Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound patch (710) comprising a first array group (720) comprising a primary transducer array (730) having a first orientation and a second array group (740) comprising at least two secondary transducer arrays (750) each having an orientation different from the first orientation. The second array group is arranged such that the at least two secondary transducer arrays are located at either side of the primary transducer array. The first array group or the second array group may be used to capture preliminary ultrasound data for positioning the ultrasound patch. The primary transducer array and the at least two secondary transducer arrays may comprise CMUTs, and the ultrasound patch may comprise a flip chip connection. Also disclosed are a system and a method for positioning the ultrasound patch on a surface of a subject.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. An ultrasound imaging assembly is disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound imaging assembly includes a plurality of acoustic elements and an acoustically-transparent window disposed over the plurality of acoustic elements. The acoustically-transparent window comprising a plurality of layers formed on top of one another. The plurality of layers includes an innermost layer directly contacting the plurality of acoustic elements, an outermost layer opposite the innermost layer, and an adhesive layer. The outermost layer includes a tubing. A hardness of the innermost layer is less than hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers. A hardness of the outermost layer is greater than the hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The device includes an ultrasound scanner assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound scanner assembly includes a flexible substrate comprising a longitudinal width extending from an inner edge to an outer edge; a control region embedded in the flexible substrate; a transducer region embedded in the flexible substrate; and a window region disposed between the outer edge of the flexible substrate and the transducer region, and wherein the window region, the transducer region, and the control region are radially arranged relative to one another. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An invasive medical device (10) is disclosed comprising a flexible sheath (11) enveloping at least one lumen (17, 17?) comprising an electrically conductive wire (20) including a deformable actuator (21) for deforming a section of the invasive medical device in response to an electric current provided through the electrically conductive wire, wherein the flexible sheath comprises a set of apertures (31) extending through the flexible sheath to the at least one lumen, said apertures being filled with an adhesive (33) anchoring the deformable actuator to the flexible sheath. A manufacturing method for such an invasive medical device (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The device includes an ultrasound scanner assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound scanner assembly includes a flexible substrate comprising a longitudinal width extending from an inner edge to an outer edge; a control region embedded in the flexible substrate; a transducer region embedded in the flexible substrate; and a window region disposed between the outer edge of the flexible substrate and the transducer region, and wherein the window region, the transducer region, and the control region are radially arranged relative to one another. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An actuator device has a temperature sensing means and a controller adapted to apply a high frequency AC signal to stimulate internal self-heating to thereby maintain a temperature of an actuator member of the device at a certain fixed temperature, this temperature being elevated with respect to an initial temperature of the actuator member. This ensures that thermal drift may be mitigated or eliminated by compensating for any changes in environmental temperature through raising or lowering the level of the heating signal.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes an implantable intra-vascular support device for positioning against a vessel wall and an implantable sensor-actuator mounted to the support device. The sensor-actuator is drivable between a non-deployed position in which it is against the support device and a deployed position in which it is displaced away from the support device. Sensor signals are generated when in the deployed position. This system is able to monitor flow away from the edge of a vessel by deploying the sensor-actuator towards the center of the vessel. When flow monitoring does not need to take place, it can be non-deployed so that it does not present an occlusion to the flow.

Abstract: An ultrasound interface element (10) is for establishing interface with an incident tissue surface (32) for the purpose of transfer of ultrasound waves. An ultrasound-transmissive active layer (14) is provided comprising one or more responsive material elements (16) deformable in response to an electromagnetic stimulus. The one or more elements are controlled to deform in a manner such as to progressively establish with the tissue surface (32) an outwardly expanding interface, starting from an initial point or line of contact and spreading outwards to a wider area.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method and an apparatus (300) for positioning an ultrasound patch on a surface of a subject. The apparatus includes a first fixing unit (210) and a second fixing unit (310) adapted to be fixed to a surface of the subject at a first location and second location, respectively, with a space of exposed surface of the subject between them. The apparatus further comprises a holding unit (260) for positioning on the exposed surface of the subject within the space between the fixing units, the holding unit being adapted to receive the ultrasound patch. The holding unit is adapted to be coupled with the first and second fixing units at the surface of the subject and, when the holding unit is coupled to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit, the position of the holding unit is adjustable relative to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound device (10) is disclosed comprising a transducer arrangement (110) and an acoustically transmissive window (150) over said arrangement, said window comprising an elastomer layer (153) having conductive particles dispersed in the elastomer, the elastomer layer having a pressure-sensitive conductivity, the ultrasound device further comprising an electrode arrangement (160) coupled to said elastomer layer and adapted to measure said pressure-sensitive conductivity. An ultrasound system and arrangement including such an ultrasound device are also disclosed.

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: There is provided an assembly (500) for mounting a sensor (502) on the skin of a subject. The assembly comprises a part (504) configured to contact with a first surface (506) of a sensor unit (501) comprising the sensor when the sensor unit (501) is mounted in the assembly (500). The assembly (500) also comprises at least one resilient member (508) extending from an outer portion of the part (504) and configured to bias a second surface (510) of the sensor unit (501) against the skin of the subject when the sensor unit (501) is mounted in the assembly (500).

Abstract: A flow control device comprises a laminate structure of an electroactive material layer and a non-actuatable layer. An array of orifices is formed in one of the layers wherein the orifices are open in one of the rest state and actuated state and the orifices are closed in the other of the rest state and actuated state. Actuation of the electroactive material layer causes orifices to open and close so that flow control function may be implemented.

Abstract: A medical interventional tool has distal and proximal ends. A responsive material is located at the distal end or elsewhere along the interventional tool and is capable of providing a temperature-dependent or pressure-dependent optical response. At least one optical guide is in optical communication with the responsive material to collect an optical signal from the responsive material located at the distal end or other location along the interventional tool. The at least one optical guide further guides the collected optical signal to an optical output at the proximal end of the interventional tool. An optical response analyzer is configured to receive the collected optical signal from the optical output and to process the collected optical signal to derive therefrom a temperature or pressure reading or indication representative of a temperature or pressure at the distal end or other location along the interventional tool.

Abstract: An acoustic lens suitable for a CMUT array (74) is provided. The acoustic lens comprising: a first layer (47) comprising a thermoset elastomer having a polymeric material selected from hydrocarbons, wherein the first layer has an inner surface (72) arranged to face the array and an outer convex shaped surface (40) arranged to oppose the inner surface; and a second layer (42) coupled to the outer surface of the first layer and comprising thermoplastic polymer polymethylpentene and an elastomer selected from the polyolefin family (POE) blended therein, wherein the outer layer located at the outer surface of the acoustic window layer, wherein the first layer has a first acoustic wave velocity (v1) and the second layer has a second acoustic wave velocity (v2), said second velocity is larger than the first acoustic wave velocity.

Abstract: An ultrasound array for acoustic wave transmission comprising at least one capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) cell (6), wherein the CMUT cell comprises a substrate (4); a first electrode (7); a cell membrane (5) having a second electrode (7?), which opposes the first electrode and the substrate with a cavity (8) there between, wherein the membrane is arranged to vibrate upon the cell activation; and an acoustic window layer (13), overlaying the cell membrane, and having an inner surface opposing the cell membrane and an outer surface. The acoustic window layer comprises a first layer comprising molecules of antioxidant and a polymeric material (47) with insulating particles (41) embedded therein, wherein the polymeric material consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms and has a density equal or below 0.95 g/cm3 and an acoustic impedance equal or above 1.45 MRayl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

Abstract: An ultrasound device comprises a transducer arrangement and an acoustically transmissive window over said arrangement, said window comprising an elastomer layer having conductive particles dispersed in the elastomer, the elastomer layer having a pressure-sensitive conductivity. An electroactive material actuator is provided for biasing the transducer arrangement towards the transmissive window. The electroactive material actuator is controlled in dependence on a measured pressure-sensitive conductivity. In this way, a feedback system is provided for controlling a contact pressure. The device can be implemented with low cost and with low power consumption.

Abstract: An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

Abstract: A wearable patch (10) is disclosed comprising an ultrasound transducer (30) mounted on the patch and a fluid reservoir (50) for containing a coupling agent (60) for the ultrasound transducer, said fluid reservoir being delimited by a portion (20) of the patch and a seal ring (40) extending from the patch, said seal ring surrounding the ultrasound transducer and comprising a plurality of fluid conduits (43, 45) extending from the fluid reservoir at least partially through the seal ring. Also disclosed are a wearable patch kit, assembly and application method.