Characterization of the STHV748 integrated pulser for generating push sequences

Ultrasound transmit push sequences put a high stress on a pulser IC due to power dissipation that could result in overheating. The aim of this work was to determine the safe range of parameters of push sequences for a high-voltage, high-speed, 4-channel pulser STHV748 (STMicroelectronics). The impact of using ceramic capacitors and electrolytic capacitors on the HV supply was also examined. The reaction of the pulser was measured with three output loading conditions. A safe range of values of pulser voltage for a given transmit frequency and sequence length were determined by monitoring chip temperature. Additionally, maximum pulse repetition frequency was evaluated in function of the maximum supply voltage. The STHV748 pulser is capable of generating push sequences. The duty-cycle is a key parameter that determines the safe operating conditions of the pulser. Limiting the amplitude of the HV supply enables us to increase push burst duration or decrease the frequency of the transmit signal.