Towards Ultrasound-guided Spinal Fusion Surgery

This thesis describes the design and fabrication of ultrasound probes for pedicle screw guidance. The author details the fabrication of a 2MHz radial array for a pedicle screw insertion eliminating the need for manual rotation of the transducer. He includes radial images obtained from successive groupings of array elements in various fluids. He also examines the manner in which it can affect ultrasound propagation.
Nominated as an outstanding
Ph.D. thesis by the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Describes the design and
fabrication of 2Mhz ultrasound probes for pedicle screw guidance
Explores radial array
designs that eliminate the need for manual rotation of the
transducer
Depicts a quantitative
method for investigating the directionality distribution for analysis of
ultrasound propagation with potential uses for a variety of
applications