IN SITU, HIGH SPEED SCANNING ACOUSTIC MICROSCOPE

扫描声学显微镜，其工作在超高 频率（250-1000 MHz），允许组织的可视化 与光学显微镜所提供的相似的微观尺度， 具有额外的益处，即组织样品不需要 活检 声学显微镜的潜在临床应用 包括皮肤上、食道中、 生殖道和动脉。 有很大的临床需求 开发一种可以安装在尖端的声学显微镜， 心导管、胃镜、结肠镜、支气管镜，或 腹腔镜 我们提出了一种创新的高速，200兆赫，扫描声学 用于原位成像的显微镜，其基于线性阵列， 氧化锌（ZnO）超声换能器。 ZnO传感器 阵列将使用反应溅射制造。 ZnO薄膜 通过反应溅射沉积将导致具有 适合现场使用的尺寸， 可以容易且廉价地制造的均匀阵列 使用标准光刻技术。 我们的临床 一位合作者发现，200 MHz的工作频率 提供了所需分辨率之间的最佳折衷， 成像细胞和超声波的穿透深度。 建议的商业应用 拟议的微型扫描声学显微镜将使 高分辨率，原位组织表征， 减少了与诊断大量 目前需要组织活检的医疗营养品， 病理检查

Scanning acoustic microscopes, which operate at ultra-high frequencies (250-1000 MHz), permit the visualization of tissues on a microscopic scale similar to that provided by light microscopy, with the added benefit that the tissue sample does not need to be biopsied. Potential clinical applications of acoustic microscopy include in situ imaging of cells on the skin, in the esophagus, in the reproductive tract, and in arteries. There is a great clinical need to develop an acoustic microscope that can be mounted on the tip of a cardiac catheter, gastroscope, colonscope, bronchoscope, or laparoscope. We propose an innovative high speed, 200 MHz, scanning acoustic microscope for in situ imaging that is based on a linear array of zinc oxide (ZnO) ultrasonic transducers. The ZnO transducer array will be fabricated using reactive sputtering. ZnO films deposited by reactive sputtering will result in structures with the appropriate dimensions for in situ use and will result in extremely uniform arrays that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured using standard photolithography techniques. Our clinical collaborator has found that a 200 MHz operating frequency provides an optimal tradeoff between the required resolution for imaging cells and depth of penetration of the ultrasound. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION The proposed miniature scanning acoustic microscope will enable high resolution, in situ tissue characterization that will dramatically reduce the cost and time associated with diagnosing numerous medical aliments that currently require tissue biopsies and pathological examination.