Wearable 256-Element MUX-Based Linear Array Transducer for Monitoring of Deep Abdominal Muscles

Wearable 256-Element MUX-Based Linear Array Transducer for Monitoring of Deep Abdominal Muscles

Reliable acoustic coupling in a non-handheld mode and reducing the form factor of electronics are specific challenges in making ultrasound wearable. Applications relying on a large field of view (such as tracking of large muscles) induce a need for a large element count to achieve high image quality...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Daniel Speicher, Tobias Grün, Steffen Weber, Holger Hewener, Stephan Klesy, Schabo Rumanus, Hannah Strohm, Oskar Stamm, Luis Perotti, Steffen H. Tretbar, Marc Fournelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
linear array
multiplexer
wearable ultrasound
B-mode
plane wave compounding
multichannel electronics
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3600
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Summary:Reliable acoustic coupling in a non-handheld mode and reducing the form factor of electronics are specific challenges in making ultrasound wearable. Applications relying on a large field of view (such as tracking of large muscles) induce a need for a large element count to achieve high image quality. In our work, we developed a 256-element linear array for imaging of abdominal muscles with four integrated custom-developed 8:32 multiplexer Integrated Circuits (ICs), allowing the array to be driven by our compact 32 ch electronics. The system is optimized for flexible use in R&D applications and allows adjustable transmit voltages (up to +/−100 V), arbitrary delay patterns, and 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) with up to 50 MSPS and wireless (21.6 MBit/s) or USB link. Image metrics (SLL, FWHM) were very similar to a fully populated array driven with a 256 ch system. The contrast allowed imaging of lesions down to 7 cm in the phantom. In a first in-vivo study, we demonstrated reliable acoustic contact even during exercise and were able to visualize deep abdominal muscles such as the TrA. In combination with a muscle tracking algorithm, the change of thickness of the TrA during SSE could be monitored, demonstrating the potential of the approach as biofeedback for physiotherapy training.
ISSN:2076-3417

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