ULTRASOUND 2D INTEGRATED ARRAY

描述（申请人提供）：超声成像在许多临床专业中得到了广泛的应用。实时体积成像（RT3D）有望在图像引导干预中发挥重要作用。血管间（IVUS）和血管内（ICE）超声也有重要的临床应用。他们建议进一步提高这些新模式的能力。迄今为止，IVUS和ICE都是断层扫描技术，仅允许动脉粥样硬化斑块或心肌壁的断层视图。在斑块附近成像整个血管的几何形状或通过观察延伸的心肌斑块将增强效用。RT3D与实时渲染相结合，现在可以实现基于导管的超声可视化，类似于光纤。目前的实现表明图像质量很差。前视二维阵列太大，无法进入较小的血管（如冠状动脉），并且缺乏灵敏度，阵列采样不足，生产成本高。为了克服这些限制，他们提出了一个基于MEMS处理技术的独特2D阵列的两阶段开发，以与先进的定制电路集成。在第一阶段，我们将构建、评估和优化独特的10-30 MHz多层传感器阵列，工作在弯曲模式而不是厚度模式下。在第二阶段，他们提出了具有300多个有效元件的前视二维阵列的6F导管的构建和评估。建议进行体外和有限的体内试验，导管将与现有的RT3D系统连接。所提出的多层集成阵列方法也可应用于非侵入式RT3D，显著提高图像质量。高质量的前瞻性导管超声成像将允许心血管导航，并允许评估斑块的位置和大小、心脏形态和心肌病理。它将有助于放置其他设备，如起搏导线，并将允许在线可视化心脏干预，如消融治疗。改进二维阵列的发展对于实现RT3D在诊断和图像引导治疗的重要新领域的全部潜力至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Ultrasound imaging has found wide application in many clinical specialties. Real time volumetric imaging (RT3D) promises to play an important role in image-guided interventions. Intervascular (IVUS) and intravascular (ICE) ultrasound has also found important clinical applications. They propose to further enhance the capabilities of these new modalities. To date, IVUS and ICE are tomographic techniques permitting only sectional views of artheroscloratic plaque or the myocardial walls. Imaging the entire vessel geometry near a plaque or by visualizing an extended patch of the myocardium will enhance utility. RT3D combined with real time rendering now permits catheter-based ultrasound visualization analogous to that obtainable with fiber optics. Current implementations evidence poor image quality. The forward-looking 2D arrays are too large to access smaller vessels (e.g., coronary arteries), and they suffer from lack of sensitivity, undersampling of the array, and high production costs. To overcome these limitations, they propose a two-stage development for unique 2D arrays based on MEMS processing technology to be integrated with advanced custom circuits. In Phase 1, we will construct, evaluate, and optimize unique multilayer 10-30 MHz transducer arrays operating in the flexure rather than the thickness mode. In Phase 2 they propose the construction and evaluation of 6F catheters with forward-looking 2D arrays with over 300 active elements. In vitro and limited in vivo tests are proposed and the catheter will be interfaced with an extant RT3D system. The proposed multilayer integrated array methodology can also be applied to non-invasive RT3D to significantly improve image quality. High quality forward-looking catheter based ultrasound imaging will permit cardiovascular navigation and allow assessment of plaque location and size, cardiac morphology, and myocardial pathology. It will aid in the placement of other devices such as pacing wires and will permit on-line visualization of cardiac interventions such as ablation therapy. The development of improved 2D arrays is essential to the realization of the full potential of RT3D in diagnosis and in the vital new area of image guided therapies.