WE‐D‐218‐01: Ultrasound Scanner Innovations and Clinical Practice

• Published in: Medical Physics 2012-06, Vol.39 (6), p.3954-3954
• Main Author: Thomenius, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computed tomography; Computer software; Data acquisition; Image scanners; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical image contrast; Medical imaging; Semiconductors; Ultrasonic transducers; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0094-2405; 2473-4209
• DOI: 10.1118/1.4736137

Of all the imaging modalities, ultrasound scanners have gone through the most profound changes over the last several decades in terms of their size, capability, and cost. Much of this is due to the small data acquisition devices (ultrasound transducers) and Moore's Law dependent signal/image processors that comprise and ultrasound scanner. These are in direct contrast with the front ends of MRI or CT scanners with their sizeable power hungry gantries. Thus ultrasound has been a direct beneficiary of the miniaturization associated with the semiconductor industry; this has enabled the migration of much hardware functionality to software and development of much smaller devices even including handheld scanners. Such changes are having a significant impact on clinical utilization of ultrasound. This talk will review some of these including the recent introduction of complete software backends, i.e. ultrasound scanners composed of analog front ends which are connected to processors with minimal dedicated digital hardware. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the architecture of an ultrasound scanner and how it has changed with evolving technology. 2. Understand the implications to clinical practice from these changes. 3. Understand the possibilities for the future of ultrasound scanners both from the view of new technical capabilities and how these might impact the clinic.