Description:
Market Opportunity
Focused ultrasound (FUS) has a wide application potential in imaging, tumor treatment, neuron stimulation and other areas. Previously designed transducers are of a fixed focal length, with no electrical controllability for focal length, and are incapable of dynamically changing the focal spot without moving the transducer.
USC Solution
USC researchers have designed a new device with a tremendous degree of operating freedom by enabling the electrical controllability of the focal length. By using the new design, a real-time, fast-response, on-demand changing of focal length can be achieved. Electrical controlling of the focal length is achieved by selecting a group of electrodes to actuate so that the acoustic waves generated from those selected electrodes will arrive at the desired focal length in-phase, interfere constructively, and create a high acoustic intensity focal spot.
Value Proposition
- On-demand focal adjustment with sub-millimeter focal spot precision
- Electrical tuning of the focal length in real time
- Accelerate throughput in therapeutic and imaging workflows, lowering setup time and enhancing precision
Publications
Focused ultrasound transducer with electrically controllable focal length, IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, Jan. 2018.
Applications
- Imaging for medical diagnostics
- Neuron stimulation
Stage of Development
Lab prototype demonstration