Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging is a technology that enables realtime tomographic assessment of the arterial wall and it is increasingly employed to assist in selecting and evaluating therapeutic interventions. While new catheter designs have been developed, the current technology for ultrasound transducer array fabrication and electronics integration has limited the improvement of image quality and further development of advanced techniques for in vivo detection of the progression of atherosclerotic disease. Over the past two years, with NIH funding, we focused on improving Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) technology for IVUS, and removed significant barriers for implementation of high performance arrays: We developed novel dual-electrode CMUTs with efficiency and bandwidth rivaling single crystal piezoelectric transducer array elements, and more importantly, we demonstrated monolithic integration of front-end imaging electronics and CMUT arrays on the same silicon chip. We also performed initial imaging studies on medically relevant samples with CMUT-IVUS arrays operating in the 20-50MHz range and established infrastructure and collaborations for implementation of a prototype CMUT-IVUS catheter. Based on these advances, in this competitive renewal application we seek to demonstrate the feasibility of IVUS catheters using high performance CMUTs with integrated electronics for clinical settings, and further develop CMUT designs and arrays for challenging IVUS applications. We will develop high performance mass loaded dual-electrode annular CMUT phased arrays for IVUS with monolithic integrated electronics operating in the 30-50MHz range to provide the high resolution and penetration depth required for vasa-vasorum imaging and the bandwidth and resolution for improved composition imaging. We propose to implement a prototype side looking CMUT-IVUS catheter with annular arrays, and use it on relevant imaging phantoms for validation. This study will facilitate translation of research on revolutionary, lead free CMUT technology into clinical studies for detection and management of coronary and peripheral arterial diseases. This study will also serve as a paradigm for a broad range of ultrasound imaging applications that would benefit from advanced transducer technology with integrated electronics.

Public Health Relevance

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the coronary artery disease has the highest percentage of death among the heart diseases. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides realtime tomographic images of the arterial wall structure and has become an important tool for management of this disease. This study will facilitate translation of research on a revolutionary, lead free, high performance IVUS transducer technology for improved assessment of plaque deposits on the blood vessel walls through device development and testing on medically relevant samples.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HL082811-04
Application #
7735858
Study Section
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section (BMIT)
Program Officer
Buxton, Denis B
Project Start
2006-06-01
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$475,126
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia Institute of Technology
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
097394084
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30332
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Satir, Sarp; Degertekin, F Levent (2012) Harmonic reduction in capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers by gap feedback linearization. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 59:50-9
Gurun, Gokce; Zahorian, Jaime S; Sisman, Alper et al. (2012) An analog integrated circuit beamformer for high-frequency medical ultrasound imaging. IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst 6:454-67
Tekes, Coskun; Zahorian, Jaime; Gurun, Gokce et al. (2012) Volumetric imaging using single chip integrated CMUT-on-CMOS IVUS array. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2012:3195-8
Perng, John Kangchun; Lee, Seungjun; Kundu, Kousik et al. (2012) Ultrasound imaging of oxidative stress in vivo with chemically-generated gas microbubbles. Ann Biomed Eng 40:2059-68
Tekes, Coskun; Karaman, Mustafa; Degertekin, F Levent (2011) Optimizing circular ring arrays for forward-looking IVUS imaging. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 58:2596-607
Gurun, Gokce; Hasler, Paul; Degertekin, F (2011) Front-end receiver electronics for high-frequency monolithic CMUT-on-CMOS imaging arrays. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 58:1658-68
Zahorian, Jaime; Hochman, Michael; Xu, Toby et al. (2011) Monolithic CMUT-on-CMOS integration for intravascular ultrasound applications. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 58:2659-67
Guldiken, Rasim O; Zahorian, Jaime; Yamaner, F Y et al. (2009) Dual-electrode CMUT with non-uniform membranes for high electromechanical coupling coefficient and high bandwidth operation. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 56:1270-6
Guldiken, Rasim O; Balantekin, Mujdat; Zahorian, Jaime et al. (2008) Characterization of dual-electrode CMUTs: demonstration of improved receive performance and pulse echo operation with dynamic membrane shaping. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 55:2336-44

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