Abstract: A transponder is used for tracking a position of a distal end of a medical device in an ultrasound image and/or enhancing an ultrasound image.

Abstract: A method for performing acoustic imaging and measurements may include generating a nonlinear frequency modulation (NLFM) chirp waveform based on a frequency response of at least one transducer. The method may further include generating an apodized signal by applying a window function to the NLFM chirp waveform. The method may further include exciting the at least one transducer with the apodized signal. The method may further include compressing received signals by using one or more matched filters.

Abstract: A method of imaging may include receiving a first signal from one or more array elements of a first type in a mixed transducer array, receiving a second signal from one or more array elements of a second type in the mixed transducer array, where at least one of the first type or the second type is a tunable optical resonator and selectively configured to operate in different quality factor modes, generating a first image from the first signal and a second image from the second signal, and combining the first image and the second image to generate a compound image.

Abstract: An apparatus may include one or more optical fibers, one or more optical waveguides, and multiple resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations. Each resonator node may include an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and an optical fiber having a set of resonant frequencies at a respective sensing location. Each resonator node may be further configured to communicate a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.

Abstract: Sensing apparatuses and method of making the sensing apparatuses are disclosed herein. In some variations, a sensing apparatus can comprise at least one optical waveguide, and at least one whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator configured to propagate a set of WGMs, where the WGM resonator communicates to the at least one optical waveguide a set of signals corresponding to the set of WGMs. In some variations, a polymer structure may encapsulate the at least one WGM resonator and/or the at least one optical waveguide. Furthermore, in some variations, the WGM resonator(s) may have one or more selectable modes with different bandwidth and sensitivity for sensing, which may, for example, enable tailoring the sensing apparatus to specific applications having certain bandwidth and/or sensitivity requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus may include one or more optical fibers, one or more optical waveguides, and multiple resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations. Each resonator node may include an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and an optical fiber having a set of resonant frequencies at a respective sensing location. Each resonator node may be further configured to communicate a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for acoustic imaging. The disclosed embodiments include an optical sensor. The optical sensor may include an acoustic stack. The acoustic stack may include a backing layer that supports an optical layer. The optical layer may include an optical waveguide and a tuning device configured to tune an optical propagation property of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide may include a core region and one or more cladding regions. The one or more cladding regions may have optical refractive index less than that of the core region.

Abstract: A method of imaging may include receiving a first signal from one or more array elements of a first type in a mixed transducer array, receiving a second signal from one or more array elements of a second type in the mixed transducer array where at least one of the first type and the second type is an optical sensor, generating a first image from the first signal and a second image from the second signal, and combining the first image and the second image to generate a compound image.

Abstract: Sensing apparatuses and method of making the sensing apparatuses are disclosed herein. In some variations, a sensing apparatus can comprise at least one optical waveguide, and at least one whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator configured to propagate a set of WGMs, where the WGM resonator communicates to the at least one optical waveguide a set of signals corresponding to the set of WGMs. In some variations, a polymer structure may encapsulate the at least one WGM resonator and/or the at least one optical waveguide. Furthermore, in some variations, the WGM resonator(s) may have one or more selectable modes with different bandwidth and sensitivity for sensing, which may, for example, enable tailoring the sensing apparatus to specific applications having certain bandwidth and/or sensitivity requirements.

Abstract: An acousto-optic imaging system may include at least one transducer that transmits an ultrasound signal having a fundamental frequency f. The acousto-optic imaging system includes at least one optical sensor that may produce one or more optical responses upon receiving harmonic-related ultrasound echoes corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal. For example, the one or more optical sensors may have a bandwidth ranging from at least f/M to Nf, where M and N are integers greater than 1.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of providing a modularized acoustic probe that includes multiple acoustic transducers that have discrete substrates. A first acoustic transducer is configured to generate an acoustic signal and to transmit the acoustic signal toward an object. The second acoustic transducer is configured to detect a reflected acoustic signal, which results from the acoustic signal reflecting from the object, and to convert the reflected acoustic signal to an electrical signal. The first and second acoustic transducers have respective discrete substrates. In an example, the second acoustic transducer may not be configured to generate acoustic signals. In another example, the first and second acoustic transducers may be in respective first and second rows of a two-row transducer array. In accordance with this example, the first and second acoustic transducers may be designed to have an acoustic parameter having respective first and second parameter values.

Abstract: The optical fiber with an acoustically sensitive fiber Bragg grating includes an optical fiber core with a pair of fiber Bragg gratings formed therein, such that each of the fiber Bragg gratings is spaced apart from the other. A cladding material is disposed on and surrounds at least a portion of the optical fiber core. The cladding material has at least one material property associated therewith, where the at least one material property may be a smaller Young's modulus than a Young's modulus of the optical fiber core, a larger photo-elastic coefficient than a photo-elastic coefficient of the optical fiber core, or combinations thereof. An ultrasound sensor includes at least one of the optical fibers embedded in a polymer layer, along with a backing layer and an acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: A transponder is used for tracking a position of a distal end of a medical device in an ultrasound image and/or enhancing an ultrasound image.

Abstract: The optical sensor circuit is an optical circuit for routing input optical signals through an array of optical sensors. The optical sensor circuit includes an optical input port for receiving a plurality of input optical signals within a single input channel, where each of the input optical signals has a unique wavelength associated therewith. A wavelength-division demultiplexer is coupled to the optical input port to demultiplex the plurality of input optical signals, and a plurality of optical sensors are coupled to the wavelength-division demultiplexer for respectively receiving the plurality of input optical signals and outputting a corresponding plurality of output optical signals. A wavelength-division multiplexer is coupled to the plurality of optical sensors to multiplex the plurality of output optical signals into a single output channel, and an optical output port is coupled to the wavelength-division multiplexer for outputting the plurality of output optical signals in the single output channel.

Abstract: Optical fiber based acoustic sensors are provided herein. The optical fiber based acoustic sensors described herein include acoustically responsive optical structures configured to detect and receive acoustic signals, including ultrasound signals, and provide associated optical signals to a system for processing and interpretation to implement tracking, location, and imaging capabilities. Optical fiber based sensors provided herein may be disposed at ends of or along the length of optic fibers. Optical fiber based sensors may be included within various devices, including, for example, medical devices. Optical fiber based sensors may provide a compact technology with high sensitivity to visualize and track objects and provide anatomical imaging.