Grant: Idea to Innovation

Ultrasound is the most widely used medical imaging technique in the world in term of numbers of images created per year. Ultrasound has the ability to image cancer, cardiovascular and liver diseases, which contribute the most to the mortality rate in the Canadian population. Unfortunately, many of these diseases go either undetected or too late for intervention to treat the disease. Early detection can dramatically affect the expectancy or quality of life of affected patients. Although ultrasound is well-known as a safe and effective imaging tool, access to ultrasound is still limited. This means long waiting times for people in need for an ultrasound scan at hospitals and clinics.* We have developed an ultra-low cost and high-sensitivity ultrasound transducer prototype in our laboratory with comparable performance to traditional ultrasound transducers. Our transducer is meant to connect to a smart phone for an additional cost of only $100. The key innovation of our new technology is that we use a simple microfabrication method employing low-cost materials to create high-sensitivity ultrasound transducers. The plastic-like polymer materials used, and our unique design, allows these transducers to detect weak ultrasound signals from deep tissues at a reduced voltage. This makes ultrasound images better and more usable. Our goal is to design and fabricate an ultra-low cost ultrasound imaging system that can be used by general practitioners and family doctors for a rapid assessment of the major aforementioned diseases and conditions.* Working with local industry, we have the ability to make Canada the world leader in polymer-based ultrasound imaging systems. This will be translated an improvement in the Canadian healthcare. Our record of success, complementary skills, extensive collaborations, and leadership will achieve this vision. PolyCMUTs will span new horizons for this technology and will pave new ways to numerous technological advances in medical ultrasound imaging and related applications.*