PMN-PT Single Crystal Ultrasonic Transducer With Half-Concave Geometric Design for IVUS Imaging

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2018 Sep;65(9):2087-2092. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2017.2784437. Epub 2017 Dec 18.

Abstract

As the key component of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging systems, traditional commercial side-looking IVUS transducers are flat and unfocused, which limits their lateral resolution. We propose a PMN-PT single crystal IVUS transducer with a half-concave geometry. This unique configuration makes it possible to conduct geometric focusing at a desired depth. To compare performances, the proposed and the traditional flat transducer with similar dimensions were fabricated. We determined that the half-concave transducer has a slightly higher center frequency (35 MHz), significantly broader -6 dB bandwidth (54%) but a higher insertion loss (-22.4 dB) compared to the flat transducer (32 MHz, 28%, and -19.3 dB, respectively). A significant enhancement of the lateral resolution was also confirmed. The experimental results are in agreement with the finite element simulation results. This preliminary investigation suggests that the half-concave geometry design is a promising approach in the development of focused IVUS transducers with broad bandwidth and high lateral resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Equipment Design
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Humans
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Transducers*
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional / instrumentation*