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ABSTRACT
Next Gen Ultrasound as the name indicates is the latest advancement in ultrasonic imaging. In
this technology medical imaging borrows techniques from microelectronics industry. An
ultrasound imager has four main parts namely the transducer probe, the analog front end
electronics , the digital signal processing hardware and the display. Advancement in electronics
have brought an extraordinary level of refinement to all but the transducer, which means that
most of remaining opportunities for improving system lies in design of this critical component.
One dimensional array , or having a series of transducers laid out in a line ,are now used for
most forms of ultrasound imaging. Researchers have lately been seeking reliable ways to
fashion compact 2 dimensional compact transducer arrays. While a one dimensional array can
be steered and focused within a single plane to make a two dimensional image ,a two
dimensional array can be steered and focused throughout a volume to make three dimensional
images, and this can be done in real time Fabricating tiny transducer arrays is carried out using
methods developed by the microelectronics industry, methods thet are now routinely used to
produce various microelectromechanical systems or MEMS. MEMS fabrication technology have
enabled scientists to construct something what they call capacitive micromachined ultrasonic
transducer or CMUT. Scientists refer to this new technology by the more pleasing phrase
“silicon ultrasound”. Many key features of CMUT’s are enabled with micromachining
technology. Micromachining allows to miniaturize dvice dimensions and produce capacitive
transducers tht perform comparably to their piezoelectric counterparts. CMUT’s can prove to
be a revelation in medical imaging.