low cost. The diagnostic capabilities of these devices has increased over the past few years with advances in computer hardware and software. Developments in transducer technology have not been nearly as dramatic, so the transducer now presents a barrier to further advances in diagnostic ultrasound. We propose a new technique for manufacturing ultrasonic transducers, based on physical vapor deposition (PVD) and other standard techniques used in the semiconductor industry. This process will allow acoustic elements with different frequency characteristics to coexist on a single transducer array. A multi- frequency transducer is ideally suited for harmonic imaging, a powerful new high resolution imaging modality where the transducer receives ultrasonic echoes at double the frequency of transmission. Our transducer would increase the clinical potential and market penetration of this imaging modality. In Phase I of this project, a prototype will be constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of a multi-frequency array. During Phase ll, we will build a prototype clinical transducer array and perform an initial validation study. The end result of this work will be a new generation ultrasound transducer, which will dramatically enhance the diagnostic capabilities of ultrasonic imaging. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The medical ultrasound transducer marketplace is responsible for $300 million of worldwide revenues each year and is continuing to grow rapidly. Ultrasound is already a vital diagnostic tool in the areas of cardiology, OB/GYN, and oncology. Creare's technology promises to increase the performance of ultrasound in current applications and open the door to powerful new high-resolution modalities such as harmonic imaging.