document

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

document

Acoustic streaming-based calibration of ultrasound transducers

Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Baldini, L.B. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), van Neer, P.L.M.J. (author)

The accurate determination of the transfer function of ultrasound transducers is important for their design and operational performance. However, conventional methods for quantifying the transfer function, such as hydrophone measurements, radiation force balance, and pulse-echo measurements, are costly and complex due to specialized equipment...

journal article 2024

document

A Pitch-Matched High-Frame-Rate Ultrasound Imaging ASIC for Catheter-Based 3-D Probes

Hopf, Y.M. (author), Simoes dos Santos, D. (author), Ossenkoppele, Boudewine W. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Chang, Z.Y. (author), Chen, Chao (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Pertijs, M.A.P. (author)

This article presents an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for catheter-based 3-D ultrasound imaging probes. The pitch-matched design implements a comprehensive architecture with high-voltage (HV) transmitters, analog front ends, hybrid beamforming analog-To-digital converters (ADCs), and data transmission to the imaging system....

journal article 2024

document

High-Frame-Rate Volumetric Porcine Renal Vasculature Imaging

Wei, Luxi (author), Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Boni, Enrico (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Duncker, Dirk J. (author), Tortoli, Piero (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and imaging options of contrast-enhanced volumetric ultrasound kidney vasculature imaging in a porcine model using a prototype sparse spiral array. Methods: Transcutaneous freehand in vivo imaging of two healthy porcine kidneys was performed according to three protocols with...

journal article 2023

document

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

document

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

document

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

document

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

document

Sparse 2-D PZT-on-PCB Arrays With Density Tapering

Wei, Luxi (author), Boni, Enrico (author), Ramalli, Alessandro (author), Fool, F. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Tortoli, Piero (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Two-dimensional (2-D) arrays offer volumetric imaging capabilities without the need for probe translation or rotation. A sparse array with elements seeded in a tapering spiral pattern enables one-to-one connection to an ultrasound machine, thus allowing flexible transmission and reception strategies. To test the concept of sparse spiral array...

journal article 2022

document

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

document

A spatial and temporal characterisation of single proton acoustic waves in proton beam cancer therapy

Deurvorst, F.R. (author), Collado Lara, G. (author), Matalliotakis, A. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Daeichin, V. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author)

An in vivo range verification technology for proton beam cancer therapy, preferably in real-time and with submillimeter resolution, is desired to reduce the present uncertainty in dose localization. Acoustical imaging technologies exploiting possible local interactions between protons and microbubbles or nanodroplets might be an interesting...

journal article 2022

document

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

document

High Frame Rate Volumetric Imaging of Microbubbles Using a Sparse Array and Spatial Coherence Beamforming

Wei, Luxi (author), Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Meijlink, Bram (author), Ramalli, Alessandro (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Volumetric ultrasound imaging of blood flow with microbubbles enables a more complete visualization of the microvasculature. Sparse arrays are ideal candidates to perform volumetric imaging at reduced manufacturing complexity and cable count. However, due to the small number of transducer elements, sparse arrays often come with high clutter...

journal article 2021

document

Combining ultrafast ultrasound and high-density EMG to assess local electromechanical muscle dynamics: a feasibility study

Waasdorp, R. (author), Mugge, W. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), De Groot, Jurriaan H. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Schouten, A.C. (author), Daeichin, V. (author)

Skeletal muscles generate force, enabling movement through a series of fast electro-mechanical activations coordinated by the central nervous system. Understanding the underlying mechanism of such fast muscle dynamics is essential in neuromuscular diagnostics, rehabilitation medicine and sports biomechanics. The unique combination of...

journal article 2021

document

Tapering of the interventricular septum can affect ultrasound shear wave elastography: An in vitro and in silico study

Sabbadini, A. (author), Caenen, A.F.M. (author), Keijzer, L.B.H. (author), van Neer, P.L.M.J. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author)

Shear wave elastography (SWE) has the potential to determine cardiac tissue stiffness from non-invasive shear wave speed measurements, important, e.g., for predicting heart failure. Previous studies showed that waves traveling in the interventricular septum (IVS) may display Lamb-like dispersive behaviour, introducing a thickness-frequency...

journal article 2021

document

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Nanodroplet Vaporization in a Proton Beam Using Real-Time Ultrasound Imaging for Range Verification

Collado Lara, G. (author), Heymans, Sophie V. (author), Rovituso, M. (author), Carlier, Bram (author), Toumia, Yosra (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Daeichin, V. (author)

The potential of proton therapy to improve the conformity of the delivered dose to the tumor volume is currently limited by range uncertainties. Injectable superheated nanodroplets have recently been proposed for ultrasound-based in vivo range verification, as these vaporize into echogenic microbubbles on proton irradiation. In previous...

journal article 2021

document

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

document

Fundamental modeling of wave propagation in temporally relaxing media with applications to cardiac shear wave elastography

Sabbadini, A. (author), Keijzer, L.B.H. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author)

Shear wave elastography (SWE) might allow non-invasive assessment of cardiac stiffness by relating shear wave propagation speed to material properties. However, after aortic valve closure, when natural shear waves occur in the septal wall, the stiffness of the muscle decreases significantly, and the effects of such temporal variation of...

journal article 2020

document

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

document

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