Miniature ultrasound probe for real-time three-dimensional imaging and monitoring of Cardiac interventions

This research project will enable the next generation ultrasound probes for real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography. These probes will represent a breakthrough in echocardiography, as they will be ten times smaller than state-of-the-art probes, making them suitable for use in the esophagus of small children and newborns, and allowing them to be introduced via the nose in adults. Three main original steps will be taken to come to this breakthrough. First, the realization of a miniature ultrasound array receiver consisting of 1000+ individual piezo-electric transducer elements directly mounted on a silicon chip. Second, the realization of ultra-low-power electronics on this chip for signal processing and data reduction. Third, integrated 3D position sensing and real-time 3D ultrasound image fusion with other image modalities, for procedure guidance.