Beamformer and semiconductor technology developer Samplify Systems is launching a new applications-specific integration circuit (ASIC), SAM2032, which could help redefine the limits of future ultrasound system design and performance, at the RSNA 2011 meeting in Chicago.
Samplify presented the SAM2021 to ultrasound OEMs as a way to simplify system design and reduce product development time for all types of diagnostic ultrasound scanners. It has potential applications for conventional diagnostic ultrasound imaging and emerging nontraditional applications, the company noted.
The SAM2021 builds on engineering experience gained as the firm developed its AutoFocus ultrasound beamforming technology. The ASICs features a calculation engine that automatically refocuses the receiver to capture acoustic reflections at different scan depths. It also uses phased-array technology to form four scan lines simultaneously for high frame rates and improved lateral resolution, according to Samplify.
From this base, the SAM2032 ASIC addresses a gap in field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip implementations commonly used in ultrasound system designs. It supplies the user with the cost-effectiveness and power efficiency available with low-end beamforming FPGAs and the high performance of FPGA selected for premium ultrasound platforms, according to the company.
The digital receive beamformer interfaces to 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with 32 serialized low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) inputs. The high-performance data path consists of delay memory, cubic interpolation, and apodization weighting prior to summation of its 32 channels. The device supports dynamic focusing and apodization where coefficients are updated continuously on every sample, the company noted.
