Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to driving a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a pulse train of unipolar pulses. The CMUT may be electrically excited with a pulse train of unipolar pulses such that the CMUT operates in a continuous wave mode. In some embodiments, the CMUT may have a contoured electrode.

Abstract: Improved acoustic neurostimulation is provided using two or more acoustic transducers generating an acoustic interference pattern. In a first operating mode the transducers are driven at the same frequency. In a second operating mode the transducers are driven at different frequencies. The acoustic interference pattern is varied electronically by control of the driving frequencies. In addition, a method for neurostimulation excites two confocal ultrasound transducers using an excitation waveform signal that has a time-varying frequency within range containing a resonance frequency of the two transducers, thereby increasing resolution and allowing electronic scanning.

Abstract: Ultrasonic excitation to a sample is provided with an apparatus including: a cylindrical ultrasonic transducer, and a plate disposed on an end of the cylindrical ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to provide a vertical vibration in operation. A Lamb wave vibration is generated in the plate by the vertical vibration of the ultrasonic transducer. The Lamb wave vibration converges at a central region of the plate, where a sample is disposed. Alternatively, a cylindrical array of ultrasonic transducers can be used instead of a single cylindrical transducer. Such an array can be driven as a phased array for beam shaping and/or multi-focusing.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed related to combined ultrasonic stimulation and photometry. A device can include an ultrasonic transducer and an optical delivery element integrated with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer can deliver ultrasound energy at a tip of the optical delivery element. In certain embodiments, the optical delivery element can be an optical fiber. A detector can generate an indication of a cell response associated with the delivered ultrasound energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to driving a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a pulse train of unipolar pulses. The CMUT may be electrically excited with a pulse train of unipolar pulses such that the CMUT operates in a continuous wave mode. In some embodiments, the CMUT may have a contoured electrode.

Abstract: We provide a novel technique for coupling focused ultrasound into the brain. The ultrasound beam can be used for therapy or neuro-modulation. We excite a selected Lamb wave mode in the skull that mode converts into longitudinal waves in the brain. The benefits of our approach is in improved efficiency, reduction in heating of the skull, and the ability to address regions in the brain that are close or far from the skull.

Abstract: In some aspects, a method includes forming a beam in a direction relative to a brain of a person, the direction being determined by a machine learning model trained on data from prior signals detected from a brain of one or more persons and, after forming the beam, detecting a signal from a region of interest of the brain of the person.

Abstract: Propagation of leaky Lamb waves in pipe walls is used to provide a clamp-on acoustic flow meter for single-phase fluid flow in pipes. The received acoustic signals can be analyzed analytically, or by matching to numerical models, or with machine learning. In a preferred embodiment, variation of penetration depth of the leaky Lamb waves into the fluid flow with frequency provides an approach for measuring flow rate vs. radius with a clamp-on flow meter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a contoured electrode. In certain embodiments, the CMUT has a contoured electrode. The electrode may be non-planar to correspond to a deflected shape of the outer plate. A change in distance between the electrode and the plate after deflection may be greater than a minimum threshold across the width of the CMUT.

Abstract: According to some aspects, there is provided a device configured to determine a measure of brain tissue motion in a brain, comprising: at least one transducer configured to transmit an acoustic signal to at least one region of the brain and receive a subsequent acoustic signal from the at least one region of the brain; and at least one processor configured to: determine the measure of brain tissue motion in the at least one region of the brain by processing the subsequent acoustic signal, wherein processing the subsequent acoustic signal comprises filtering the subsequent acoustic signal. Filtering the subsequent acoustic signal may comprise one of spatiotemporal filtering, signal decomposition, tissue tracking, and/or spectral clustering.

Abstract: In some aspects, the described systems and methods provide for a device wearable by or attached to a person, comprising at least one annular array transducer configured to provide ultrasound radiation to at least one region of the brain of the person. In some embodiments, the annular array transducer is configured to provide the ultrasound radiation to perform non-invasive neuromodulation or neurostimulation in the at least one region of the brain of the person.

Abstract: Clamp-on ultrasonic flow metering is provided by collectively exciting and receiving circumferential modes of the pipe. The pipe wall supports an infinite number of circumferential acoustic resonances. Each of these modes, in contact with a fluid, can mode-convert into the flow at a different rate. The mode-converted waves in the flow mode-convert back into the circumferential waves in the pipe once they travel across the flow. Furthermore, the moving fluid alters the rate of mode-conversion as a function of the flow velocity. At low frequencies, the wavelength is larger, thus the penetration depth in the flow is larger. As the frequency increases, the penetration depth becomes smaller. The variable penetration depth provides a methodology to sample the flow velocity profile.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to driving a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a pulse train of unipolar pulses. The CMUT may be electrically excited with a pulse train of unipolar pulses such that the CMUT operates in a continuous wave mode. In some embodiments, the CMUT may have a contoured electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to driving a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a pulse train of unipolar pulses. The CMUT may be electrically excited with a pulse train of unipolar pulses such that the CMUT operates in a continuous wave mode. In some embodiments, the CMUT may have a contoured electrode.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a contoured electrode. In certain embodiments, the CMUT has a contoured electrode. The electrode may be non-planar to correspond to a deflected shape of the outer plate. A change in distance between the electrode and the plate after deflection may be greater than a minimum threshold across the width of the CMUT.

Abstract: In some aspects, a device comprises a substrate and at least one CMUT located on or in the substrate that provides ultrasound radiation to a brain of a patient. In some aspects, a method of guiding ultrasound radiation in the brain of a patient comprises receiving as a first input patient scan data, receiving as a second input information regarding configuration and/or properties of ultrasound transmitters adapted to transmit to the brain the ultrasound radiation, processing at least one of the first and second inputs and feeding the processed at least one of the first and second inputs into a physical acoustics model, and based on an output of the physical acoustics model and acquired data from the brain of the patient, generating an instruction to transmit to the brain of the patient the ultrasound radiation.