title: PMN-PT single-crystal high-frequency kerfless phased array.
abstract: This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of a miniature high-frequency kerfless phased array prepared from a PMN-PT single crystal for forward-looking intravascular or endoscopic imaging applications. After lapping down to around 40 μm, the PMN-PT material was utilized to fabricate 32-element kerfless phased arrays using micromachining techniques. The aperture size of the active area was only 1.0 × 1.0 mm. The measured results showed that the array had a center frequency of 40 MHz, a bandwidth of 34% at -6 dB with a polymer matching layer, and an insertion loss of 20 dB at the center frequency. Phantom images were acquired and compared with simulated images. The results suggest that the feasibility of developing a phased array mounted at the tip of a forward-looking intravascular catheter or endoscope. The fabricated array exhibits much higher sensitivity than PZT ceramic-based arrays and demonstrates that PMN-PT is well suited for this application.
authors.forename: Ruimin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nestor E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Munoz
authors.forename: Kwok Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Hsiu-sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qifa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: K Kirk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Shung
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D019160:Endosonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D009556:Niobium / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010087:Oxides / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014025:Titanium / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; C404734:lead magnesium niobate; C481719:lead titanate; D009556:Niobium; D007854:Lead; D014025:Titanium