# Real-Time Volumetric Ultrasound Research Platform with 1024 Parallel Transmit and Receive Channels
## 1 Introduction
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline \hline \multirow{3}{*}{System} & - 1024 TX/RX channels in parallel using four synchronized sub-systems \\  & - PCIe data transfer to PC \\  & - Fully software defined ultrasound processing on GPUs \\  & - 300 kHz to 20 MHz frequency range \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{TX} & - - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Configurable TX tri-state burst signals} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Transmit voltages up to +/ –100 V} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Delay resolution 2 ns} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{RX} & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Max. gain 52 dB, TGC range 45 dB} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{AAF filters} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{80 MS/s, 12-bit ADC} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Interfaces} & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{All transmit and sequence parameters of the system} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Access to all digitized radio-frequent (RF-)data of each array element} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Access to processed RF-data after volumetric beamforming} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Access to volumetric scan converted image data} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Transducer slots} & - 4x ITT Cannon DLM6-360 \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Other connector types usable via PCB adapter} \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{Integration} & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Single, compact 19 inch housing} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Movable, designed as a cart on wheels} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Controlled by a single PC with a total of 10 PCIe ports} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{No external connections necessary} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{GPU based processing using multiple integrated GPUs} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Integration concept fulfilling basic requirements of medical device} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{regulatory (MDR) to be used in clinical studies (tested by notified bodies)} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Transducers} & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{All types of matrix array probes with up to 1024 elements including} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{IBMT: 4 MHz, 39 \(\times\) 26 elements, 700 \(\upmu\)m pitch, 30 \(\times\) 20 mm footprint} \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Vermon: 2.8 MHz, 32 \(\times\) 32 elements, 300 \(\upmu\)m pitch, 9.6 \(\times\) 9.6 mm footprint} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Applications} & - 3D/4D ultrasound imaging research \\  & - \multicolumn{1}{l}{Characterization of different array concepts} \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} \({}^{\dagger}\)DiPNAS = Digital Phased Array System.  
\end{table} 
Table 1: Features of the 1024-channel DiPhAS \({}^{1}\). The implementation of the 1024-channel platform is based on four in-house developed, synchronized multi-channel systems of the latest generation, called DiPhAS (Digital Phased Array System) [12], which have already been used successfully for many years in the field of medical technology, but also in industrial applications. The platform is comparable to other open ultrasound research systems [13], such as Vantage 256 (Verasonics Inc., Kirkland, WA, USA) [14] and ULA-OP 256 (University of Florence) [15]. Two different 1024-element matrix arrays are used for the evaluation, one developed in-house and one commercial from the manufacturer Vermon in France (also used by other researchers [9; 10; 14]). The platform was developed as part of the EU Amphora project, which focuses on radiation therapy dosimetry. Here, volumetric imaging is used to monitor prostate cancer therapy by detecting the acoustic properties and distribution of radiation-sensitive ultrasound contrast agents in and around a tumor.