Ultrasonic arrays for ultrahigh resolution real time biomedical imaging

用于超高分辨率实时生物医学成像的超声波阵列

• 批准号: EP/D059739/1
• 负责人: Jeffrey Bamber
• 金额: $ 11.9万
• 依托单位: Institute of Cancer Research
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2008 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FD059739%2F1
• 关键词: Ultrasonic; arrays; ultrahigh; resolution; real

The project involves collaborative, multidisciplinary work combining materials research, device design, and medically-oriented testing to create ultrasonic arrays capable of ultrahigh resolution biomedical imaging in real time. Real-time ultrasonic imaging is a safe, inexpensive and convenient technique which accounts for approximately 20% of all hospital imaging examinations. However, spatial resolution is ultimately limited by maximum frequency and existing ultrahigh resolution systems are based on mechanically-scanned single-element transducers. Such systems demonstrate the need for increased resolution but at the same time limit progress because they cannot be used in real time. For this, ultrasonic arrays are needed which can operate at frequencies higher than the present maximum of ~30 MHz. However, it has so far been impossible to produce such arrays.Piezocomposite materials, comprising ceramic pillars in a polymer matrix, are now state-of-the-art in commercial ultrasonic imaging systems, with higher electromechanical coupling, better acoustic impedance matching to biological tissue, and better electrical properties than piezoceramics alone, leading in turn to wider intrinsic bandwidth and higher sensitivity. In addition, reduced lateral coupling means that multi-element arrays can be defined from monolithic piezocomposite plates. However, difficulties manufacturing material with micron-scale dimensions has blocked adoption in high frequency ultrasonic transducers and arrays. In the research programme being proposed, ultrasonic arrays will be created to operate for the first time at frequencies potentially as high as 100 MHz, suitable for ultrahigh resolution imaging in real time. The key to this advance will be the ultrafine scale piezocomposites we will produce with optimised net shape ceramic processing technology, in combination with state-of-the-art composite design. This will be a major step forward in enabling real time biomedical ultrasonic imaging at presently impossible frequencies, ultimately allowing new understanding and better diagnosis of a range of medical conditions in areas such as dermatology, ophthalmology, small parts cancers, dentistry, and the cardiovascular system, sometimes in intralumenal configurations.

该项目涉及多学科协作工作，结合材料研究，设备设计和面向医学的测试，以创建能够真实的实时高分辨率生物医学成像的超声阵列。实时超声成像是一种安全、廉价和方便的技术，约占所有医院影像学检查的20%。然而，空间分辨率最终受到最大频率的限制，并且现有的高分辨率系统基于机械扫描的单元件换能器。这样的系统表明需要增加分辨率，但同时限制了进展，因为它们不能在真实的时间中使用。为此，需要可以在高于目前最大值~30 MHz的频率下工作的超声波阵列。压电复合材料，包括在聚合物基体中的陶瓷柱，现在是商业超声成像系统中最先进的技术，具有更高的机电耦合，更好的声阻抗匹配到生物组织，和更好的电性能比单独的压电陶瓷，从而导致更宽的固有带宽和更高的灵敏度。此外，减少横向耦合意味着多元件阵列可以从单片压电复合板定义。然而，制造具有微米级尺寸的材料的困难阻碍了高频超声换能器和阵列的采用。在拟议的研究方案中，将首次建立超声波阵列，使其在可能高达100兆赫的频率下工作，适用于真实的高分辨率成像。这一进步的关键将是我们将采用优化的净形陶瓷加工技术生产的超细尺寸压电复合材料，并结合最先进的复合材料设计。这将是一个重大的一步，使真实的时间生物医学超声成像在目前不可能的频率，最终允许新的理解和更好的诊断范围内的医疗条件，如皮肤科，眼科，小部分癌症，牙科和心血管系统，有时在腔内配置。

项目成果

Development of fine-scale arrays for high resolution ultrasound imaging

开发用于高分辨率超声成像的精细阵列

• 发表时间: 2009
• 作者: Démoré CEM

Progress towards transducers and arrays for real-time high frequency biomedical ultrasound imaging

实时高频生物医学超声成像换能器和阵列的进展

• DOI: 10.1121/1.2935435
• 发表时间: 2008
• 期刊: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
• 作者: Cochran S

High Frequency Transducers and Their Applications. Invited short-course.

高频传感器及其应用。

• 发表时间: 2013
• 期刊: Proc. IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium
• 作者: Bam

Recent progress towards high frequency arrays for high resolution ultrasound imaging

用于高分辨率超声成像的高频阵列的最新进展

• 发表时间: 2009
• 作者: N/a Bamber

Functional characterisation of high frequency arrays based on micro-moulded 1–3 piezocomposites

基于微模制 1-3 压电复合材料的高频阵列的功能表征

• DOI: 10.1109/ultsym.2009.5441966
• 发表时间: 2009
• 期刊: 2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium
• 作者: C. Démoré;A. Bernassau;D. Hutson;S. Cochran;L. Garcia;F. Dauchy;C. Meggs;T. Button;N. Bush;J. Bamber
• 通讯作者: J. Bamber