3-D Ultrasound Imaging Using Forward Viewing CMUT Ring Arrays for Intravascular and Intracardiac Applications

Abstract — Forward-viewing ring arrays can enable new appli-cations in intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound. We have demonstrated full synthetic phased array volumetric ultrasound imaging using a forward-viewing CMUT ring array with 64 elements, in both the conventional (8 MHz) and collapse (19 MHz) regimes of operation. Measured SNR of an echo from a plane reflector at 5 mm is 29 dB for 8 MHz and 35 dB for 19 MHz. The 6-dB axial and lateral resolutions for the B-scan of the wire target is 189µm and 0.112 radians for 8 MHz, and 78µm and 0.051 radians for 19 MHz. Rendered 3-D images of a Palmaz-Schatz stent are also shown, demonstrating that the imaging quality is sufficient for clinical applications. I