Education
- Ph.D. (EE), Stanford University, 1997
- M.S. (EE), Bilkent University, Turkey, 1991
- B.S. (EE), Middle East Technical University, Turkey, 1989
Background
Dr. Degertekin’s background is in acoustic, ultrasonic and optical transducers and systems. He has worked on applications ranging from semiconductor process monitoring, atomic force microscopy, optical microphones for hearing aids and bioanalytical instruments. His current research focuses on micromachined ultrasonic devices and systems for intravascular ultrasound imaging, application of micromachined devices to therapeutic ultrasound, and acousto-optical sensors for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Research
Micro and Nano Engineering and Acoustics and Dynamics; Electromechanical, opto-mechanical and acousto-optic transducers, microscale systems for medical imaging applications.
The Degertekin group performs research in transducers and systems with a focus on medical imaging and sensing. Our research projects are innovation and application driven, and span a wide range, from fundamental research on novel transduction methods to complete catheter based imaging systems close to commercialization. We utilize acoustics and optics concepts and their combinations for different applications and develop models with various levels of complexity to guide our designs. Most of the time, we complete the full cycle and fabricate eventual devices and systems for experimental evaluation using conventional, microfabrication (MEMS) and integrated circuit technologies.
Over the years, we developed diffraction grating based optomechanical sensing methods which are now commercialized as World’s highest dynamic range seismometer (Silicon Audio), novel atomic force microscopy imaging probes and methods, micromachined ultrasonic ejector structures for cell transfection (OpenCell Technologies) to name a few. Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have been a focus of our work continuously over the years, where we contributed to CMUT modelling, device and array design, imaging methods as well as system implementation with a focus on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Recently, our graduates have been instrumental in practical implementation of the first CMUT based hand-held ultrasound imaging systems as described by Dr. Degertekin in a recent IEEE Spectrum Article (https://spectrum.ieee.org/mems-ultrasound-history).
Our current work includes fundamental work on capacitive parametric transducers and their applications, acousto-optic sensors for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), novel transducer and imaging methods for focused ultrasound (FUS) in the brain, microsystems for intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound imaging and implanted wireless ultrasound imaging systems for the brain and CMUT-on-CMOS systems for IVUS imaging.
The work in the Degertekin lab exposes the students to applied physics, electrical, mechanical and biomedical engineering, biology and biomimetic systems and latest technology for microscale and nanoscale device development. In the end, the students get a thorough theoretical and experimental education in acoustics and optics, while learning to perform interdisciplinary research.
Samples from press coverage of Dr. Degertekin’s research:
- Closing the loop to target brain glioblastomas
- Handheld ultrasound probe becomes a reality
- Novel sensors could make MRI scans safer
- Can a tiny camera reduce the need for heart surgery? (Fox Business News Video Clip)
- Mini ultrasound camera takes 3D selfies of your aorta (Wired Magazine)
- Single molecule force measurements made faster (Science Daily)
- Micromembrane probe improves atomic force microscopy (Photonics Spectra)
- For hearing aids, a lesson from a fly on the wall (The New York Times)
- Capacitive sensors get help from optical interferometer (Laser Focus World)
George W. Woodruff School Outstanding Achievement in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Award, 2024
IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Technical Program Committee on Transducers, Co-chair, 2023
IEEE Fellow for “Contributions to micromachined ultrasonic and optomechanical transducers and systems,” 2022
IEEE UFFC Society Inaugural Carl Hellmuth Hertz Ultrasonic Achievement Award, 2014
International Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (MUT) Workshop Best Presentation Award, 2016
IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Best Student Paper Award in Transducers and Transducer Materials for Ph.D. students Jeff McLean (2003), Sheng-Yu Peng (2006), Rasim O. Guldiken (2005 and 2007), Toby Xu (2014)
George W. Woodruff Chair in Mechanical Systems, 2009
National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium Invited Participant, 2008
IEEE Transactions on UFFC, Associate Editor, 2009-2020
IEEE Transactions on UFFC, Outstanding Paper of the Year, 2004
Sensors Journal, Associate Editor 2003-2006
Woodruff School Faculty Fellow, 2008-2012
Sigma Xi (Georgia Tech Chapter) Young Faculty Award, 2005
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2004-2009
Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Research Grant Award, 2001
Selected Patents (out of 66 US and 6 International Patents )
F.L. Degertekin, O Kocaturk and Y.S. Yaras, “Acousto-optical active markers for interventional MRI,” US-11950854-B2, 4/9/2024.
F. L. Degertekin, S. Satir and S. Surappa, “Parametric resonator for electrical transduction,” U.S. Patent 11,641,168, 5/2/2023.
F.L. Degertekin, C. Tekes, R.J. Lederman, O. Kocaturk, MW. Rashid, and M. Ghovanloo, “MRI compatible 3-D intracardiac echography catheter and system,” U.S. Patent 11,039,811, 6/22/2021.
J.M. Meacham, K. Durvasula, A.G. Fedorov, F.L. Degertekin and A. Mehta, “Intracellular delivery and transfection methods and devices,” U.S. Patent, 9,725,709, 8/8/2017.
F.L. Degertekin and M. Ghovanloo, “CMUT-on-CMOS based guidewire intravascular imaging,” U.S. Patent, 9,259,206, 2/16/2016.
F.L. Degertekin, “Cantilevers with integrated actuators for probe microscopy,” U.S. Patent 8,321,959, 11/27/2012.
R.N. Miles and F.L. Degertekin, “Optical sensing in a directional MEMS microphone,” U.S. Patent 7,826,629, 11/2/2010.
F.L. Degertekin, N.A. Hall and W. Lee, “Displacement sensor employing discrete light pulse detection,” U.S. Patent 7,485,847, 2/3/2009.
F.L. Degertekin, T. R. Kurfess, B. Kim and A. Razavi, “Microinterferometer for Distance Measurements,” U.S. Patent 6,643,025, 11/4/2003.
B.T. Khuri-Yakub, F.L. Degertekin, S. Calmes, and X-C. Jin, “Array of Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer Elements with Through Wafer Via Connections”, U.S. Patent 6,430,109, 8/6/2002.
Representative Publications
Degertekin, F. Levent. "How Ultrasound Became Ultra Small." IEEE Spectrum 61, no. 4 (2024): 38-43.
Yaras, Yusuf S., Lee W. Bradley, D. Korel Yildirim, Robert J. Lederman, Ozgur Kocaturk, John Oshinski, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Acousto-optic-based time domain electric field sensor for magnetic resonance imaging applications." Optical Engineering 63, no. 3 (2024): 031008-031008.
Surappa, Sushruta, Charles Wei, Molei Tao, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Generation of Electromechanical Frequency Combs in Fluid Media with a Parametrically Driven Capacitive Microresonator." Physical Review Applied 19, no. 4 (2023): 044021.
Rezvanitabar, Ahmad, Gwangrok Jung, Coskun Tekes, Thomas M. Carpenter, David MJ Cowell, Steven Freear, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Integrated hybrid sub-aperture beamforming and time-division multiplexing for massive readout in ultrasound imaging." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems 16, no. 5 (2022): 972-980.
Schoen Jr, Scott, M. Sait Kilinc, Hohyun Lee, Yutong Guo, F. Levent Degertekin, Graeme F. Woodworth, and Costas Arvanitis. "Towards controlled drug delivery in brain tumors with microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound." Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 180 (2022): 114043.
Lim, Jaemyung, Coskun Tekes, Evren F. Arkan, Ahmad Rezvanitabar, F. Levent Degertekin, and Maysam Ghovanloo. "Highly integrated guidewire ultrasound imaging system-on-a-chip." IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits 55, no. 5 (2020): 1310-1323.
Meacham, J. Mark, Kiran Durvasula, F. Levent Degertekin, and Andrei G. Fedorov. "Enhanced intracellular delivery via coordinated acoustically driven shear mechanoporation and electrophoretic insertion." Scientific Reports 8, no. 1 (2018): 3727.
Lani, Shane, Karim G. Sabra, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Modal and transient analysis of membrane acoustic metasurfaces." Journal of Applied Physics 117, no. 4 (2015).
Gurun, Gokce, Coskun Tekes, Jaime Zahorian, Toby Xu, Sarp Satir, Mustafa Karaman, Jennifer Hasler, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Single-chip CMUT-on-CMOS front-end system for real-time volumetric IVUS and ICE imaging." IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control 61, no. 2 (2014): 239-250.
Miles, R. N., Q. Su, W. Cui, M. Shetye, F. L. Degertekin, B. Bicen, C. Garcia, S. Jones, and N. Hall. "A low-noise differential microphone inspired by the ears of the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea." The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 125, no. 4 (2009): 2013-2026.
Onaran, A. G., M. Balantekin, W. Lee, W. L. Hughes, B. A. Buchine, R. O. Guldiken, Z. Parlak, C. F. Quate, and F. L. Degertekin. "A new atomic force microscope probe with force sensing integrated readout and active tip." Review of Scientific Instruments 77, no. 2 (2006).
Knight, Joshua, Jeff McLean, and F. Levent Degertekin. "Low temperature fabrication of immersion capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers on silicon and dielectric substrates." IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control 51, no. 10 (2004): 1324-1333.