IMPLANTABLE ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A miniaturized micromachined ultrasonic transducer 100 is disclosed herein for implantation in tissue to achieve high-resolution images. An array of ultrasonic transducers 102 is fabricated in a carrier 700 using integrated circuits (IC) technology. The carrier 700 is micromachined into a needle shape with a cross-section small enough for the array of ultrasonic traducers 102 to be inserted into tissue for high- resolution medical imaging. The length of the probe shank portion 106 of the transducer 100 is dependent on the quantity of transducers 102 to be arranged in the array. Compared with commercial intravascular ultrasonic devices, this micromachined ultrasonic imager is small enough to allow monolithic integration of a flexible silicon ribbon cable 504 for electrical interconnection from the array of transducers to external electronic. With the silicon ribbon cable 504 as the connector for the array of transducers 102, a catheter is not necessary.