Medical Physics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Medical Physics, including details on medicine, radiotherapy, biomechanics, medical imaging.

High frequency broadband PZT thick film ultrasonic transducers for medical imaging applications.

Zhang QQ, Djuth FT, Zhou QF, Hu CH, Cha JH, Shung KK

Geospace Research Inc., El Segundo, CA 90245, USA.

A modified sol-gel method is used to prepare PZT thick film on Pt-coated silicon substrate. A new method of vacuum filling sol-gel precursor solution is introduced to improve film quality. The effects of the filling on PZT thick film structure and ferroelectric properties are discussed. The fabrication of a high frequency transducer with the PZT film as the actuating layer is described. The performance of the transducer is measured and results show that the transducer backed by E-Solder without a matching layer has a center frequency of 103MHz and a bandwidth of 70%. Beam profile measurements show that the transducer has an axial resolution of 9.2mum and a lateral resolution of 33mum.

Published 1 January 2007 in Ultrasonics, 44: e711-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Medical Physics Research Today. All Rights Reserved.