Med-IPUT is a ground-breaking project revolutionizing medical ultrasound imaging. Today, medical ultrasound faces several limitations, such as low resolution, limited penetration depth, and high acoustic peak pressures.  Therefore, the multi-sensing MED-IPUT project will develop a high-resolution, high-quality, recyclable medical imaging system based on a disruptive integrated photonic ultrasound transducer concept. Med-IPUT transducers are up to 100 times more sensitive than current ultrasound sensors. This will be a major leap in ultrasound component performance.

A recent innovation cross-bordering acoustics and photonics is the Integrated Photonic Ultrasound Transducer (IPUT). An IPUT uses a micromechanical membrane in combination with a photonic waveguide to measure acoustic waves. In a receiver IPUT the passing of an acoustic wave excites a micromechanical membrane. The membrane displacement alters the refractive index or shape of photonic waveguides on top of the membrane. In this way highly sensitive photonic read-out strategies can be used that strongly increase the performance of the ultrasound transducer.

5 partners from 5 countries, the MED-IPUT consortium brings together world-class expertise in ultrasound and photonics, positioning the project to achieve a breakthrough in sensitivity. TNO has extensive experience in both Optics and Acoustics and also on packaging solutions in those areas. Ligentec and VTT both have long-standing expertise in photonics and they have their own world-class photonics platforms in thick SiN and thick SOI, respectively. Vermon has long-standing expertise in research and development of ultrasound transducers and equipment integration and manufacturability. EIBIR is uniquely situated to reach out to potential end-users and stakeholders to collect valuable feedback, generate awareness and disseminate results in the biomedical imaging community.

Higher quality image will result in earlier, better and more specific diagnoses and therefore in increased patient health, well-being and lower health-care costs.

Med-IPUT is paving the way for better healthcare outcomes through faster and safer imaging, while reducing costs. Visit our website or LinkedIn showcase page and look for #MedIPUT on X for the latest updates on Med-IPUT.