| Title: |
Novel Detector Arrays for Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging |
| Category: |
Faculty |
| Intellectual Property: |
Student team assigns intellectual property management to University of Arizona |
| Year: |
2009 |
| Semester: |
Fall |
| Sponsor Name: |
Russell Witte (Department of Radiology) |
| Sponsoring advisors: |
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| Sponsor URL: |
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~rwitte/ |
| Sponsor Information: |
Dr. Russell Witte is an Assistant Professor in Radiology, Optical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. His Experimental Ultrasound and Neural Imaging Laboratory (EUNIL) develops novel techniques and devices relevant to biomedical imaging with applications ranging from cardiovascular disease and cancer to epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. |
| ITAR Restriction: |
No |
| Scope of work: |
Acoustic receivers typically depend on piezoelectric materials to convert pressure waves to a measurable voltage signal. Fabrication of high frequency ultrasound arrays, however, can be difficult and expensive to fabricate. To overcome limitations with piezoelectric technology, we are developing acoustic detectors based on an entirely different principal: an interaction between pressure and electrical resistivity known as the acoustoelectric (AE) effect. A patent has been applied based on this concept, and our early single-element prototypes have demonstrated excellent sensitivity combined with low cost.
The goal of this Senior Capstone Project is to design, fabricate and test the first ever ultrasound detector array (minimum 16 channels) based on the AE effect. We would like to push the limit especially in terms of sensitivity and bandwidth. The project would particularly benefit from expertise in material science, electrical circuit design, MEMs technology, acoustics and optics.
The final device will be used for two biomedical imaging techniques that rely on the detection of ultrasonic waves: 1) pulse echo ultrasound and 2) photoacoustic imaging. Both of these modalities are used extensively in our laboratory to investigate applications ranging from colon cancer to Parkinson’s disease.
A successful Capstone Project will lead to a new breed of solid-state ultrasound detector arrays capable of pulse echo ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging for medical applications. Original designs are potentially patentable through the UA Office of Technology Transfer, possibly leading to a new start-up company. |
| Project summary: |
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| Disciplines: |
Electrical Engineering (2)
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (1)
Optical Sciences and Engineering (1)
Mechanical Engineering (1) |
| Skills: |
Conductive and semiconductive materials
Clean room skills and thin flim fabrication
Sonics/Ultrasonics/Optics
Signal Processing/Beamforming
Circuit design
Matlab |
| Additional resources: |
All equipment to test devices at the device level (sensitivity, bandwidth, etc) is available in Dr. Witte's laboratory (ultrasound, RF generator, amplifiers, data acquisition, software, etc).
Photoaocustic and ultrasound imaging equipment is also available in Dr. Witte's laboratory for final implementation testing.
Clean room fabrication was most recently performed in collaboration with Prof. Robert Norwood's group.
Advising will be available from Dr. Witte, members of his laboratory and collaborators in Optical Sciences and ECE. |
| Key Contact Name: |
Russell Witte |
| Key Contact Email: |
rwitte@radiology.arizona.edu |
| Key Contact Phone: |
520.626.0346 |
| Project URL: |
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| Mentor Name: |
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| Mentor Email: |
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| Mentor Phone: |
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