A Conformable CMOS Ultrasound System for Point-of-Care Imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Current point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) systems face limitations due to rigid form factors, bulky electronics, and operator skill requirements.
• There is a need for more accessible, wearable diagnostic tools for continuous monitoring and remote healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a conformable, integrated ultrasound imaging patch for improved diagnostic capabilities.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of a wearable ultrasound system for 3D visualization and physiological monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a 1024-channel CMOS ultrasound application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with a conformable piezocomposite transducer array on a flexible polyimide substrate.
• On-chip beamforming to reduce off-chip channel count, enabling untethered operation with a laptop for control and data acquisition.
• Evaluation of imaging performance using phantom experiments and human studies, assessing resolution, contrast, and visualization of anatomical structures.

Main Results:

• Achieved 3D imaging with 0.5 mm axial and 2 mm lateral resolution in phantom studies.
• Demonstrated real-time 3D visualization of the internal jugular vein and carotid artery in human subjects.
• Successfully imaged pleural motion, overcoming rib shadowing, and confirmed diagnostic safety limits.

Conclusions:

• The developed conformable ultrasound patch offers a scalable architecture for chronic, wearable ultrasound imaging.
• CMOS-integrated, flexible ultrasound systems show significant potential for continuous physiological monitoring and remote diagnostics.
• This technology advances the field of POCUS towards more accessible and versatile diagnostic tools.