Demonstration of Vector Flow Imaging with Row-Column (RC) Addressed CMUT Arrays on a Rotating Disc Phantom

Real-time imaging of a mouse heart is a challenging task due to the small size and rapid heart rate (exceeding 500 bpm). Current ultrasound systems struggle with detecting complex flow patterns such as vortices in the blood flow. To overcome these problems a high frame rate is required. In this project, we are developing a row-column (RC) addressed 128+128-element capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array integrated with high-voltage analog switches and low-noise amplifiers on custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) to achieve high-frame-rate, high-resolution images of local flow velocity gradients. Using an RC array offers the flexibility to dynamically select the optimal scan plane and acquire data to form orthogonal image planes, allowing for a three-dimensional perspective of flow dynamics within the mouse heart.