A Dual-mode Ultrasound Transducer Based on Textured Ceramic for Image-guided Interstitial Ablationn

Ultrasound image-guided interstitial ablation is an economical and effective way in the management of unresectable tumors and other pathologically compromised tissues. However, in clinical practice, extracorporeal ultrasound imaging guidance presents challenges in target localization, while interstitial ultrasound imaging increases system complexity. The integrated dual-mode transducer that combines imaging and therapeutic capabilities emerges as an optimal solution. Due to inherent limitations of piezoelectric materials-such as the trade-offs among piezoelectric and dielectric properties-conventional dual-mode transducers generally face a compromise between imaging quality and ablation efficacy. To address these technical challenges, we have developed a miniature dual-mode ultrasound transducer based on a novel textured Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-Pb(Sc_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-PbTiO₃ (PIN-PSN-PT) ceramic with superior performance in both ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ablation. The proposed dual-mode transducer exhibited a center frequency of 6.84 MHz along with a broad fractional bandwidth of 92%. An ultrahigh negative acoustic pressure of 2.9 MPa was obtained under an excitation voltage of 50 V_pp with corresponding spatial-peak pulse-average intensity of 272.6 W·cm^-2. This work presents a paradigm for high-performance dual-mode transducer and highlights the potential of textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramic for integrated diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications. These results provide essential technical support for future clinical translation.