Applied Sciences (Mar 2025)

Wearable 256-Element MUX-Based Linear Array Transducer for Monitoring of Deep Abdominal Muscles

  • Daniel Speicher,
  • Tobias Grün,
  • Steffen Weber,
  • Holger Hewener,
  • Stephan Klesy,
  • Schabo Rumanus,
  • Hannah Strohm,
  • Oskar Stamm,
  • Luis Perotti,
  • Steffen H. Tretbar,
  • Marc Fournelle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073600
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 7
p. 3600

Abstract

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Reliable acoustic coupling in a non-handheld mode and reducing the form factor of electronics are specific challenges in making ultrasound wearable. Applications relying on a large field of view (such as tracking of large muscles) induce a need for a large element count to achieve high image quality. In our work, we developed a 256-element linear array for imaging of abdominal muscles with four integrated custom-developed 8:32 multiplexer Integrated Circuits (ICs), allowing the array to be driven by our compact 32 ch electronics. The system is optimized for flexible use in R&D applications and allows adjustable transmit voltages (up to +/−100 V), arbitrary delay patterns, and 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) with up to 50 MSPS and wireless (21.6 MBit/s) or USB link. Image metrics (SLL, FWHM) were very similar to a fully populated array driven with a 256 ch system. The contrast allowed imaging of lesions down to 7 cm in the phantom. In a first in-vivo study, we demonstrated reliable acoustic contact even during exercise and were able to visualize deep abdominal muscles such as the TrA. In combination with a muscle tracking algorithm, the change of thickness of the TrA during SSE could be monitored, demonstrating the potential of the approach as biofeedback for physiotherapy training.

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