Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic transducer having a sample-contacting portion and a back portion, the back portion being opposed to the sample contacting portion. The transducer includes a piezoelectric material configured to be in acoustic communication with a sample and a backing structure in acoustic communication with the piezoelectric material. The backing structure is configured to reflect acoustic energy towards the sample-contacting portion and away from the back portion of the ultrasonic transducer. The backing structure includes a low acoustic impedance layer and a high acoustic impedance layer. The transducer may also include a second dual layer de-matching backing. The second dual layer de-matching backing includes a second low acoustic impedance layer and a second high acoustic impedance layer.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasonic transducer and methods for designing and manufacturing the same. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric composite layer configured to be in acoustic communication with a sample and having at least partially decoupled acoustic impedance and electrical impedance properties. The piezoelectric composite layer includes an array of spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, each being made from a piezoelectric material, a filler material positioned between adjacent spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, the filler material comprising a polymer matrix and a non-piezoelectric material in contact with the polymer matrix.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasonic transducer and methods for designing and manufacturing the same. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric composite layer configured to be in acoustic communication with a sample and having at least partially decoupled acoustic impedance and electrical impedance properties. The piezoelectric composite layer includes an array of spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, each being made from a piezoelectric material, a filler material positioned between adjacent spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, the filler material comprising a polymer matrix and a non-piezoelectric material in contact with the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasonic transducer and methods for designing and manufacturing the same. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric composite layer configured to be in acoustic communication with a sample and having at least partially decoupled acoustic impedance and electrical impedance properties. The piezoelectric composite layer includes an array of spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, each being made from a piezoelectric material, a filler material positioned between adjacent spaced-apart piezoelectric regions, the filler material comprising a polymer matrix and a non-piezoelectric material in contact with the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasonic probe includes an alignment feature that, when used to connect the probe with a needle guide for intra-cavity medical procedures, enables alignment of a needle in an imaging plane of an ultrasonic transducer. The alignment feature is configured such that alignment of the needle within the imaging plane is accomplished when a protective sheath is disposed between the alignment feature and the needle guide. This configuration can be used with high frequency ultrasonic arrays having frequency distributions centered at about 20 MHz, and for medical procedures, such as biopsying organs or other bodily intra-cavity structures, and delivering intra-cavity therapies.

Abstract: Methods of locating a vehicle are disclosed. Location coordinates are received at regular intervals via a handheld locator device for the current location of the handheld locator device. The handheld locator device detects the cessation of the presence of the vehicle. The location coordinates last-received before the detection of the cessation of the presence of the vehicle are stored automatically, and represent the approximate location of the parked vehicle when the cessation of the presence of the vehicle is detected.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of locating a vehicle, comprising: a) connecting a removable locator device to the vehicle, said locator device automatically noting when it has been connected to the vehicle and then using locating technology to retrieve, at regular intervals, location coordinates for the current location of said locator device, said location coordinates approximating the location of the vehicle; b) sensing a loss of connection between the locator device and the vehicle; c) automatically storing, as a waypoint on the locator device, the last location coordinates retrieved prior to sensing said loss of connection; and, d) removing the locator device from the vehicle to enable use of the locator device to return to the stored waypoint, wherein the stored waypoint represents the approximate location of the vehicle.

Abstract: In one aspect, matching layers for an ultrasonic transducer stack having a matching layer comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In another aspect, the matrix material is loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In another aspect, an ultrasound transducer stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and at least one matching layer. In one aspect, the matching layer comprises a composite material comprising a matrix material loaded with a plurality of micron-sized and nano-sized particles. In a further aspect, the composite material can also comprise a matrix material loaded with a plurality of heavy and light particles. In a further aspect, a matching layer can also comprise cyanoacrylate.