Kolo Technologies, Inc. is a fabless company that develops CMUT arrays and CMUT-based probes.
The CMUT was initially developed at Stanford University in the mid 1990s. Since then, extensive research and development efforts have been carried out to commercialize the CMUT to displace piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers. CMUTs are made using silicon micromachining technology which yields better manufacturing control and easier integration with electronics than the technologies used to develop piezoelectric transducers. Yet, while CMUTs generally have better performance than piezoelectric transducers, particularly for high frequency designs, there have been issues such as device reliability and output power that have prevented CMUTs from becoming the dominant ultrasound transducer technology. Kolo Technologies has utilized its technical expertise with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), integrated circuits, and ultrasound systems to develop and patent a portfolio of technologies that address the drawbacks of existing CMUT technology – thus enabling the successful commercialization of CMUTs. Kolo Technologies is the only company that can manufacture CMUT-based transducers based solely on its own IP. Kolo is now collaborating with several ultrasound system companies to develop transducers and probes for use with existing systems. In addition, Kolo is developing transducers to enable new uses of ultrasound that will improve the diagnostic and treatment ability of physicians and expand the ultrasound system market.
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