A Linear Array Typed Imaging System of Electrical and Ultrasonic Properties

Abstract

In this paper, a linear array typed imaging system of electrical and ultrasonic properties is proposed as one of measurement techniques for comfortable life. The proposed imaging system measures not only the ultrasonic property of the living body using the linear arrayed piezoelectric ceramic transducers, but also the electrical property using the surface electrodes of each piezoelectric ceramic transducer. From these data, the ultrasonic and electrical properties in the same object space are simultaneously reconstructed. In the experiment, propagation time and electrical voltage in the model, which the acrylic is inserted in the 0.1 % saline solution, are measured by the proposed imaging system based on linear array typed eight piezoelectric ceramic transducers. The ultrasonic and electrical properties are reconstructed from the measurement values. It was found that the ultrasonic and electrical properties in the same space were reconstructed by the proposed imaging system. Therefore, it is suggested that the proposed imaging system has potential for comfortable application although there are some problems that must be solved.