Experimental results from an electrostrictive multiplexed 2-D array

A 2:1 multiplexed two-dimensional array has been developed which has a sparse element pattern designed for real time volumetric imaging and a second element pattern designed for conventional B-mode imaging. For volumetric imaging a small aperture was used to provide a wide transmit beam, allowing multiple beams to be received simultaneously. A larger aperture with a more narrow transmit beam was used for B-mode imaging to improve image quality when multiple receive beams were not required. The multiplexed transducer was fabricated using an electrostrictive relaxor ferroelectric material in which array elements were activated and deactivated by a DC bias field