Abstract: A tissue positioning system for contouring a patient tissue volume includes an axially displaceable interface having a surface configured to engage a breast or other tissue volume. A low pressure source applies a partial low pressure to the surface of the displaceable interface to secure the tissue volume to the surface, and the axially displaceable interface is biased to pull and contour the tissue volume when the tissue volume is secured to the surface. The axially displaceable interface is typically mounted on a telescoping support and the biasing is provided by the same low pressure used to secure the tissue volume.

Abstract: A tissue positioning system for contouring a patient tissue volume includes an axially displaceable interface having a surface configured to engage a breast or other tissue volume. A low pressure source applies a partial low pressure to the surface of the displaceable interface to secure the tissue volume to the surface, and the axially displaceable interface is biased to pull and contour the tissue volume when the tissue volume is secured to the surface. The axially displaceable interface is typically mounted on a telescoping support and the biasing is provided by the same low pressure used to secure the tissue volume.

Abstract: A tissue positioning system for contouring a patient tissue volume includes an axially displaceable interface having a surface configured to engage a breast or other tissue volume. A low pressure source applies a partial low pressure to the surface of the displaceable interface to secure the tissue volume to the surface, and the axially displaceable interface is biased to pull and contour the tissue volume when the tissue volume is secured to the surface. The axially displaceable interface is typically mounted on a telescoping support and the biasing is provided by the same low pressure used to secure the tissue volume.

Abstract: A tissue positioning system for contouring a patient tissue volume includes an axially displaceable interface having a surface configured to engage a breast or other tissue volume. A low pressure source applies a partial low pressure to the surface of the displaceable interface to secure the tissue volume to the surface, and the axially displaceable interface is biased to pull and contour the tissue volume when the tissue volume is secured to the surface. The axially displaceable interface is typically mounted on a telescoping support and the biasing is provided by the same low pressure used to secure the tissue volume.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional transducer array has pitch along one dimension less than the pitch along a second dimension. The multi-dimensional transducer array with the same or different pitch is manufactured from a plurality of modules. Each of the modules are separately diced and then aligned and combined. Elements of a transducer array are used for isolating a transmit channel from a receive channel. Separate signal lines or traces are provided individually for each element on opposite sides of each element. A transmit channel may connect to one electrode on an element, and the receive channel may connect to an opposite electrode on the element. A multi-dimensional array is provided for time division multiplex processing. A probe houses the multi-dimensional array and a multiplexer.

Abstract: Transducer arrays and methods of manufacturing the transducer arrays are provided. A multi-dimensional transducer array is provided where the element-to-element spacing or pitch along one dimension is less than the element spacing or pitch along a second dimension. For example, the element pitch along an azimuth dimension is ½ of the element pitch along an elevation dimension. The multi-dimensional transducer array with the same or different pitch is manufactured from a plurality of modules. Each of the modules are separately diced and then aligned and combined. Separate dicing allows for individual testing of modules prior to assembly as a transducer array. Elements of a transducer array are used for isolating a transmit channel from a receive channel. Rather than a sheet of electrode acting as a ground plane common to a plurality of elements, separate signal lines or traces are provided individually for each element on opposite sides of each element.

Abstract: A method of providing connections to an arrangement of multilayer transducer elements of an ultrasonic transducer array includes patterning an electrically conductive layer on a substrate to define a number of traces and a wide-area continuous region. At least a portion of the substrate is then removed to expose both of the upper and lower surfaces of the wide-area conductive region. The exposed upper and lower surfaces are captured between first and second piezoelectric layers such that the conductive layer electrically contacts both of the piezoelectric layers. The captured wide-area continuous region and at least one of the piezoelectric layers are diced to define the array of transducer elements. The traces that are formed during the patterning step are arranged such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the traces and the electrodes that are defined by segmenting the wide-area continuous region during the dicing step.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer array has a piezoelectric ceramic layer that is separated in a longitudinal direction into n transducer groups. Each group is separated in a transverse direction into m elements. A double-sided flex circuit has a flexible, non-conductive base layer, through which conductive vias extend and are in electrical contact with a respective element. A conductive layer on a bottom side of the flex circuit is divided into a plurality of electrodes, each of which is in electrical contact with a respective one of the elements. For each group, electrically conductive traces connect predetermined ones of the flex circuit electrodes with external driving circuitry, and are located on a top side of the flex circuit. Transducer groups with different numbers of elements are provided, some with 1.5-D operation (with element pairs stimulated via a common trace) and some with 2-D operation (with separate traces for each element).