Grant: Idea to Innovation
Dalhousie University
$124,591.00
A variable sampling receive beamformer for high resolution ultrasound endoscopy
FY 2015-16
Summary
Conventional low frequency large penetration ultrasound imaging systems are based on large arrays of miniature transmitter-receiver elements called a transducer array. By using a transducer array, made of many individually addressed transduction elements, the effective curvature of the aperture can be changed electronically, resulting in a much better image quality. This is because the ultrasound energy can be focused and steered off to different angles. High-frequency ultrasound, on the other hand, is a relatively new technology that uses micro-fabricated imaging arrays that are capable of an order of magnitude higher resolution than conventional ultrasound systems currently used in diagnostic imaging. Although resolution increases with ultrasound frequency, the difficulty in fabricating the transducer arrays and electronic hardware is increased. This is because the size of the transduction elements become microscopic, and the required analog and digital frequencies of the electronic hardware increase.
Despite these challenges, our research group has developed a high frequency miniaturized ( <3mm) imaging endoscope and most of the associated electronic hardware and software that will enable this technology to be used as a tool for visualizing tissues from within the body, as opposed to the current equivalent technology that is limited to external topical applications. Potential applications of such a high resolution endoscope include laparoscopic, auditory, intracardiac, neural imaging, and many more. Currently no other ultrasound technology exists that combines such high resolution, with the miniature forward looking endoscopic form factor. The potential for this technology to revolutionize diagnostics in several different fields of medicine is very real.
This Idea to Innovation proposal describes the development of novel piece of high frequency ultrasound electronic hardware, and a strategy for transferring this into a commercial product. The proposed piece of relatively low-cost electronic hardware, will allow for images to be generated with minimal data capture rates and electronic processing so that images can be generated at extremely high frame rates.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
476910-2015
Name nom
Brown, Jeremy
Department département
Biomedical Engineering, School of
Organization id
79
Institution établissement
Dalhousie University
Province en
Nova Scotia
Province fr
Nouvelle-Écosse
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2015
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
124591
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
1901
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical technology
Research subject fr
Technologie biomédicale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
A variable sampling receive beamformer for high resolution ultrasound endoscopy
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Conventional low frequency large penetration ultrasound imaging systems are based on large arrays of miniature transmitter-receiver elements called a transducer array. By using a transducer array, made of many individually addressed transduction elements, the effective curvature of the aperture can be changed electronically, resulting in a much better image quality. This is because the ultrasound energy can be focused and steered off to different angles. High-frequency ultrasound, on the other hand, is a relatively new technology that uses micro-fabricated imaging arrays that are capable of an order of magnitude higher resolution than conventional ultrasound systems currently used in diagnostic imaging. Although resolution increases with ultrasound frequency, the difficulty in fabricating the transducer arrays and electronic hardware is increased. This is because the size of the transduction elements become microscopic, and the required analog and digital frequencies of the electronic hardware increase.
Despite these challenges, our research group has developed a high frequency miniaturized ( <3mm) imaging endoscope and most of the associated electronic hardware and software that will enable this technology to be used as a tool for visualizing tissues from within the body, as opposed to the current equivalent technology that is limited to external topical applications. Potential applications of such a high resolution endoscope include laparoscopic, auditory, intracardiac, neural imaging, and many more. Currently no other ultrasound technology exists that combines such high resolution, with the miniature forward looking endoscopic form factor. The potential for this technology to revolutionize diagnostics in several different fields of medicine is very real.
This Idea to Innovation proposal describes the development of novel piece of high frequency ultrasound electronic hardware, and a strategy for transferring this into a commercial product. The proposed piece of relatively low-cost electronic hardware, will allow for images to be generated with minimal data capture rates and electronic processing so that images can be generated at extremely high frame rates.
