Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has an array of ultrasound transducers comprising a set of sub-arrays of transducers. Each transducer (100) has an analogue buffer (106). Each sub-array of transducers has a signal path (102, 104) from within the array of ultrasound transducers to outside the array of ultrasound transducers which comprises one or more hops between the buffers (106). To reduce the signal line length from inside the array of ultrasound transducers to the periphery, at least some multiple hops between buffers (106) are provided. Each buffer hop introduces a delay, but prevents signal degradation so that a large number of analog signals can be transmitted across the large area ASIC of the transducer array.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe including a probe body having a mounting area and a flexible lip around said mounting area for sealing a space between the mounting area and a subject contacted by the ultrasound probe; and a number of ultrasound transducer elements mounted in the mounting area. The probe body further includes an inlet to said space and an outlet from said space for facilitating a fluid flow through said space when sealed. Also included are an ultrasound system including such an ultrasound probe and a method of subjecting a subject to ultrasound waves generated with such an ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A pliable cover adapted to cover an active area of an ultrasound probe is described. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements. The pliable cover includes a polymer layer that holds a coupling agent (4) that couples the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface and a regular pattern of channels extending through the pliable cover. An ultrasound probe arrangement is also described and includes the pliable cover. An ultrasound system including the ultrasound probe arrangement, and a method of positioning the ultrasound probe in a region of a body are also described.

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators (36) is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator (36) having a switching arrangement (34). The switching arrangement comprises an input which is connected to a respective data line (30) and an output which is connected to a first terminal of the associated electroactive polymer actuator (36), wherein a second terminal of each electroactive polymer actuator is connected to a control line (110). A driver provides drive signals which comprise at least first and second drive levels for application to the data lines and third and fourth drive levels for application to the control line. Use is made of of common electrode driving (i.e. the control line driving) to enable low transistor control voltages to be used to switch larger voltages across the electroactive polymer actuators.

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement comprises a first circuit (90) connected to a first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. A second circuit (92) is connected to a second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. Furthermore, a pull-up component (50) is permanently connected between a drive voltage and the first terminal of the electroactive polymer generator. By controlling both terminals of the electroactive polymer actuator, it is possible to reduce static power consumption, at least when no voltage is to be stored across the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has an array of ultrasound transducers comprising a set of sub-arrays of transducers. Each transducer (100) has an analogue buffer (106). Each sub-array of transducers has a signal path (102, 104) from within the array of ultrasound transducers to outside the array of ultrasound transducers which comprises one or more hops between the buffers (106). To reduce the signal line length from inside the array of ultrasound transducers to the periphery, at least some multiple hops between buffers (106) are provided. Each buffer hop introduces a delay, but prevents signal degradation so that a large number of analog signals can be transmitted across the large area ASIC of the transducer array.

Abstract: The device as defined by the claims comprises electroactive polymer actuators (30) each of which is addressed by two addressing lines for selecting the electroactive polymer actuator and a current direction drive mode. A first circuit (42) is for driving a controllable current through the electroactive actuator in a first direction and a second circuit (44) is for driving a controllable current through the electroactive actuator in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. This device enables an actuator to be driven with current in two opposite directions so that the actuator may be driven bidirectionally between actuation states.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (100) is disclosed comprising a probe body (120) having a mounting area (121) and a flexible lip (123) around said mounting area for sealing a space (110) between the mounting area and a subject (1) contacted by the ultrasound probe; and a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (130) mounted in the mounting area. The probe body further comprises an inlet (125) to said space and an outlet (127) from said space for facilitating a fluid flow through said space when sealed. Also disclosed are an ultrasound system (10) comprising such an ultrasound probe (100) and a method (200) of subjecting a subject to ultrasound waves generated with such an ultrasound probe (100).

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement comprises a first circuit (90) connected to a first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. A second circuit (92) is connected to a second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. Furthermore, a pull-up component (50) is permanently connected between a drive voltage and the first terminal of the electroactive polymer generator. By controlling both terminals of the electroactive polymer actuator, it is possible to reduce static power consumption, at least when no voltage is to be stored across the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an active matrix array of rows and columns of electroactive polymer actuators, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching circuit. The switching circuit has a drive transistor and a capacitor arrangement. The capacitor arrangement is charged to a voltage derived from a drive voltage for the electroactive polymer actuator combined with a voltage derived from the drive transistor threshold voltage. During this programming of the capacitor arrangement, the EAP actuator is isolated from any current flowing. The switching circuit enables compensation for age-related changes in the threshold voltage. Thus, a low performance (i.e. with poor threshold voltage stability) transistor may be used, with measurement of the threshold voltage of the current-providing TFT once per frame time (or once per multiple frame times) to compensate for the aging effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for DNA sequencing, comprising DNA base calling at an early stage in the detection and processing of time controlled fluorescence detection for DNA sequencing applications.

Abstract: A pliable cover (1) for covering an active area of an ultrasound probe (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (130) is disclosed. The cover comprises a polymer layer (2, 2?) for containing a coupling agent (4) for coupling the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface and a regular pattern of channels (5) extending through the pliable cover. Also disclosed is an ultrasound probe arrangement including the pliable cover, an ultrasound system and method of positioning the ultrasound probe on a body region.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an active matrix array of rows and columns of electroactive polymer actuators, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching circuit. The switching circuit has a drive transistor and a capacitor arrangement. The capacitor arrangement is charged to a voltage derived from a drive voltage for the electroactive polymer actuator combined with a voltage derived from the drive transistor threshold voltage. During this programming of the capacitor arrangement, the EAP actuator is isolated from any current flowing. The switching circuit enables compensation for age-related changes in the threshold voltage. Thus, a low performance (i.e. with poor threshold voltage stability) transistor may be used, with measurement of the threshold voltage of the current-providing TFT once per frame time (or once per multiple frame times) to compensate for the aging effect.

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators (36) is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator (36) having a switching arrangement (34). The switching arrangement comprises an input which is connected to a respective data line (30) and an output which is connected to a first terminal of the associated electroactive polymer actuator (36), wherein a second terminal of each electroactive polymer actuator is connected to a control line (110). A driver provides drive signals which comprise at least first and second drive levels for application to the data lines and third and fourth drive levels for application to the control line. Use is made of of common electrode driving (i.e. the control line driving) to enable low transistor control voltages to be used to switch larger voltages across the electroactive polymer actuators.

Abstract: A delivery device (12, 140) includes a source (16) of pressurized fluid and a nozzle (24) which defines an outlet (22). A fluid pathway (20) fluidly connects the source of pressurized fluid with the nozzle outlet (22) for delivery of a spray of fluid from the nozzle outlet. A delivery mechanism (14) releases a dose (48) of particles (28) into the fluid pathway from an associated cartridge (32), such that the dose of the particles is carried by the pressurized fluid through the nozzle outlet in the spray. The particles include a dental care agent.

Abstract: The appliance includes a brushhead having conductive fiber bristles by which a potential is applied to electrochemically activate a teeth whitening substance, such as peroxide, in the vicinity of the teeth. An impedance appliance system (62) or an optical appliance system (27) provides information concerning whether the conductive fiber bristles are adjacent a tooth surface or gum region. The impedance system uses an electrical signal through the fiber to determine the impedance of a circuit which includes the tooth or gum surface, the impedance being different, depending on whether a tooth or gum surface is in the circuit. The optical system generates a light beam which is directed to the mouth surface through a conductive fiber, the color of the returning light indicating whether the surface is a tooth or gum region. If a tooth is determined, the teeth whitening substance is activated at that bristle, while if gum tissue is determined, the teeth whitening substance is not activated at that bristle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and detector for monitoring a plurality of discrete fluorescence signals, in particular for DNA sequencing by use of fluorescently labeled nucleotides. The particular detector (118) is proposed comprising a plurality of pixels (130) for individually detecting said fluorescence signals from the plurality of fluorescent signal sources (104), wherein each pixel (130) comprises a predetermined number of at least two detection elements (D1, Dn) for detecting a received fluorescent signal and for generating detection signals. Further, a signal conversion circuit (140) is provide for receiving said detection signals from said at least two detection elements (D1, Dn) and for generating a pixel output signal indicating which of said at least two detection elements (D1, Dn) generated the strongest detection signal.

Abstract: A delivery device (12, 140) includes a source (16) of pressurized fluid and a nozzle (24) which defines an outlet (22). A fluid pathway (20) fluidly connects the source of pressurized fluid with the nozzle outlet (22) for delivery of a spray of fluid from the nozzle outlet. A delivery mechanism (14) releases a dose (48) of particles (28) into the fluid pathway from an associated cart-ridge (32), such that the dose of the particles is carried by the pressurized fluid through the nozzle outlet in the spray. The particles include a dental care agent.

Abstract: The appliance includes a brushhead having conductive fiber bristles by which a potential is applied to electrochemically activate a teeth whitening substance, such as peroxide, in the vicinity of the teeth. An impedance appliance system (62) or an optical appliance system (27) provides information concerning whether the conductive fiber bristles are adjacent a tooth surface or gum region. The impedance system uses an electrical signal through the fiber to determine the impedance of a circuit which includes the tooth or gum surface, the impedance being different, depending on whether a tooth or gum surface is in the circuit. The optical system generates a light beam which is directed to the mouth surface through a conductive fiber, the color of the returning light indicating whether the surface is a tooth or gum region. If a tooth is determined, the teeth whitening substance is activated at that bristle, while if gum tissue is determined, the teeth whitening substance is not activated at that bristle.

Abstract: A delivery device (12) includes a source (16) of pressurized fluid, a nozzle (24, 16) which defines an outlet (22), a pathway (20) which fluidly connects the source of pressurized fluid with the nozzle outlet (22) for delivery of a spray of fluid from the nozzle outlet, and a receptacle (32), which receives a dose of particles (28). The receptacle is positioned in the pathway such that the dose of the particles is carried by the pressurized fluid and through the nozzle outlet, the particles including a tooth whitening agent.