Video: TI unveils industry's first family of complete analog front ends for superior ultrasound systems

DALLAS (Map) - DALLAS, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Extending its high-performance analog expertise in the medical imaging market, Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today introduced a family of fully integrated analog front ends (AFEs) for portable to high-end ultrasound diagnostic equipment. TI's AFE58xx family will allow the design of innovative ultrasound systems with superior image quality and reduced power consumption. The first device, the AFE5805, addresses the specific needs of the portable ultrasound market with nearly 50 percent space savings, 20 percent lower power consumption and 40 percent less noise than existing integrated solutions (see http://www.ti.com/afe5805-pr).

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Aging populations, rising healthcare costs and increased demand in emerging economies have created a rapidly growing need for innovative medical solutions such as portable and affordable ultrasound equipment to be used in doctors' offices, ambulances, mobile triage situations and remote regions. Frost & Sullivan forecasts the market for portable or hand-carried ultrasound systems to grow with a 19.2 percent compound annual growth rate and reach $330 million by 2010.

"With the changing requirements and design complexity in the ultrasound market, manufacturers require scalable, highly integrated solutions to make ultrasound systems more accessible while further enhancing medical image quality and reducing power consumption," said

Advanced features for lower power and higher image quality

The AFE5805 is a complete analog signal chain solution specifically designed for portable ultrasound systems, which require low power and small size while maintaining the highest resolution possible. By reducing component count, the AFE5805 decreases power consumption by up to 20 percent with 122 mW per channel power efficiency and offers 40 percent less noise than its closest competitor. With the low noise feature of 0.85 nV/rtHz at 2 MHz, the AFE5805 achieves a performance suitable not only for portable equipment, but also for high channel density mid-range ultrasound systems.

The device integrates eight channels of a low-noise amplifier (LNA), voltage controlled attenuator, programmable gain amplifier, low-pass filter, and 12-bit, 50 MSPS analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with LVDS data outputs. With a 15 mm by 9 mm package, the AFE5805 is the smallest analog front end currently available in the market, about half the size of existing solutions. The low input voltage noise level of the on-chip LNA is key to the quality of the complete input signal path and determines the entire system performance, including the high resolution.

Tools, support speed time-to-market

Easy-to-use evaluation modules (EVMs), data sheet downloads and free samples from TI allow for fast and cost-effective evaluation to help customers speed the design process and penetrate the market quickly. In addition to the AFE5805, TI offers a full portfolio of integrated circuits for ultrasound systems including high performance DSPs, DaVinci(TM) digital media processors, OMAP(TM) application processors, high-speed data converters and amplifiers, power management, clocks and interface devices. To download TI's latest Medical Applications Guide, please visit http://ti.com/Medical.

Pricing, packaging and availability

The AFE5805 is available in a 15 mm x 9 mm, 135-pin BGA package with a suggested retail price of $75 each in 100-unit quantities. Samples and EVMs are available now, with volume production scheduled for June 2008.

About medical products from Texas Instruments

TI is helping shape technology to improve the quality and accessibility of medical equipment to revolutionize healthcare in the 21st century and beyond. With its full range of analog and DSP products, from building blocks to complete solutions, plus systems insight, global support infrastructure, advanced process technology and medical industry involvement, TI is helping make innovative medical electronics more flexible, affordable and accessible. TI's experience in diverse markets, such as wireless communications, consumer electronics, automotive and aerospace, enables engineers to meet increasing needs for higher speeds, higher precision, lower power and smaller equipment, while maintaining the high standards for quality and reliability that the medical market demands. For more information, please visit http://ti.com/medical.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 25 countries. For more information, go to http://www.ti.com.

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