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An Ultrasound Matrix Transducer for High-Frame-Rate 3-D Intra-cardiac Echocardiography

Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Ossenkoppele, B.W. (author), Hopf, Y.M. (author), Soozande, Mehdi (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author)

Objective: Described here is the development of an ultrasound matrix transducer prototype for high-frame-rate 3-D intra-cardiac echocardiography. Methods: The matrix array consists of 16 × 18 lead zirconate titanate elements with a pitch of 160 µm × 160 µm built on top of an application-specific integrated circuit that generates transmission...

journal article 2024

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Automatic Max-Likelihood Envelope Detection Algorithm for Quantitative High-Frame-Rate Ultrasound for Neonatal Brain Monitoring

Kortenbout, A.J. (author), Costerus, Sophie (author), Dudink, Jeroen (author), de Jong, N. (author), de Graaff, Jurgen C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author)

Objective: Post-operative brain injury in neonates may result from disturbed cerebral perfusion, but accurate peri-operative monitoring is lacking. High-frame-rate (HFR) cerebral ultrasound could visualize and quantify flow in all detectable vessels using spectral Doppler; however, automated quantification in small vessels is challenging...

journal article 2024

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A Pitch-Matched Transceiver ASIC for 3D Ultrasonography with Micro-Beamforming ADCs based on Passive Boxcar Integration and a Multi-Level Datalink

Guo, P. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, J. G. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This paper presents a pitch-matched transceiver ASIC integrated with a 2-D transducer array for a wearable ultrasound device for transfontanelle ultrasonography. The ASIC combines 8-fold multiplexing, 4-channel micro-beamforming (μ BF) and sub-array-level digitization to achieve a 128-fold channel-count reduction. The μ BF is based on passive...

conference paper 2023

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Continuous shear wave measurements for dynamic cardiac stiffness evaluation in pigs

Caenen, Annette (author), Keijzer, Lana (author), Bézy, Stéphanie (author), Duchenne, Jürgen (author), Orlowska, Marta (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Voigt, Jens Uwe (author), D’hooge, Jan (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Ultrasound-based shear wave elastography is a promising technique to non-invasively assess the dynamic stiffness variations of the heart. The technique is based on tracking the propagation of acoustically induced shear waves in the myocardium of which the propagation speed is linked to tissue stiffness. This measurement is repeated multiple...

journal article 2023

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A 1.2-mW/Channel Pitch-Matched Transceiver ASIC Employing a Boxcar-Integration-Based RX Micro-Beamformer for High-Resolution 3-D Ultrasound Imaging

Guo, P. (author), Fool, F. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This article presents a low-power and small-area transceiver application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for 3-D trans-fontanelle ultrasonography. A novel micro-beamforming receiver architecture that employs current-mode summation and boxcar integration is used to realize delay-and-sum on an N -element sub-array using N× fewer capacitive...

journal article 2023

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A Pitch-Matched Transceiver ASIC With Shared Hybrid Beamforming ADC for High-Frame-Rate 3-D Intracardiac Echocardiography

Hopf, Y.M. (author), Ossenkoppele, Boudewine W. (author), Soozande, Mehdi (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Chen, Chao (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

In this article, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for 3-D, high-frame-rate ultrasound imaging probes is presented. The design is the first to combine element-level, high-voltage (HV) transmitters and analog front-ends, subarray beamforming, and in-probe digitization in a scalable fashion for catheter-based probes. The...

journal article 2022

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A Pitch-Matched Low-Noise Analog Front-End With Accurate Continuous Time-Gain Compensation for High-Density Ultrasound Transducer Arrays

Guo, P. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This article presents a compact analog front-end (AFE) circuit for ultrasound receivers with linear-in-dB continuous gain control for time-gain compensation (TGC). The AFE consists of two variable-gain stages, both of which employ a novel complementary current-steering network (CCSN) as the interpolator to realize continuously variable gain....

journal article 2022

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A Compact Integrated High-Voltage Pulser Insensitive to Supply Transients for 3-D Miniature Ultrasound Probes

Hopf, Y.M. (author), Ossenkoppele, B.W. (author), Soozande, M. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

In this letter, a compact high-voltage (HV) transmit circuit for dense 2-D transducer arrays used in 3-D ultrasonic imaging systems is presented. Stringent area requirements are addressed by a unipolar pulser with embedded transmit/receive switch. Combined with a capacitive HV level shifter, it forms the ultrasonic HV...

journal article 2022

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Imaging Scheme for 3-D High-Frame-Rate Intracardiac Echography: A Simulation Study

Soozande, Mehdi (author), Ossenkoppele, B.W. (author), Hopf, Y.M. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is normally treated by RF ablation. Intracardiac echography (ICE) is widely employed during RF ablation procedures to guide the electrophysiologist in navigating the ablation catheter, although only 2-D probes are currently clinically used. A 3-D ICE catheter would not only...

journal article 2022

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Automated Characterization of Matrix Transducer Arrays using the Verasonics Imaging System

Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Fool, F. (author), Kim, Taehoon (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Rozsa, N.N.M. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), De Jona, Nico (author)

Over the past decades, ultrasound imaging has made considerable progress based on the advancement of imaging systems as well as transducer technology. With the need for advanced transducer arrays with complex designs and technical requirements, there is also a need for suitable tools to characterize such transducers. However, despite the...

conference paper 2022

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A Tiled Ultrasound Matrix Transducer for Volumetric Imaging of the Carotid Artery

Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Fool, F. (author), Mozaffarzadeh, M. (author), Shabanimotlagh, M. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Kim, T. (author), Rozsa, N.N.M. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author)

High frame rate three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging would offer excellent possibilities for the accurate assessment of carotid artery diseases. This calls for a matrix transducer with a large aperture and a vast number of elements. Such a matrix transducer should be interfaced with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for...

journal article 2022

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A 1.2mW/channel 100m-Pitch-Matched Transceiver ASIC with Boxcar-Integration-Based RX Micro-Beamformer for High-Resolution 3D Ultrasound Imaging

Guo, P. (author), Fool, F. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

The integration of 2D ultrasonic transducer arrays and pitch-matched ASICs has enabled the realization of various 3D ultrasound imaging devices in recent years [1]-[3]. As applications such as 3D intravascular ultrasonography, intra-cardiac echocardiography, and trans-fontanelle ultrasonography call for miniaturization and improved spatial...

conference paper 2022

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A Pitch-Matched ASIC with Integrated 65V TX and Shared Hybrid Beamforming ADC for Catheter-Based High-Frame-Rate 3D Ultrasound Probes

Hopf, Y.M. (author), Ossenkoppele, B.W. (author), Soozande, M. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Chen, C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, J.G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

Intra-cardiac echography (ICE) probes (Fig. 32.2.1) are widely used in electrophysiology for their good procedure guidance and relatively safe application. ASICs are increasingly employed in these miniature probes to enhance signal quality and reduce the number of connections needed in mm-diameter catheters [1]-[5]. 3D visualization in real...

conference paper 2022

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Optimization of Microbubble Concentration and Acoustic Pressure for Left Ventricular High Frame Rate EchoPIV in Patients

Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Keijzer, L.B.H. (author), Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Bowen, Daniel J. (author), Mutluer, Ferit O. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Ten Cate, Folkert (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Van den Bosch, Annemien E. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author)

High-frame-rate (HFR) echo-particle image velocimetry (echoPIV) is a promising tool for measuring intracardiac blood flow dynamics. In this study, we investigate the optimal ultrasound contrast agent (UCA: SonoVue) infusion rate and acoustic output to use for HFR echoPIV (PRF = 4900 Hz) in the left ventricle (LV) of patients. Three infusion...

journal article 2021

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Design of an ultrasound transceiver asic with a switching-artifact reduction technique for 3D carotid artery imaging

Kim, Taehoon (author), Fool, F. (author), Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This paper presents an ultrasound transceiver application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) directly integrated with an array of 12 × 80 piezoelectric transducer elements to enable next-generation ultrasound probes for 3D carotid artery imaging. The ASIC, implemented in a 0.18 µm high-voltage Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (HV BCD) process, adopted a...

journal article 2021

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Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Subdicing on an Ultrasound Matrix Transducer

Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Fool, F. (author), Kim, Taehoon (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author)

Over the past decades, real-time three-dimensional (3D) medical ultrasound has attracted much attention since it enables clinicians to diagnose more accurately. This calls for ultrasound matrix transducers with a large number of elements, which can be interfaced with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for data reduction. An...

conference paper 2021

document

A direct comparison of natural and acoustic-radiation-force-induced cardiac mechanical waves

Keijzer, Lana B.H. (author), Caenen, A.F.M. (author), Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Bowen, Daniel J. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Natural and active shear wave elastography (SWE) are potential ultrasound-based techniques to non-invasively assess myocardial stiffness, which could improve current diagnosis of heart failure. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap between both techniques and discuss their respective impacts on cardiac stiffness evaluation. We recorded...

journal article 2020

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Impact of Bit Errors in Digitized RF Data on Ultrasound Image Quality

Chen, Z. (author), Soozande, M. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Bosch, J.G. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This article quantitatively analyzes the impact of bit errors in digitized RF data on ultrasound image quality. The quality of B-mode images in both linear array and phased array imaging is evaluated by means of three objective image quality metrics: peak signal-to-noise ratio, structural similarity index, and contrast-to-noise ratio, when...

journal article 2020

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Contrast-Enhanced High-Frame-Rate Ultrasound Imaging of Flow Patterns in Cardiac Chambers and Deep Vessels

Vos, H.J. (author), Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Groot Jebbink, Erik (author), Leow, Chee Hau (author), Nie, Luzhen (author), van den Bosch, Annemien E. (author), Tang, Meng Xing (author), Freear, Steven (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author)

Cardiac function and vascular function are closely related to the flow of blood within. The flow velocities in these larger cavities easily reach 1 m/s, and generally complex spatiotemporal flow patterns are involved, especially in a non-physiologic state. Visualization of such flow patterns using ultrasound can be greatly enhanced by...

review 2020

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Receive/transmit aperture selection for 3D ultrasound imaging with a 2D matrix transducer

Mozaffarzadeh, M. (author), Soozande, M. (author), Fool, F. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), de Jong, N. (author)

Recently, we realized a prototype matrix transducer consisting of 48 rows of 80 elements on top of a tiled set of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) implementing a row-level control connecting one transmit/receive channel to an arbitrary subset of elements per row. A fully sampled array data acquisition is implemented by a...

journal article 2020