Image quality enhancement of PMUT-based photoacoustic imaging

Abstract

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is now a very promising imaging technique that provides image with sufficient depth, good resolution, and optical contrast. A conventional PAI system is relatively expensive and mechanically bulky. The study demonstrated that MEMS PMUT achieves miniaturized ultrasound (US) sensor element (either single element or an array of elements) with superior performance in terms of power consumption, flexibility, broader bandwidth, and sensitivity. This implies that these technologically novel qualities hold promise for the use of PMUT as an acoustic sensor in PAI systems in place of the conventional piezoelectric bulk element-based spherical ultrasound (US) transducer. We report our study on the design and development of MEMS PMUT−(central frequency ~ 1MHz) based PAM−that integrates MEMS technology and imaging technology (specifically, photoacoustic imaging (PAI)). In this work, we present a temporal integration of the signals over a certain number (~20) of pulsed light-induced PA waves against the conventional technique to acquire a single 1D PA signals/data corresponding to one individual optical pulse−induced PA waves. This means to say that the enhancement of imaging performance with the use of PMUT acoustic sensor is associated with a reduction of obtainable temporal resolution, i.e., a trade-off exists. With the applied temporal integration method SNR has been improved ~ 20dB. The preliminary study demonstrates that the integration of PMUT in PA imaging modality holds promise as a future (imaging) technology both for biological studies and their applications.

PMUT and CMUT Devices for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…With respect to PMUTs, CMUTs are better suited to PAI applications due to their wider bandwidth and less restrictive fabrication, which allows for larger arrays, higher frequencies and dedicated geometries; however, since PMUTs rely on the established and reliable piezoelectric technology with micromachining capability, there is extensive research focused on improving the performance of PMUT that has led to promising results [94]. Literature also reports on various beamforming algorithms (delay-multiply-and-sum) to improve image quality of PMUT-based PAI [95]- [97]. In [98], the PZT-based PMUT array for the PAI receiving phase consists of 16 x 16 elements, half of which feature a resonant frequency equal to 1.2 MHz and the other half equal to 3.4 MHz.…”

Advances and Applications of Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in Emerging Technologies: A Comprehensive Review

“…MEMS finds applications in a broad range of areas, such as medical technology, [ 214 , 215 , 216 ] telecommunications, [ 217 ] consumer electronics, [ 218 ] and automotive systems. [ 219 ] Innovations like inertial measurement units [ 220 ] in smartphones, pressure sensors [ 221 ] in cars, micro‐mirrors [ 222 ] in projection systems, and MUTs [ 223 , 224 , 225 , 226 , 227 , 228 , 229 , 230 , 231 , 232 ] as fingerprint sensors/medical imaging systems all demonstrate the transformative power of MEMS technology.…”

Simulation of photoacoustic signal detection using fiber Bragg gratings

“…18 In modern applications, traditional ultrasound (US) transducers are being substituted with microacoustic devices to detect PA signals, which are smaller, more cost-effective, and power-efficient. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] In this context, we introduce an optical sensor for detecting photoacoustic (PA) signals, serving as a substitute for traditional bulk ultrasound (US) transducers.…”