The fabrication and integration of a 15 MHz array within a biopsy needle

Microultrasound is a real-time imaging modality that can resolve features <200 μm using frequencies of 15 MHz and above. While attenuation limits the penetration depth, incorporating a miniature transducer within a biopsy needle enables in vivo imaging of structures deep within the body. Imaging from the tip of minimally invasive needles has potential in applications in guiding intervention and tissue characterisation for diagnosis, for example, accurate navigation of interventional neurosurgical tools, and high resolution diagnostic imaging of breast lesions and axillary lymph nodes.

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