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The objective of this proposal is to develop new technology for substantially improving the sensitivity of ultrasound to prostate cancer. This technology will be enabled by recent advances in ultrasound transducer fabrication techniques and ultrasound contrast imaging approaches. We hypothesize that a transrectal ultrasound probe utilizing a novel dual- frequency ultrabroadband approach will provide a new highly-sensitive diagnostic technique for prostate cancer imaging. Aim 1) Develop a new type of dual-frequency PC-MUT co-linear array with broad bandwidth to enable a new dual- frequency imaging technology for high-resolution, high sensitivity nonlinear transrectal contrast imaging. This probe will be fabricated using a new piezoelectric composite micromachined ultrasound transducer technology (PC-MUT), and by utilizing through-waver-via based multilayering technology. The final result will be a co-linear 2-D array configuration utilizing row-column electrodes. Aim 2) Assess the performance of new prototype array and imaging capability in (a) tissue mimicking and microvascular phantoms and in (b) a standard animal model of prostate cancer. In the preliminary in-vitro study, imaging resolution, contrast to tissue ratio, and lesion detectability will be assessed relative to a Siemens EV- 8C4 transrectal ultrasound probe. In the in- vivo study, molecular imaging and microvascular mapping will both be performed to assess the probe's ability Progress to date has included development of prototype single and multi-element array dual frequency transducers designed towards prostate imaging. Prototypes have been fabricated and tested and have demonstrated promising preliminary results.
Piezoelectric Composite Micromachined Multifrequency Transducers for High-Resolution, High-Contrast Ultrasound Imaging for Improved Prostate Cancer Assessment