A 100-element ultrasonic circular array for endoscopic application in medicine and NDT

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Materials Science
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Miniaturized ultrasonic arrays are crucial for minimally invasive medical procedures and detailed NDT.
• Existing technologies face limitations in resolution and applicability for endoscopic use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel 10mm diameter ultrasonic circular array for medical and NDT applications.
• To assess the performance of the array through simulations and experimental imaging.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a 100-element ultrasonic circular array (10mm diameter) for 3.5-7.5 MHz.
• Mathematical modeling, monochromatic, and broadband soundfield simulations.
• Manufacturing process discussion and experimental validation using tissue-equivalent phantoms and NDT specimens.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated feasibility of a compact ultrasonic array for endoscopic applications.
• Successfully obtained ultrasonic images from medical phantoms and NDT test specimens.
• Analysis of soundfield simulations and discussion of grating lobe mitigation.

Conclusions:

• The developed ultrasonic circular array is suitable for both medical endoscopic imaging and NDT.
• The array's design and performance meet the requirements for high-resolution imaging in confined spaces.