Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device. The processing device is configured to: receive a user selection of a lung imaging preset option and a user-selected imaging depth for the ultrasound device; define a threshold imaging depth based on a shallow lung imaging mode and a deep lung imaging mode (the threshold imaging depth is between approximately 4 cm and 8 cm); after receiving the user selection of the user-selected imaging depth, compare the user-selected imaging depth with the threshold imaging depth; and automatically configure the ultrasound device to switch between the shallow lung imaging mode and deep lung imaging mode, depending upon a result of the comparison of the user-selected imaging depth with the threshold imaging depth.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to wirelessly offloading, from a wearable ultrasound device, ultrasound data sufficient for forming one or more ultrasound images therefrom. The wearable ultrasound device may include an ultrasound patch. Indications that may be monitored with such a device, and therapeutic uses that may be provided by such a device, are also described. Methods and apparatuses are also described for compounding multilines of ultrasound data on an ultrasound device configured to collect the ultrasound data. Additionally, certain aspects of the technology relate to non-uniform grouping of ultrasound transducers that share a transmit/receive circuit in an ultrasound device.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound data collection using tele-medicine. An instructor electronic device may generate for display an instructor augmented reality interface and receive, on the instructor augmented reality interface, an instruction for moving an ultrasound imaging device. The instructor augmented reality interface may include a video showing the ultrasound imaging device and a superposition of arrows on the video, where each of the arrows corresponds to a possible instruction for moving the ultrasound imaging device. A user electronic device may receive, from the instructor electronic device, an instruction for moving an ultrasound imaging device, and generate for display, on a user augmented reality interface shown on the user electronic device, the instruction for moving the ultrasound imaging device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device is provided. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic transducer device includes a substrate having a membrane support layer formed on a bottom cavity layer, and an opening in the membrane support layer so as to form a transducer cavity. In some embodiments, the opening comprises a truncated circle shape.

Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for packaging an ultrasound-on-a-chip. An ultrasound-on-a-chip may be coupled to a redistribution layer and to an interposer layer. Encapsulation may encapsulate the ultrasound-on-a-chip device and first metal pillars may extend through the encapsulation and electrically couple to the redistribution layer. Second metal pillars may extend through the interposer layer. The interposer layer may include aluminum nitride. The first metal pillars may be electrically coupled to the second metal pillars. A printed circuit board may be coupled to the interposer layer.

Abstract: A processing device is coupled to a single ultrasound device having a single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs). The processing device generates a graphical user interface (GUI) having user selectable GUI menu options corresponding to respective ultrasound operating modes for the single ultrasound device having the single ultrasound transducer array. The user-selectable GUI menu options include GUI menu options labeled as representing an ultrasound operating mode for musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, carotid imaging, vascular imaging, and abdominal imaging, respectively. The processing device further receives, via the GUI, user input indicating selection of one of the ultrasound operating modes, and in response to receiving the user input, provides an indication to the single ultrasound device having the single array of CMUTs to operate in the selected ultrasound operating mode.

Abstract: An ultrasound-on-a-chip device has an ultrasonic transducer substrate with plurality of transducer cells, and an electrical substrate. For each transducer cell, one or more conductive bond connections are disposed between the ultrasonic transducer substrate and the electrical substrate. Examples of electrical substrates include CMOS chips, integrated circuits including analog circuits, interposers and printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A variable-current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied. The variable-current trans-impedance amplifier may include multiple stages, including a first stage having N-P transistor pairs configured to receive an input signal and produce a single-ended amplified signal.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer device includes: a first insulating layer formed on a first integrated circuit substrate; a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer; a third insulating layer formed on the second insulating layer, and a second substrate bonded to the first integrated circuit. A first cavity is formed in the third insulating layer. The second substrate is bonded to the first integrated circuit such that the first cavity is sealed.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasound transducer device includes bonding a membrane to a substrate so as to form a sealed cavity between the membrane and the substrate. An exposed surface located within the sealed cavity includes a getter material that is electrically isolated from a bottom electrode of the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automatically updating scan patterns used during ultrasound imaging. A handheld ultrasound system may include an ultrasound device with a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers, and a smartphone or tablet that configures the ultrasound device to obtain a first ultrasound image frame using a scan pattern defining an acoustic beam. The system then updates the scan pattern to optimize a view of the desired anatomy. When the system is operating in cardiac imaging mode, the scan pattern may be updated by adjusting the azimuthal tilt and/or the elevational tilt of the acoustic beam. When the system is operating in lung imaging mode, the scan pattern may be updated by adjusting the elevational tilt and/or the translation of the aperture of the array of ultrasound transducers. The system then configures the ultrasound device to obtain a second ultrasound image frame using the updated scan pattern.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device includes a patterned film stack disposed on first regions of a substrate, the patterned film stack including a metal electrode layer and a bottom cavity layer formed on the metal electrode layer. The ultrasonic transducer device further includes a planarized insulation layer disposed on second regions of the substrate layer, a cavity formed in a membrane support layer and a CMP stop layer, the CMP stop layer including a top layer of the patterned film stack and the membrane support layer formed over the patterned film stack and the planarized insulation layer. The ultrasonic transducer device also includes a membrane bonded to the membrane support layer. The CMP stop layer underlies portions of the membrane support layer but not the cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasonic transducer device involves depositing a first layer on a substrate, depositing a second layer on the first layer, patterning the second layer at a region corresponding to a location of a transducer cavity, depositing a third layer that refills regions created by patterning the second layer, planarizing the third layer to a top surface of the second layer, removing the second layer, conformally depositing a fourth layer over the first layer and the third layer, defining the transducer cavity in a support layer formed over the fourth layer; and bonding a membrane to the support layer.

Abstract: Ultrasound devices and methods are described, including a repeatable ultrasound transducer probe having ultrasonic transducers and corresponding circuitry. The repeatable ultrasound transducer probe may be used individually or coupled with other instances of the repeatable ultrasound transducer probe to create a desired ultrasound device. The ultrasound devices may optionally be connected to various types of external devices to provide additional processing and image rendering functionality.

Abstract: Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multi-level pulser is described, which can support time-domain and spatial apodization. The multi-level pulser may be controlled through a software-defined waveform generator. In response to the execution of a computer code, the waveform generator may access master segments from a memory, and generate a stream of packets directed to pulsing circuits. The stream of packets may be serialized. A plurality of decoding circuits may modulate the streams of packets to obtain spatial apodization.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to detecting degrade ultrasound imaging frame rate. Some embodiments include receiving ultrasound data from the ultrasound device, generating ultrasound images from the ultrasound data, taking one or more measurements of ultrasound imaging frame rate based on the ultrasound images, comparing the one or more measurements of ultrasound imaging frame rate to an reference ultrasound imaging frame rate value, and based on a result of comparing the one or more measurements of ultrasound imaging frame rate to the reference ultrasound imaging frame rate value, providing a notification and/or disabling an ultrasound imaging preset and/or an ultrasound imaging mode with which the ultrasound device was configured.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein include a processing device configured to display, on a touch-sensitive display screen of a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device, an ultrasound image, a movable measurement tool, and an icon that maintains a fixed distance from a portion of the measurement tool. The icon may be configured to modify the measurement tool, and the icon may not overlap the measurement tool.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasonic transducer device includes bonding a membrane to seal a transducer cavity with at least a portion of a getter material layer being exposed, the getter material layer comprising a portion of a bilayer stack compatible for use in damascene processing.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to techniques for guiding an operator to use an ultrasound device. Thereby, operators with little or no experience operating ultrasound devices may capture medically relevant ultrasound images and/or interpret the contents of the obtained ultrasound images. For example, some of the techniques disclosed herein may be used to identify a particular anatomical view of a subject to image with an ultrasound device, guide an operator of the ultrasound device to capture an ultrasound image of the subject that contains the particular anatomical view, and/or analyze the captured ultrasound image to identify medical information about the subject.