Abstract: The present invention relates to a transrectal probe and method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate. The probe is equipped with dual-array pressure sensors—one on the probe head and another on the shaft of the probe spaced away from the head with an angular and linear offset forming an S-shaped transition between the shaft and the head of the probe. The addition of the shaft pressure sensor array together with orientation tracking sensors allows precise calculation of the current head position throughout the examination of the prostate. Display means are used to guide the user in the proper manipulation of the probe in order to reduce the forces on surrounding tissues and organs and to minimize patient's discomfort.

Abstract: An ultrasound beacon is incorporated into a needle of a drug delivery system utilizing high intensity ultrasound energy during certain cancer treatments. The beacon is configured to generate a electrical feedback signal in response to an initial ultrasound signal sent by an ultrasound transmitter. The electrical feedback signal is then sent along two electrical conductors of the needle and further over a cable back to the electronic unit. The feedback signal is then used to generate high intensity focused ultrasound using time-reversal acoustics principles. Therapeutic application of the system of the invention includes applying high intensity focused ultrasound at the site of drug delivery to enhance local tissue uptake of injected medication.

Abstract: A time-reversal acoustics system includes a wireless beacon with a piezoelectric element adapted to receive an initial acoustic signal from each of a plurality of transducers combined in a single transmitter and controlled individually by an electronic unit. The initial acoustic signal is transformed by the piezoelectric element into an electromagnetic wave feedback signal and transmitted wirelessly to the receiver connected to the input of the electronic unit. The electronic unit receives the feedback signal and transforms it using the time-reversal principles to generate a driving signal for each transducer. All such driving signals are then sent simultaneously to all transducers to deliver high intensity acoustic energy to the beacon. The invention can be used advantageously to non-invasively recharge implant batteries, control drug eluting from an implant, in an image-guided drug-delivery apparatus, etc.

Abstract: A method for focusing broadband acoustic signals with flat spectral content based on Time-Reversed Acoustics (TRA) principle is disclosed. The method of the invention differs from the conventional TRA focusing in that it includes an additional step of adjusting the spectral content of time-reversed signal, prior to applying it to the radiating transducer. This additional step, which includes attenuation of the spectral components with high amplitude and amplification of the spectral components with low amplitude, leads to flattening of the spectra of the radiated signal and widening of its frequency band. TRA focusing with this additional step of adjusting spectral content of the radiated signal allows generation of shorter pulses and provides better concentration of acoustic energy than standard TRA focusing.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a reverberator having a randomly uneven shape preferably including a plurality of facets. Together with a rigid coupling window, it forms a closed cavity filled with reverberation medium such as water. One or more ultrasound transducers are placed inside the reverberator to generate a signal using time-reversed acoustics principles. Additional transducers increase the power output of the probe. An optional transducer design features a piezomaterial formed in a randomly uneven shape, preferably having length/thickness ratio of at least 2. The reverberator cavity further includes scatterers suspended inside and aimed at improving the focusing quality of the probe. Such scatterers can be of various sizes and in a number of shapes such as beads, cylinders and membranes. The probe can be advantageously used for focusing broadband ultrasonic waves in various industrial and medical applications such as those utilizing high intensity short ultrasonic pulses.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for treatment of tissue with ultrasound standing waves. Vacuum-based or mechanical clamping resonators are proposed aimed at retaining tissue therewithin and in acoustic contact with ultrasound transducer means such as a single tubular piezotransducer or a pair of plane-parallel transducers. Ultrasound standing wave field is then applied at single or alternating resonance frequencies creating nodal patterns allowing expanding the area of treatment as compared with conventional devices. Real-time feedback is provided to monitor the progression of treatment. Additional device provisions include acoustic gel injector means, vacuum release means, indicator means for treatment completion, etc. This invention is particularly useful for non-invasive skin and adipose tissue treatments.

Abstract: Ultrasound-assisted contactless stirring of liquids in a resonator cell by microparticles is achieved by repeated creating and destruction of nodal patterns associated with standing waves of various resonance frequencies causing continuous movements of microparticles inside the cell. Swept-frequency sonication technique includes using constant or variable rate of frequency change as well as a stepwise change of frequency of the transducer within a predefined range. Other useful provisions include initial detection of the set of resonance frequencies and periodic refreshing of that set. Control systems are described including means to automatically detect the resonance frequencies and maintain the operation of the transducer thereon. Advantageous designs of the apparatus are described for use in microstirring, mixing of liquids using magnetic microbeads, microbubbles, microtiter plates, microarray plates, etc.

Abstract: Ultrasound-assisted particle agglutination assay methods and apparatuses are described based on first providing a standing wave ultrasound field at a resonance frequency of a test liquid in a resonator cell containing microparticles covered with a binding agent with high affinity to an analyte sought to be detected by the assay test. Formation of the specifically-bound and nonspecifically-bound aggregates of these microparticles is then followed by effective stirring of the liquid with swept-frequency sonication causing disintegration of nonspecifically-bound aggregates and leaving specifically-bound aggregates in place for further detection and measurement. The methods and devices of the invention allow significant improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of agglutination tests and are advantageously applicable to detecting various proteins, DNA, RNA and other biologically active substances. Specific examples are provided.

Abstract: Ultrasound-assisted contactless stirring of liquids in a resonator cell by microparticles is achieved by repeated creating and destruction of nodal patterns associated with standing waves of various resonance frequencies causing continuous movements of microparticles inside the cell. Swept-frequency sonication methods include using constant or variable rate of frequency change as well as a stepwise change of frequency of the transducer within a predefined range. Other useful steps include initial detection of the set of resonance frequencies and periodic refreshing of that set. Control systems are described including means to automatically detect the resonance frequencies and maintain the operation of the transducer thereon. Advantageous designs of the apparatus are described for use in microstirring, mixing of liquids using magnetic microbeads, microbubbles, microtiter plates, microarray plates, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate with a transrectal probe. In the method, generating a composite two- and three-dimensional prostate mechanical image from a plurality of partial mechanical images extracted from pressure response data and a probe orientation data starts with examining the prostate by pressing a probe head pressure sensor array against it at various overlapping locations. Merging of partial mechanical images together is accomplished by analyzing an overlap between each subsequent and previous partial mechanical image. Finding the prostate is assisted with a supplemental pressure response data indicating the location of a sphincter known to be about 4-5 cm away from the prostate. Data processing is improved by including probe orientation data to further increase the accuracy and sensitivity of the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transrectal probe and method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate. The probe is equipped with dual-array pressure sensors—one on the probe head and another on the shaft of the probe spaced away from the head with an angular and linear offset forming an S-shaped transition between the shaft and the head of the probe. The addition of the shaft pressure sensor array together with orientation tracking sensors allows precise calculation of the current head position throughout the examination of the prostate. Display means are used to guide the user in the proper manipulation of the probe in order to reduce the forces on surrounding tissues and organs and to minimize patient's discomfort.

Abstract: Disclosed are human tissue phantoms mimicking the mechanical properties of real tissue, and methods for manufacturing thereof including the steps of obtaining a computer aided three-dimensional design of a phantom mimicking the tissue in shape and size; fabrication of a mold form facilitating the production of the designed phantom; molding said phantom with the use of two-component silicon gels as a bulk tissue-mimicking material having Young's modulus in the range of 2 to 30 kPa; filling the enclosed volume of said phantom with anatomical and pathological tissue structures mimicking their respective mechanical properties and having Young's modulus in the range of about 30 to 600 kPa; covering said phantom by a protective layer having mechanical properties to a human tissue protective layer; and securing the phantom perimeter on a supporting plate by a rubber barrier.

Abstract: An Internet-based system is described including a number of patient terminals equipped with tactile imaging probes to allow conducting of breast examinations and collecting the 2-D digital data from the pressure arrays of the tactile imaging probes. The digital data is processed at the patient side including a step of detecting moving objects and discarding the rest of the data from further analysis. The data is then formatted into a standard form and transmitted over the Internet to the host system where it is accepted by one of several available servers. The host system includes a breast examination database and a knowledge database and is designed to further process, classify, and archive breast examination data. It also provides access to processed data from a number of physician terminals equipped with data visualization and diagnosis means.

Abstract: Disclosed devices and methods for droplet microchromatograhy are aimed at optical monitoring and rapid analysis of a drying droplet. The device includes droplet deposition component preferably made as a modified disk adapted to fit in a modified CD disk drive, an optical recorder, and a computer control and image analysis. Recorded timed sequence of images of the process of drying of the droplet is digitally filtered and analyzed using windows selected in each image. Changes of predetermined parameters in each window for each image are calculated to assess temporal and spatial dynamics within the sequence of images reflecting sedimentary pattern formation of a drying droplet. Humidity can be selectively controlled to slow down the drying process allowing “zooming” onto the critical periods of drying of the droplet. Various chemical coatings of the deposition means can be used to enhance the test further.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for non-invasive bone evaluation based on a broadband ultrasonic transducer emitting a train of ultrasonic wave packets of multiple carrier frequencies ranging from about 50 kHz to about 2 MHz. Receiving broadband ultrasonic transducer accepts broadband ultrasonic signal propagated through the bone. Computer processing means provide for data analysis and feature extraction allowing diagnostic evaluation of the bone, including comparing the features of the received signal to a database of known bone conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are human tissue phantoms mimicking the mechanical properties of real tissue, and methods for manufacturing thereof including the steps of obtaining a computer aided three-dimensional design of a phantom mimicking the tissue in shape and size; fabrication of a mold form facilitating the production of the designed phantom; molding said phantom with the use of two-component silicon gels as a bulk tissue-mimicking material having Young's modulus in the range of 2 to 30 kPa; filling the enclosed volume of said phantom with anatomical and pathological tissue structures mimicking their respective mechanical properties and having Young's modulus in the range of about 30 to 600 kPa; covering said phantom by a protective layer having mechanical properties to a human tissue protective layer; and securing the phantom perimeter on a supporting plate by a rubber barrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool alignment device that aids the operator in positioning a hand tool such as a drill or driver perpendicular, parallel or a specific angle to the target surface. Importantly, the operator can observe the device an omni-directional line-of-sight. The device includes of a light beam emitting/detecting device, which is affixed to the tool, and a flat optical reflector, which is placed on the target surface. The light-emitting device is used to project a beam of light onto the reflector, collinearly with the axis of the tool. The beam is reflected back to the device and lights up a light guide indicating when the tool is perpendicular to or at a specific angle to the target surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an improved method and apparatus for measurement of properties of a sample as a function of temperature. The method and apparatus are based on formation of a stable temperature gradient through the holding fixture such as a cell or a plate containing the sample under study, measurement of the property of interest as a function of position, and relating the positions of the measurements to the temperature of the studied sample at that position. In the preferred application, thermal and thermodynamic properties of solutes are obtained. Provisions are described to combine optical interrogation with Raman spectroscopy. Alternate technique of interrogation is total internal fluorescence reflection. Chemical reaction rates as function of temperature can be advantageously studied including reactions catalyzed by enzymes.