7.5-MHZ PEDIATRIC PHASED-ARRAY TRANSESOPHAGEAL ENDOSCOPE

This work extends the clinical benefits of phased array transesophagea l echocardiography with high detail and contrast resolution to include neonatal patients. We have built several prototype, 64-element, 7.5-M Hz phased array transducers housed in. 6.2-mm endoscope shafts for use with commercially available imaging systems. The acoustic design is s tandard, but the miniaturized packaging of the electrical connections was quite challenging. The endoscopes demonstrate very good structural resolution and excellent sensitivity for color flow imaging and conti nuous-wave Doppler. They have been used on patients as small as 1.9 kg , frequently as an anatomical guide during catheter-based intervention s and during congenital heart surgery. Array test data and representat ive clinical studies are shown.