Development of transducer arrays for ultrasound-computer tomography

Rainer Stotzka; Georg Gobel; Klaus Schlote-Holubek

doi:10.1117/12.479964

23 May 2003 Development of transducer arrays for ultrasound-computer tomography

Rainer Stotzka, Georg Gobel, Klaus Schlote-Holubek

Proceedings Volume 5035, Medical Imaging 2003: Ultrasonic Imaging and Signal Processing; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479964
Event: Medical Imaging 2003, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ultrasound computer-tomography (USCT) is a novel ultrasound imaging method capable of producing volume images with both high spatial and temporal resolution. Several thousand ultrasound transducers are arranged in a cylindrical array around a tank containing the object to be examined coupled by water. Every single transducer is small enough to emit an almost spherical sound-wave. While one transducer is transmitting, all others receive simultaneously. Our experimental setup, using only a few transducers simulating a ring-shaped geometry, showed even nylon threads (0.1 mm) with an image quality superior to clinical in-use ultrasound scanners. In order to build a complete circular array several thousand transducers, with cylindrical sound field characteristics, are needed. Since such transducer arrays are hardly available and expensive, we developed inexpensive transducer arrays consisting of 8 elements. Each array is based on a plate of lead titanate zirconate ceramics (PZT) sawn into 8 elements of 0.3 mm width, 3.8 mm height and 0.5 mm pitch. Each element has a mean frequency of 3.8 MHz and can be triggered separately. The main challenge was the development of production steps with reproducible results. Our transducer arrays show only small variances in the sound field characteristics which are strongly required for ultrasound tomography.

Citation Download Citation

Rainer Stotzka, Georg Gobel, and Klaus Schlote-Holubek "Development of transducer arrays for ultrasound-computer tomography", Proc. SPIE 5035, Medical Imaging 2003: Ultrasonic Imaging and Signal Processing, (23 May 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479964

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available