New data transmission technologies for computer tomographs

»Future cluster« SEMECO
Innovations in medical technology should contribute as quickly as possible to the wellbeing of patients. For this, a reliable approval process is needed. Innovation cycles in medical technology last longer and longer due to the ever-increasing complexity of the systems as well as approval processes that keep getting more demanding.
The vision of SEMECO is to speed up innovation cycles in medical technology and to revolutionize traditional medical regulations with means of artificial intelligence (AI).

The unique interplay of metrology, telecommunications, and data processing aims at accelerating the development and approval of revolutionary smart medical instruments and implants. A new platform approach is expected to enable secure and highly integrated cyber medical micro systems.

Within the »future cluster« SEMECO, different projects are being worked on in realization phase I. Fraunhofer IZM is involved in the sub project: »SEMECO: new data transmission technologies for computer tomographs (A1)«:

Main goal within this project is a feasibility study to investigate the replacement of data transmission in computer tomographs currently using mechanically complex slip rings with scalable wireless data transmission. This bears the potential to enable revolutionary data rates for new sensor generations and a reduction of mechanical demands on accuracy as well as scanning duration. With a wireless solution, CT-scanner can reach a higher reliability level, potentially leading to a longer tool lifetime.

Within the joint project, the wireless channel - in consideration of the application scenarios-, active and passive hardware development options that enable such a high data rate as well as the stability of such systems will be investigated. New integration concepts for transceivers and antenna will be developed to reach a maximum data rate of 100 bit/sec. Modelling data for the channel environment will be provided to consider the channel effects. At the end of the project, a communication prototype will be developed and realized.

Accompanying tasks:

• Supporting the realization of system concept and architecture: the focus here is on packaging concepts and a scenario for the antenna integration

Core tasks:

• Lead and participation in work package 5: »demonstrator concept – development of circuits and suitable integration approaches«
• Involvement in the realization of the antenna design
• Planning of technologies configurations and processes for the antenna manufacturing
• Manufacturing of the antenna demonstrator using wafer-level-technologies and the needed masks for the photolithographic metal/dielectric BeOL layers
• Development of metal-stack variations that will be later technologically applied in BEOL layers for the realization of the antenna
• Adaption/Enhancement of processes for lithographic or RDL layers: coating with polymers or other dielectric materials, lithographic structuring, ECD deposition Cu, final processing of bond pads
• Characterization of demonstrator: lateral measurements of structures, grinding and/or REM inspection
• Evaluation: verification of the developed approaches with respect to the specific application in future medical computer tomography