Background: Traditional laser-induced high-frequency ultrasound transmitters made from thin-films polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) or gold nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays suffer from combinations of low optoacoustic efficiencies and/or poor optoacoustic pressures. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based ultrasound sources overcome the issues associated with traditional techniques by efficiently transforming light into thermal energy which in turn can be used for optoacoustic generation. Technology Description: Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a CNT composite-based optoacoustic transmitter that generates high-frequency ultrasounds with strong optoacoustic pressures. The optoacoustic pressure from the proposed device is 18 times stronger than a Cr film reference and 5 times stronger than an AuNP composite with the same polymer. The technology has been demonstrated to provide improvements over extant techniques across a 120MHz frequency range. Applications: • High-frequency ultrasound generation • Material and structural analysis using ultrasonic imaging • Thickness gauging of very thin material layers • Proximity/distance detection • Flow-rate sensing • Ultrasonic cleaning welding and testing • Diagnostic and therapeutic biomedical applications
1) Higher optoacoustic conversion efficiencies 2) Improved performance across a 120MHz frequency range 3) Increased optoacoustic pressure: 18x over Cr film reference and 5x over AuNP