To support manufacturers developing affordable, compact ultrasound systems, Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced a family of fully integrated high-voltage pulsers and switches. The TX734, the first device in the TX7xx family, is a quad-channel, high-voltage pulser, also known as a transmitter, specifically designed for portable to mid-range medical ultrasound systems. The TX734 reduces board space by 50% compared to discrete solutions, and its active damping feature improves pulse symmetry and second order distortion to achieve clearer images.
“TI strives to help customers make ultrasound systems more portable and affordable by integrating and optimizing key system components,” said Matt Harrison, marketing director of TI’s Medical and High Reliability business unit. “With the new TX7xx family of high-voltage pulsers and switches, TI can now provide the most highly integrated signal chain for ultrasound systems, helping ultrasound designers to design better, more compact systems.”
Advanced features for better image quality
The TX734 addresses the needs of high-density systems that require a three-level, high-voltage pulse pattern by integrating four channels of level translators, drivers, high-voltage output stage and active damping into a 64-pin, 9mm x 9mm QFN package.
Active damping, also called fast clamping to ground, allows for a clean three-level return-to-zero (RTZ) waveform. This improves pulse symmetry and delivers low second order distortion of -40dB. The active damping feature in the TX734 prevents noise from being injected into the transducer, which improves signal sensitivity by at least 5dBc, resulting in better image quality.
The output stages of the TX734 are designed to deliver up to +/-2A peak output currents, with up to +/-75V swings, tailored for portable to mid-range systems. The output frequency of the TX734 is up to 15MHz and allows customers to take full advantage of higher frequency transducers for far-field images. For further product details, visit our website.
Complete signal chain offering for ultrasound designers
TI’s TX7xx family of high-voltage pulsers and switches, along with the AFE58xx family of analog front end receivers, offers ultrasound designers a complete and highly integrated analog signal chain for better, more compact ultrasound systems. These devices are complemented by more than 15 embedded processors that support medical imaging applications, including high-performance digital signal processors (DSPs), digital media processors based on DaVinci™ technology, and low power OMAP™ application processors. Along with TI’s power management products, clocks and interfaces, plus dedicated customer support, they comprise a complete portfolio that ultrasound customers can leverage to design their systems.
To download the latest Medical Applications Guide and to view a broad range of medical system block diagrams, please visit our website.
Pricing, packaging and availability
The TX734 comes in a 9mm x 9mm, 64-pin QFN package at a suggested resale price of $10 each in 1000-unit quantities. Samples will be available in January 2009, with EVMs following in February and volume production scheduled for fourth quarter of 2009.