Ultrasonic transducers and arrays

Ultrasonic imaging is one of the most important and still growing diagnostic tools in use today. To better understand transducer/array performance and some of the factors that prevent ultrasonic imagers from reaching higher resolution, this article reviews past achievements and current developments in the technology, including piezoelectric materials, transducer/array fabrication and design, and modeling. It is concluded that the array or transducer is a crucial part of an ultrasonic imaging system. Although much progress has been made in recent years to improve performance, it is still a limiting factor in preventing ultrasonic imaging systems from reaching their theoretical resolution. Investigations into novel piezoelectric materials, array stack architecture design, and modeling are being pursued. In the future, it is likely that multidimensional arrays will gradually replace linear arrays as the industry standard.

[1]  G. Hayward,et al.  A theoretical study on the influence of some constituent material properties on the behavior of 1‐3 connectivity composite transducers , 1995 .

[2]  L From,et al.  A 40-100 MHz B-scan ultrasound backscatter microscope for skin imaging. , 1995, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[3]  R. Silverman,et al.  Epithelial and corneal thickness measurements by high-frequency ultrasound digital signal processing. , 1994, Ophthalmology.

[4]  L. Brown,et al.  Ferroelectric polymers: current and future ultrasound applications , 1992, IEEE 1992 Ultrasonics Symposium Proceedings.

[5]  C. Zanelli,et al.  Quantitative real-time pulsed Schlieren imaging of ultrasonic waves , 1991, IEEE 1991 Ultrasonics Symposium,.

[6]  Stephen W. Smith,et al.  Update on 2-D array transducers for medical ultrasound , 1995, 1995 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium.

[7]  K. W. French,et al.  Injection molded fine-scale piezoelectric composite transducers , 1993 .

[8]  R. Krimholtz,et al.  New equivalent circuits for elementary piezoelectric transducers , 1970 .

[9]  F.S. Foster,et al.  Optimizing the radiation pattern of sparse periodic two-dimensional arrays , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[10]  H. Yoshida,et al.  A 2.5 MHz 2D array with Z-axis electrically conductive backing , 1997, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[11]  A. R. Selfridge,et al.  Approximate Material Properties in Isotropic Materials , 1985, IEEE Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics.

[12]  R. Newnham,et al.  Acoustic properties of particle/polymer composites for ultrasonic transducer backing applications , 1990 .

[13]  Brian G. Pazol,et al.  Ultrafine scale piezoelectric composite materials for high frequency ultrasonic imaging arrays , 1995, 1995 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium.

[14]  G. Kino,et al.  The design of efficient broad-band piezoelectric transducers , 1978 .

[15]  K. Shung,et al.  Piezoceramics for high-frequency (20 to 100 MHz) single-element imaging transducers , 1997 .

[16]  Pai-Chi Li,et al.  Optimizing the radiation pattern of sparse periodic linear arrays , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[17]  Y. Doisy,et al.  A 128/spl times/4 channels 1.5D curved linear array for medical imaging , 1995, 1995 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium.

[18]  Colin M. Sayers,et al.  Ultrasonic properties of transducer backings , 1984 .

[19]  Thomas R. Shrout,et al.  Relaxor ferroelectric materials , 1990, IEEE Symposium on Ultrasonics.

[20]  Piezoelectric properties of fine grain PZT materials , 1995, 1995 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium.

[21]  L. E. Cross,et al.  Connectivity and piezoelectric-pyroelectric composites , 1978 .

[22]  B. Khuri-Yakub,et al.  Tapered acoustic matching layers , 1993 .

[23]  J W Hunt,et al.  In vitro high resolution intravascular imaging in muscular and elastic arteries. , 1992, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[24]  W. A. Smith,et al.  The role of piezocomposites in ultrasonic transducers , 1989, Proceedings., IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium,.

[25]  K.K. Shung,et al.  Quantitative analysis of pulsed ultrasonic beam patterns using a schlieren system , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[26]  L. S. Smith,et al.  A 1.5D transducer for medical ultrasound , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.

[27]  F S Foster,et al.  Simulation of B-scan images from two-dimensional transducer arrays: Part I--Methods and quantitative contrast measurements. , 1992, Ultrasonic imaging.

[28]  L. E. Cross,et al.  Piezoelectric Composite Materials for Ultrasonic Transducer Applications. Part I: Resonant Modes of Vibration of PZT Rod-Polymer Composites , 1985, IEEE Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics.

[29]  P. A. Lewin,et al.  Miniature piezoelectric polymer ultrasonic hydrophone probes , 1981 .

[30]  D.H. Turnbull,et al.  Beam steering with pulsed two-dimensional transducer arrays , 1991, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[31]  S.W. Smith,et al.  Two-dimensional arrays for medical ultrasound , 1991, IEEE 1991 Ultrasonics Symposium,.