Current research interests are the development and evaluation of improved medical ultrasound image quality for applications in cardiology, radiology and obstetrics. Advances in image quality result from improvements in the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of diagnostic ultrasound scanners through novel signal processing techniques and improved design of ultrasound transducers.

One current project includes the development of two-dimensional phased array transducers for application in the Duke 3-D ultrasound scanner in these N x N, "checkerboard'' arrays are used to steer the ultrasound beam in both the azimuth and elevation directions within the patient's body to interrogate a pyramidal shaped object and produce a volumetric scan at high speeds without moving the transducer.

Recently developed transducers include 100 x 100 = 10,000 element arrays operating at 5-10 MHz. Each square element is only 0.2 mm on a side. In addition, we have developed such 2D arrays to fit inside of intra-cardiac catheters only 2 mm in diameter for guidance of cardiac interventional procedures such as mapping and ablation of atrial fibrillation. Processing technologies include the use of micro electronic packaging and fabrication techniques to develop higher frequency arrays up to 20 MHz with improved resolution and smaller element sizes down to 0.05 mm.

Contact Info:

Office Location:	1427 Fciemas
Office Phone:	(919) 660-5160, (919) 660-5131
Email Address:
Web Page:	http://transducers.bme.duke.edu/

Education:

PhD, Duke University, 1975

MS, Iowa State University, 1969

AB, Thomas Moore College, 1967

Research Interests:

Current research interests are the development and evaluation of improved medical ultrasound image quality for applications in cardiology, radiology and obstetrics. Advances in image quality result from improvements in the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of diagnostic ultrasound scanners through novel signal processing techniques and improved design of ultrasound transducers.

Specialties:

Medical Imaging
3D Ultrasound
Medical Instrumentation
Medical Diagnostics
Ultrasound imaging

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

Best Paper Award, IEEE Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 1994
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, 1999

Recent Publications   (More Publications)

1. A. J. Rogers and E. D. Light and S. W. Smith, 3-D Ultrasound Guidance of Autonomous Robot for Location of Ferrous Shrapnel, Ieee Transactions On Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics And Frequency Control, vol. 56 no. 7 (July, 2009), pp. 1301 -- 1303  [abs].
2. C. D. Herickhoff and E. D. Light and K. F. Bing and S. Mukundan and G. A. Grant and P. D. Wolf and S. W. Smith, Dual-Mode Intracranial Catheter Integrating 3D Ultrasound Imaging and Hyperthermia for Neuro-oncology: Feasibility Study, Ultrasonic Imaging, vol. 31 no. 2 (April, 2009), pp. 81 -- 100  [abs].
3. S. W. Smith and N. M. Ivancevich and B. D. Lindsey and J. Whitman and E. Light and M. Fronheiser and H. A. Nicoletto and D. T. Laskowitz, The ultrasound brain helmet: feasibility study of multiple simultaneous 3d scans of cerebral vasculature, Ultrasound In Medicine And Biology, vol. 35 no. 2 (February, 2009), pp. 329 -- 338  [abs].
4. K. E. Reddy and E. D. Light and D. J. Rivera and J. A. Kisslo and S. W. Smith, Color Doppler Imaging of Cardiac Catheters Using Vibrating Motors, Ultrasonic Imaging, vol. 30 no. 4 (October, 2008), pp. 247 -- 250  [abs].
5. N. M. Ivancevich and G. F. Pinton and H. A. Nicoletto and E. Bennett and D. T. Laskowitz and S. W. Smith, Real-time 3-D contrast-enhanced transcranial ultrasound and aberration correction, Ultrasound In Medicine And Biology, vol. 34 no. 9 (September, 2008), pp. 1387 -- 1395  [abs].