Abstract: An acoustic matching structure is used to increase the power radiated from a transducing element with a higher impedance into a surrounding acoustic medium with a lower acoustic impedance. The acoustic matching structure consists of a thin, substantially planar cavity bounded by a two end walls and a side wall. The end walls of the cavity are formed by a blocking plate wall and a transducing element wall separated by a short distance (less than one quarter of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium at the operating frequency). The end walls and side wall bound a cavity with diameter approximately equal to half of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium. In operation, a transducing element generates acoustic oscillations in the fluid in the cavity.

Abstract: A method for performing autonomous peripheral vascular localization, including: providing a robotic system including a camera and an ultrasound probe each connected to a robotic arm; moving the robotic arm such that the camera is positioned above and/or adjacent a target surface of a body part; capturing a three-dimensional (3D) image of the target surface using the camera; generating a scanning trajectory on the target surface using the 3D image; and scanning the ultrasound probe along the scanning trajectory by moving the robotic arm to autonomously localize a target vessel in the body part.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for using thermal cameras to detect surfaces that have been in contact with individuals. The detection can be used to guide focused cleaning of the surfaces.