Piezoelectric contrast materials for ultrasound imaging

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control ferroelectrics, and frequency control, 2005-09, Vol.52 (9), p.1483-1488
• Main Author: Towe, B.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic imaging; Acoustic signal processing; Acoustics; Bioceramics; Biocompatible Materials - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biological materials; Biomedical imaging; Conducting materials; Contrast Media - analysis; Echocardiography - instrumentation; Echocardiography - methods; Electrochemistry - instrumentation; Electrochemistry - methods; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Image contrast; Imaging; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Materials Testing; Medical; Medical sciences; Medical signal detection; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phantoms, Imaging; Physics; Piezoelectric materials; Piezoelectricity; Polymers; Signal detection; Surgical implants; Transducers; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonics, quantum acoustics, and physical effects of sound; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2005.1516020

Piezoelectric ceramics and polymers can be used as a type of marker and contrast material for medical ultrasound imaging systems. High-frequency electrical signals are detected from surface electrodes when these materials are introduced into conducting media such as tissue and scanned by ultrasound imaging systems. Detected signals are applied to the imaging circuits of a modified ultrasound system such that they display a unique type of electrical image that shows the piezomaterial's polarization, shape, and position at arbitrarily high contrast compared to the conventional ultrasound acoustic image. The resulting piezoelectric image can be merged in real-time with conventional ultrasound acoustic imaging to form a composite image. This approach is of interest in the development of improved techniques for imaging medical devices that are implanted or otherwise introduced into the body.