Fiber optic ultrasound generator and detector for high resolution ultrasound imaging

超声系统是医疗环境中最常用的设备，用于实时诊断或内部观察生物组织。然而，由于技术限制，这些设备的成像潜力非常有限。因此，为了应对这些限制，医生别无选择，只能将患者引向其他可能有害且更昂贵的成像系统，如X射线。本研究旨在通过开发一种用于超声和光声成像的光纤高频超声发生和检测系统来克服这些技术限制。我们的研究结果将有助于开发一种更灵活的超声系统，具有更高的图像分辨率，更小的捕获器尺寸，更容易和更大的校准选项，适用于各种设置和位置，如内部组织或器官。与两个工业合作伙伴合作，他们在潜在产品的适用性和分销方面处于有利地位，这种合作提供了一个独特的机会，可以快速开发出设计良好的产品并广泛分销。这项研究的预期成果之一是一种新的生物医学成像模式，例如，在重症监护室的超声诊断和治疗指导。本研究将设计一种石墨烯涂层的超声波发生器，用作高频超声波发生器。请注意，我们的研究团队和合作者一起，我们收集了成功完成这项拟议研究所需的独特专业知识，并将加拿大定位为生物医学超声成像技术以及高频超声发生和检测技术的领导者。四名研究生和一名博士后研究员将参与该项目，因此将受益于学术界和行业环境中的多学科和高素质培训。

Ultrasound systems are the most commonly used equipment in medical settings for diagnosis or internalobservation of bio-tissues in real-time. However, the imaging potential of these equipment is surprisinglycurrently quite limited due to technical constraints. Therefore, to counterpart these limitations, doctors have noother choices than to direct their patients towards other potentially harmful and more expensive imagingsystems, such as XRays. This research proposal aims at pushing back many of these technical limitation bydeveloping a fiber-optic high-frequency ultrasound generation and detection system for ultrasonic andphotoacoustic imaging. Our results will help develop a more flexible ultrasound system with higher imageresolution, smaller captor size, easier and larger calibration options for application in a variety of settings andplaces such as internal tissues or organs. Working with two industrial partners, who are well positioned forapplicability and distribution of the potential product, this collaboration offers a unique chance to quicklydevelop a well-designed product and to distribute it widely. One of the expected outcome of this research is anovel biomedical imaging modality to be used, for instance, in Intensive Care Units Sonology for diagnosis andtreatment guidance. The proposed research will design a graphene-coated nanofiber device, to be used as ahigh-frequency ultrasound generator. Note that together, our research team and collaborators, we gather anunique mix of expertise that are required to successfully complete this proposed research, and to positionCanada as a leader in biomedical ultrasound imaging technics, as well as high frequency ultrasound generationand detection techniques. Four graduate students and one postdoctoral fellow will participate in this project andtherefore benefit from a multidisciplinary and highly qualifying training in academia and industry settings.