Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for monitoring the extravascular lung water status of a patient. For example, an acoustic diagnostic device is provided that includes a housing configured to be worn by a patient and including a patient contact surface configured to contact the patient's skin of the patient's thorax; an acoustic transducer for transmitting acoustic energy via the patient contact surface into the patient's thorax and receiving reflected acoustic energy from the patient's thorax; and one or more processors coupled to the acoustic transducer for analyzing the reflected acoustic energy to provide an indication of extravascular lung water status of the patient.

Abstract: A speaker device for emitting subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic compression waves comprising a generally hollow drum, a rigid emitter plate attached to the drum, and a plurality of apertures formed within the plate which are covered by a thin piezoelectric film disposed across the emitter plate. A pressure source is coupled to the drum for developing a biasing pressure with respect to the thin film at the apertures to distend the film into an arcuate emitter configuration capable of constricting and extending in response to variations in the applied electrical input at the piezoelectric film to thereby create a compression wave in a surrounding environment. Parametric ultrasonic frequency input is supplied to the piezoelectric film to propagate multiple ultrasonic frequencies having a difference component corresponding to the desired subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency range.

Abstract: A speaker device for emitting subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic compression waves comprising a a rigid emitter plate attached to the drum, and a plurality of apertures formed within the plate which are covered by a thin piezoelectric film disposed across the emitter plate. The thin film at the apertures distends into an arcuate emitter configuration capable of constricting and extending in response to variations in the applied electrical input at the piezoelectric film to thereby create a compression wave in a surrounding environment. Parametric ultrasonic frequency input is supplied to the piezoelectric film to propagate multiple ultrasonic frequencies having a difference component corresponding to the desired subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency range.

Abstract: A speaker device for emitting subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic compression waves comprising a generally hollow drum, a rigid emitter plate attached to the drum, and a plurality of apertures formed within the plate which are covered by a thin piezoelectric film disposed across the emitter plate. A pressure source is coupled to the drum for developing a biasing pressure with respect to the thin film at the apertures to distend the film into an arcuate emitter configuration capable of constricting and extending in response to variations in the applied electrical input at the piezoelectric film to thereby create a compression wave in a surrounding environment. Parametric ultrasonic frequency input is supplied to the piezoelectric film to propagate multiple ultrasonic frequencies having a difference component corresponding to the desired subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency range.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measurement of viscoelastic properties of mammalian cervical mucous by generating a bulk acoustic wave which is reflected off of a face in contact with the mucous whereby an output which is a function of the viscoelastic properties is generated based upon at least one characteristic of the reflected bulk wave.

Abstract: The device electronically measures fluid viscosity and temperature simultaneously principally for determining the changes in the properties of cervical mucus at the onset of ovulation. Interdigital transducers are used to generate and detect surface and bulk acoustic waves on one side of a slab of fused quartz. The change of phase of surface acoustic waves and the change in amplitude of doubly-reflected bulk acoustic waves are used to detect respectively the temperature and viscosity of fluid sample deposited on the opposite face of the slab.