Abstract: A side-fire ultrasound imaging probe is configured for an image-guided neurosurgery procedure through a burr hole in a skull of a patient. The side-fire ultrasound imaging probe includes an elongated shaft with a first end region, a second opposing end region, a long axis, at least a first rigid transducer array and a second rigid transducer array arranged in the first end region along the long axis of the elongated shaft, and an articulating region between the at least the first rigid transducer array and the second rigid transducer array. The side-fire ultrasound imaging probe further includes a handle with a first end region, wherein the first end region of the handle is coupled to the second opposing end region of the elongated shaft. A largest cross-sectional dimension of the first end region is smaller than a diameter of the burr hole in the skull of the patient.

Abstract: A side-fire ultrasound imaging probe is configured for an image-guided neurosurgery procedure through a burr hole in a skull of a patient. The side-fire ultrasound imaging probe includes an elongated shaft with a first end region, a second opposing end region, a long axis, at least a first rigid transducer array and a second rigid transducer array arranged in the first end region along the long axis of the elongated shaft, and an articulating region between the at least the first rigid transducer array and the second rigid transducer array. The side-fire ultrasound imaging probe further includes a handle with a first end region, wherein the first end region of the handle is coupled to the second opposing end region of the elongated shaft. A largest cross-sectional dimension of the first end region is smaller than a diameter of the burr hole in the skull of the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging probe includes a backing layer, an acoustic stack with an interconnect coupled to the backing layer, a transducer array electrically coupled interconnect and including at least one transducer element with a transducing surface and at least one matching layer with a first side acoustically coupled to the transducing surface and a second opposing side, a compound lens including an inner lens with a planer inner side acoustically coupled to the second opposing side of the matching layer and a first non-flat side that is non-flat in elevation and wavy at least in azimuth and an outer lens with an outer side configured to contact a subject or object, and a second non-flat side that is non-flat in elevation and wavy at least in azimuth, wherein the first non-flat side of the inner lens is acoustically coupled to the second non-flat side of the outer lens.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging probe includes a backing layer, an acoustic stack with an interconnect coupled to the backing layer, a transducer array electrically coupled interconnect and including at least one transducer element with a transducing surface and at least one matching layer with a first side acoustically coupled to the transducing surface and a second opposing side, a compound lens including an inner lens with a planer inner side acoustically coupled to the second opposing side of the matching layer and a first non-flat side that is non-flat in elevation and wavy at least in azimuth and an outer lens with an outer side configured to contact a subject or object, and a second non-flat side that is non-flat in elevation and wavy at least in azimuth, wherein the first non-flat side of the inner lens is acoustically coupled to the second non-flat side of the outer lens.

Abstract: A transducer probe includes a transducer array with rows of transducer elements that each extend in an elevation direction and is transverse to an azimuth direction, a matching layer disposed adjacent to the transducer array, and a focusing layer disposed adjacent to the matching layer. The focusing layer includes a first material with a first refractive index and a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first and second materials are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first material at edges of the rows. First widths of the first material decrease from the edges towards a center of the rows, and second widths of the second material increase from the edges towards the center.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a housing. The housing includes a first end, which internally houses: a transducer array and a tracking sensor, and a second end. The housing further includes a second portion extending between the first and second ends. The second portion houses: a first electrically conductive path extending from the transducer array through the second portion to the second end, which is opposite the first end, and a second electrically conductive path extending from the tracking sensor through the second portion to the second end. The probe further includes a single electro-mechanical connector with a physical interface configured to transfer signals carried by the first and second electrically conductive members off the probe. The probe further includes a single cable that routes the first and second electrically conductive members from the second end to the electro-mechanical connector.

Abstract: A transducer probe includes a transducer array with rows of transducer elements that each extend in an elevation direction and is transverse to an azimuth direction, a matching layer disposed adjacent to the transducer array, and a focusing layer disposed adjacent to the matching layer. The focusing layer includes a first material with a first refractive index and a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first and second materials are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first material at edges of the rows. First widths of the first material decrease from the edges towards a center of the rows, and second widths of the second material increase from the edges towards the center.

Abstract: A transducer probe includes a transducer array with rows of transducer elements that each extend in an elevation direction and is transverse to an azimuth direction, a matching layer disposed adjacent to the transducer array, and a focusing layer disposed adjacent to the matching layer. The focusing layer includes a first material with a first refractive index and a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first and second materials are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first material at edges of the rows. First widths of the first material decrease from the edges towards a center of the rows, and second widths of the second material increase from the edges towards the center.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) comprises a probe (102) including a transducer array (108) with a plurality of elements (110), a communications interface (112), and an interconnect (114) configured to route electrical signals between the plurality of elements and the communications interface. The interconnect includes a flexible printed circuit with a first surface with a first metal layer (406, 12101), a second opposing surface with a second metal layer (408, 12102), a first end (432, 1305), and a second opposing end (434, 1307). The apparatus further includes traces (430, 440, 1304, 1306, 1502, 1804) configured to readout signals from at least one of the first and second opposing ends.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) comprises a probe (102) including a transducer array (108) with a plurality of elements (110), a communications interface (112), and an interconnect (114) configured to route electrical signals between the plurality of elements and the communications interface. The interconnect includes a flexible printed circuit with a first surface with a first metal layer (406, 12101), a second opposing surface with a second metal layer (408, 12102), a first end (432, 1305), and a second opposing end (434, 1307). The apparatus further includes traces (430, 440, 1304, 1306, 1502, 1804) configured to readout signals from at least one of the first and second opposing ends.

Abstract: A transducer probe includes a transducer array with rows of transducer elements that each extend in an elevation direction and is transverse to an azimuth direction, a matching layer disposed adjacent to the transducer array, and a focusing layer disposed adjacent to the matching layer. The focusing layer includes a first material with a first refractive index and a second material with a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive index. The first and second materials are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first material at edges of the rows. First widths of the first material decrease from the edges towards a center of the rows, and second widths of the second material increase from the edges towards the center.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) comprises a probe (102) including a transducer array (108) with a plurality of elements (110), a communications interface (112), and an interconnect (114) configured to route electrical signals between the plurality of elements and the communications interface. The interconnect includes a flexible printed circuit with a first surface with a first metal layer (406, 12101), a second opposing surface with a second metal layer (408, 12102), a first end (432, 1305), and a second opposing end (434, 1307). The apparatus further includes traces (430, 440, 1304, 1306, 1502, 1804) configured to readout signals from at least one of the first and second opposing ends.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a housing. The housing includes a first end, which internally houses: a transducer array and a tracking sensor, and a second end. The housing further includes a second portion extending between the first and second ends. The second portion houses: a first electrically conductive path extending from the transducer array through the second portion to the second end, which is opposite the first end, and a second electrically conductive path extending from the tracking sensor through the second portion to the second end. The probe further includes a single electro-mechanical connector with a physical interface configured to transfer signals carried by the first and second electrically conductive members off the probe. The probe further includes a single cable that routes the first and second electrically conductive members from the second end to the electro-mechanical connector.

Abstract: An imaging probe includes a transducer array with transducer elements (109) with parallel first and second planar surface (201, 203) in which an ultrasound signal is emitted from the first planar surface. A transducer element, includes a plurality of transducing sub-elements (208) arranged along an elevation direction in which adjacent transducing sub-elements are separated from each other by kerfs (212) of non-transducing material, wherein depths of the kerfs vary along the elevation direction.