Development of polymer-based CMUT array design for Ultrasound Computer Tomography

An emerging imaging modality for breast cancer screeing is Ultrasound Computer Tomography (USCT). The thereby used image reconstruction techniques result in special requirements for the ultrasound transducers. At the University of British Colombia, a novel fabrication technology was recently presented. This technology allows the realization of polymer-based Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer (CMUT), whose properties match very well the requirements coming from USCT.

The main goal of the project is to develop a transducer array design that will allow the evaluation of the polymer-based CMUT technology for its use in USCT. This design must consider requirements coming from the image reconstruction, the system integration, the fabrication technology and medical device regulations. Subsequent projects should then focus on the fabrication and characterization of this design. Overall, the project establishes a first promising interface between a novel transducer fabrication process and a possible application in a clinical ultrasound system.

Faculty Supervisor:

Edmond Cretu

Student:

Partner:

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: