PolyCMUTs: High performance, low cost ultrasound transducers

就每年产生的图像数量而言，超声是世界上应用最广泛的医学成像技术。超声波能够对癌症、心血管疾病和肝脏疾病进行成像，这些疾病是造成加拿大人口死亡率最高的原因。不幸的是，许多这些疾病要么未被发现，要么为时已晚，无法进行干预治疗。早期发现可以极大地影响受影响患者的预期寿命或生活质量。虽然超声波是众所周知的安全有效的成像工具，但使用超声波的机会仍然有限。这意味着需要在医院和诊所进行超声波扫描的人要等待很长时间。**我们在实验室开发了一种超低成本，高灵敏度的超声波换能器原型，其性能与传统的超声波换能器相当。我们的传感器可以连接到智能手机上，只需要额外花费100美元。我们的新技术的关键创新是我们使用一种简单的微加工方法，采用低成本的材料来制造高灵敏度的超声波换能器。所使用的塑料状聚合物材料，以及我们独特的设计，使这些换能器能够以较低的电压检测来自深层组织的弱超声信号。这使得超声图像更好，更有用。我们的目标是设计和制造一种超低成本的超声成像系统，可以被全科医生和家庭医生用于快速评估上述主要疾病和状况。**与当地工业合作，我们有能力使加拿大在聚合物超声成像系统方面处于世界领先地位。这将转化为加拿大医疗保健的改善。我们的成功记录、互补的技能、广泛的合作和领导力将实现这一愿景。PolyCMUTs将为这项技术开辟新的视野，并将为医学超声成像和相关应用的众多技术进步铺平新的道路。******

Ultrasound is the most widely used medical imaging technique in the world in term of numbers of images created per year. Ultrasound has the ability to image cancer, cardiovascular and liver diseases, which contribute the most to the mortality rate in the Canadian population. Unfortunately, many of these diseases go either undetected or too late for intervention to treat the disease. Early detection can dramatically affect the expectancy or quality of life of affected patients. Although ultrasound is well-known as a safe and effective imaging tool, access to ultrasound is still limited. This means long waiting times for people in need for an ultrasound scan at hospitals and clinics.** We have developed an ultra-low cost and high-sensitivity ultrasound transducer prototype in our laboratory with comparable performance to traditional ultrasound transducers. Our transducer is meant to connect to a smart phone for an additional cost of only $100. The key innovation of our new technology is that we use a simple microfabrication method employing low-cost materials to create high-sensitivity ultrasound transducers. The plastic-like polymer materials used, and our unique design, allows these transducers to detect weak ultrasound signals from deep tissues at a reduced voltage. This makes ultrasound images better and more usable. Our goal is to design and fabricate an ultra-low cost ultrasound imaging system that can be used by general practitioners and family doctors for a rapid assessment of the major aforementioned diseases and conditions.** Working with local industry, we have the ability to make Canada the world leader in polymer-based ultrasound imaging systems. This will be translated an improvement in the Canadian healthcare. Our record of success, complementary skills, extensive collaborations, and leadership will achieve this vision. PolyCMUTs will span new horizons for this technology and will pave new ways to numerous technological advances in medical ultrasound imaging and related applications.******