Miniaturized Real-Time Volumetric Ultrasound Imaging System

描述(由申请人提供)：在之前完成的NIH开发拨款(R33CA99059)的范围内，我们成功地展示了用于内窥镜通道的实时合成孔径体积超声成像系统。该系统基于一个16×16单元的二维电容式微机械超声换能器(CMUT)阵列，并集成了前端收发集成电路。该系统的后端包括一个16通道模数转换器和一个用于数据采集和图像重建的现场可编程门阵列。在一个为期4年的计划中，我们的目标是将当前的系统扩展到更大的阵列，使用更多的有源电子通道，实施可扩展的相控阵波束形成方案，以提高图像质量。在这个项目中，我们计划将数组大小增加到32x32，并最终增加到64x64。所描述的系统将用于腔内超声成像，以改进各种癌症的诊断、分期和治疗。临床验证将作为后续拨款的主题。具体工作目标如下：1.设计和构建32×32和64×64单元的二维CMUT阵列2.设计用于实时三维超声成像的前端集成电路3.改进后端数据采集系统以并行处理更多通道4.集成系统部件研究小组为拟议工作整合了声学、系统设计、信号处理和临床应用领域的专业知识。公共卫生相关性：实时、三维微型超声成像系统的成功开发将显著提高对各种疾病的诊断和治疗的准确性。我们建议开发一种集成的腔内换能器探头和支持成像系统，可以用于许多应用，其中需要从自然体腔或人工通道(如腹腔镜)获得图像。这种新型探头的一些潜在应用包括结直肠癌的术前分期、实时交互式经直肠超声引导的前列腺近距离放射治疗和图像引导的微创经胃手术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Within the scope of a previously completed NIH developmental grant (R33CA99059), we successfully demonstrated a real-time synthetic aperture volumetric ultrasound imaging system for use in an endoscope channel. This system was based on a 16x16-element two-dimensional capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array integrated with front-end transmit-receive integrated circuits. The backend of the system consisted of a 16-channel analog-to-digital converter and a field programmable gate array used for data acquisition and image reconstruction. In a 4-year program, we aim to expand the current system for larger arrays with a larger number of active electronic channels implementing scalable phased array beamforming schemes to improve the image quality. We plan to increase the array size to 32x32 and eventually to 64x64 in this project. The described system will be available for intracavital ultrasound imaging to improve the diagnosis, staging and therapy of various cancers. The clinical validation will be the subject of a follow-up grant. The specific aims of the proposed work are as follows: 1. Design and construct 32x32 and 64x64-element 2-D CMUT arrays 2. Design front-end integrated circuits for real-time 3-D ultrasound imaging 3. Improve the backend data acquisition system to process more channels in parallel 4. Integrate system components The research team put together for the proposed work combines expertise in the fields of acoustics, system design, signal processing and clinical applications. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The successful development of a real-time, 3-D miniature ultrasound imaging system will significantly improve the accuracy in the diagnosis and therapy of various diseases. We propose to develop an integrated intracavital transducer probe and the supporting imaging system that can be used for numerous applications, in which an image is required to be obtained from within a natural body cavity or an artificial channel such as a laparoscope. Some of the potential applications of this novel probe include preoperative staging of colorectal cancer, real-time interactive transrectal ultrasound guided prostate brachytherapy, and image-guided minimally-invasive transgastric procedures.