Linear Microsystems in Healthcare: Ultrasound Machines and ASIC
Ultrasound machines play a major role in healthcare in a variety of ways. Traditionally, ultrasounds are display images for prenatal applications and internal medicine. The use of microsystems and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology in the development of innovative medical and healthcare solutions, like ultrasound technology, helps make this possible.
Importance of Ultrasound Technology in Healthcare
Ultrasound waveforms transmit and focus along a vector or beam. The ultrasonic energy reflects from the patient and focuses to form a picture of an object from the signal received.
The moment the beam is collected, the operation will be repeated by the ultrasound imager. Thus, collecting a series of beams that reconstruct into a two-dimensional image.
Aside from prenatal applications and internal medicine, there are newer applications for ultrasound technology which including the following:
Dental Descaling
- The use of ultrasound technology in dental medicine is for periodontal therapy. This is in the form of ultrasound debridement. This application is more effective and efficient than manual debridement.
Shockwave Lithotripsy
- As the name suggests, this process breaks up kidney stones and other calcium-based growths inside the body with the use of ultrasonic waves. This is quite useful to break up the stones that will not pass naturally. In fact, it is an excellent alternative to surgery.
Research also shows that high-resolution focused beams of ultrasonic energy have been used for imaging purposes in non-destructive testing and by the medical profession. This is achievable by pulsing the elements of the ultrasonic array transducer in a predetermined manner.
Role of ASIC technology in the healthcare process
ASIC technology also plays a great role in the healthcare process with implantable medical devices providing therapy for several conditions. Medically integrated circuits are in devices that are programmable to administer drugs on a more effective schedule. This will help in providing effective treatment and relief of patient’s conditions with lesser side effects.
Medical ASIC does several supporting functions for implanted medical devices, which include the following:
- Communications
- Sensing
- Stimulation
- Therapy delivery
- Memory storage
- Microprocessor
- Power management
Microsystems in healthcare help meet the requirements for medical device integration since implantable devices are lightweight, small, and power-efficient.
Thus, all the functionalities are deliverable in a small medical ASIC with a smaller footprint than other solutions. In comparison to ASIC for commercial use, applications for medical devices already have a process maturity less likely to require revisions, offer a robust solution, and provides more quality.
The use of ASICs in healthcare also plays a vital role by combining several functions into one chip. This technology will not be possible because the number of chips required to drive the machinery will be too cumbersome.
Overall, Linear MicroSystems can provide a solution that will further benefit the healthcare industry with the application of modern ASICs and ultrasonic technology. Click here to get in contact with our engineers today.
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