A 206-Element, 250-µW/channel, 87-MHz Ultrasound Linear-Array Receiver with Monolithically Integrated Transducers for Photoacoustic Tomography

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an imaging technique that offers the unique ability to achieve high spatial resolution at substantial depths within tissue. However, resolution and contrast in PAT are strongly dependent on the frequency and bandwidth of the ultrasound imager. High-bandwidth, high-frequency systems can be achieved by close integration of transducer and front-end electronics, which eliminates the need for a band-limiting matching network and reduces the effects of capacitive parasitics. We demonstrate the ability to collect ultrasound signals from photoacoustic phantoms up to $87-\mathrm{MHz}$ in a CMOS-based linear-array receiver, achieving an axial resolution of $15 \mu \mathrm{~m}$ and a lateral resolution of $30 \mu \mathrm{~m}$.