Novel Ultrasound Transducer Showcased at IEEE Meeting

An ultrasound transducer manufacturer has announced a series of next-generation ultrasound transducers, based on semiconductor technology, as an alternative to traditional lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers.

The first three transducers using the new technology designed to provide ultra-high imaging resolution and performance compared to existing PZT technologies, are now available to manufacturers. The transducers were showcased at the 2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS; Taipei, Taiwan) on October 21–24, 2015.

The SiliconWave transducers were designed and manufactured by Kolo Medical (San Jose, CA, USA), a world leader in next generation of semiconductor ultrasound transducer technology, and the first manufacturer to offer commercially-available Capacitive Micro-machined Ultrasound Transducer (CMUT) technology, enabling the use of ultrasound for a wider range of applications than those available today. Kolo Medical manufactures the SiliconWave transducers using photolithography, etching, thin-film deposition, and other advanced semiconductor fabrication technology, and intends to provide a full suite of CMUTs medical ultrasound transducers for breast, thyroid, musculoskeletal, vascular, small body parts, and other ultra-high resolution and ultra-wide bandwidth imaging applications.

Dr. Yongli Huang, president, Kolo Medical, said, "During the last few decades, every aspect of medical ultrasound systems has been revolutionized by advances in semiconductor technology with the sole exception of the ultrasound transducer. Kolo Medical's proprietary CMUT technology eliminates the drawbacks associated with the PZT technology, and our ultra-high performance SiliconWave probes are truly moving ultrasound imaging into the silicon age."

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