Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10397/55522
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Title: Development of flexible 2D ultrasound arrays for scoliosis assessment
Authors: Shea, QTK 
Yip, PYM 
Zheng, YP 
Issue Date: 2016
Source: IFMBE Proceedings, 2016, v. 56, p. 256-258
Abstract: Conventional way of assessing scoliosis requires taking X-ray radiograph on the coronal plane of the spine. Rapid radiograph examinations on scoliosis patients could produce radiation hazards and increase the risk of cancer. Recently, it has been shown that ultrasound imaging could produce reliable Cobb’s angle measurement for scoliosis assessments. However, this method requires moving the ultrasound probe manually by physician’s hand and could produce error if subjects moved during the imaging process. More importantly, it is very difficult to take images when subjects are wearing back braces. This study has aimed to overcome the above issues by developing a flexible ultrasound transducer arrays which could stay on subjects’ back during the examination. 4mm diameter piezoelectric transducer elements were soldered onto flexible copper Printed Computer Board (PCB). The transducer surface was then emerged into soft silicone gel to eliminate possible air gaps and provide comfortable cushioning between transducer and the subject’s back. Accelerometers and electromagnetic spatial sensors were explored to measure the elements’ location and orientation. The Preliminary results showed that the structure of the spinous process could be identified with the flexible transducer array by comparing A-mode signals with B-mode images taken with conventional ultrasound probe. It was also suggested that the larger angular coverage of the flexible transducer array could be helpful for studying the orientation of reflecting surface. This could be done by finding the angle of reflection of the echoes by capturing signals with nearby elements during single element stimulation.
Keywords: Coronal plane
Flexible 2D ultrasound arrays
Scoliosis
Spine imaging
Publisher: Springer
Journal: IFMBE Proceedings 
ISSN: 1680-0737
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-0266-3_53
Description: International Conference for Innovation in Biomedical Engineering and Life Sciences ICIBEL 2015, 6–8 December 2015, Putrajaya, Malaysia
Rights: © International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering 2016
This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use (https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms), but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0266-3_53
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