Existing three-dimensional (3D) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems that combine two electromagnetic (EM) motors to drive catheters are bulky and require considerable efforts to eliminate EM interference (EMI). Herein, we propose a new scanning method to realize 3D IVUS imaging using a helical ultrasonic motor to overcome the aforementioned issues. The ultrasonic motor with compact dimensions (7-mm outer diameter and 30-mm longitudinal length), lightweight (20.5 g), and free of EMI exhibits great application potential in mobile imaging devices. In particular, it can simultaneously perform rotary and linear motions, facilitating precise 3D scanning of an imaging catheter. Experimental results show that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of raw images obtained using the ultrasonic motor is 5.3 dB better than that of an EM motor. Moreover, the proposed imaging device exhibits the maximum rotary speed of 12.3 revolutions per second and the positioning accuracy of 2.6 µm at a driving voltage of 240 Vp-p. 3D wire phantom imaging and 3D tube phantom imaging are performed to evaluate the performance of the imaging device. Finally, the in vitro imaging of a porcine coronary artery demonstrates that the layered architecture of the vessel can be precisely identified while significantly increasing the SNR of the raw images.
Ultrasound imaging commonly uses mechanical or electronic scanning methods. However, the mechanical scanning systems are bulky and susceptible to Electromagnetic Interference, while electronic scanning systems are complex and expensive. A more affordable and compact solution for high frequency preclinical and clinical imaging is single-element transducer based ultrasound imaging. This method offers high spatial resolution with low cost and low complexity. In this study, a novel single-element high frequency ultrasound imaging scanner was introduced. The scanner is based on piezoelectric bimorph drive and designed to be low-cost, compact, and handheld. Tungsten wire phantom imaging was performed on a dedicated ultrasound imaging system, and the obtained results were analyzed and compared. The results demonstrate that piezoelectric bimorph drive allows for high frequency imaging with a scanning speed of up to 208 frames per second. The image quality was higher than that of electromagnetic motor drive. The versatility of the ultrasound imaging system makes it suitable for preclinical and clinical applications, including small animal imaging, ophthalmic imaging, skin imaging, and intraoperative ultrasound imaging.
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