Texas Instruments (TI) has developed AFE5805, a complete analog signal chain solution specifically designed for portable ultrasound systems. TI's Indian team has contributed significantly for the development of the new system. These ultrasound systems embedded with the AFE5805 chip is proving its economies of scale in terms of space, power and lower noise generation. Almost 50 per cent space is saved. There is 20 per cent lower power consumption and 40 per cent less noise than existing integrated solutions.

Despite the low power and small size, the product has been able to maintain the highest resolution. The AFE5805 decreases power consumption with 122 mW per channel power efficiency. 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 TI India constituted 50 per cent of the global team that worked on the development of the AFE5805 chip. The Indian engineers were involved from the drawing board stage, extending to the definition phase for about 2 months, in the design and testing phase for about 4 months each. Integrating the appropriate design in the respective process technologies to achieve low power and high performance was a major challenge in the development of this device, Sandeep Oswal, senior design engineer, high-performance analog, Texas Instruments Inc. told Pharmabiz in an email interview.

The India team from Bangalore contributed significantly to the development of the AFE5805 chip and was involved right from the drawing board stage. The team worked closely with counterparts at other global TI design centres to draw up specifications for the chip, design of the product and production of the AFE5805, he added.

TI is working closely with many leading US manufacturers to incorporate this device in their next generation systems. The typical design process for US system manufacturers requires evaluation of these parts in the customers' system boards and TI is working with them to support their evaluation. In fact, GE Medical Systems India is evaluating this chip for their future models of portable ultrasound scanners, stated Oswal.

The complete Analog Front End in the AFE5805 reduces component count for more affordable ultrasound. On whether the technology would reduce the cost to the end-user, Oswal said that economies of scale are achieved for users because of low power consumption and high performance resulting from the integration of multiple functions in the ultrasound signal chain through a single chip.

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.