Abstract: A dilation catheter includes a shaft and an expandable element. The shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a tip and a bend. The tip is sized and configured to pass through an isthmus of a Eustachian tube (ET). The bend is proximal to the tip. The bend is formed at an angle configured to provide insertion of the tip into the isthmus of the ET via an ear canal associated with the ET. The expandable element is disposed at the distal portion of the shaft. The expandable element is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The expandable element in the non-expanded state is configured for insertion into the ET via the isthmus. The expandable element in the expanded state is configured to dilate the ET.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for conducting heat from an ultrasound transducer and reducing drop impact forces are disclosed. A thermal management system including a thermally conductive compliant component in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The thermal management system may include thermally conductive compliant component coupled to a transducer assembly. A printed circuit assembly (PCA) may be coupled to the compliant component. The thermally compliant component may conduct heat from the transducer assembly to the PCA. The PCA may be further coupled to a cable that may conduct heat from the PCA and away from the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems are provided. An ultrasound system according to some embodiments includes a console configured to selectively communicate with a first ultrasound imaging device and a second ultrasound imaging device. The console includes a housing, a computing device disposed within the housing, and a connector receptacle assembly coupled to the housing. The connector receptacle assembly includes a first connector bank including a first plurality of electrical connections; and a second connector bank including a second plurality of electrical connections. The connector receptacle assembly is selectively matable to a first connector of the first ultrasound imaging device via only the first connector bank and to a second connector of the second ultrasound imaging device via the first and second connector banks.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe including an active thermal management system is disclosed. The active thermal management system may include a fluid chamber coupled to a transducer assembly of the ultrasound probe. The fluid chamber may include a coolant that may dissipate heat from the transducer assembly. The active thermal management system may further include a heat sink coupled to the fluid chamber and thermal management system. The heat sink may include fins that extend into the coolant. The coolant may be a liquid or a gas. The coolant may be circulated within the fluid chamber by a circulation device. The circulation device may be a pump, a fan, or an impeller. An ultrasound probe may further include a window that forms an enclosure over the lens of the transducer assembly. The enclosure may be fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber and filled with coolant to dissipate heat from the lens.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for conducting heat from an ultrasound transducer and reducing drop impact forces are disclosed. A thermal management system including a thermally conductive compliant component in an ultrasound probe is disclosed. The thermal management system may include thermally conductive compliant component coupled to a transducer assembly. A printed circuit assembly (PCA) may be coupled to the compliant component. The thermally compliant component may conduct heat from the transducer assembly to the PCA. The PCA may be further coupled to a cable that may conduct heat from the PCA and away from the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems are provided. An ultrasound system according to some embodiments includes a console configured to selectively communicate with a first ultrasound imaging device and a second ultrasound imaging device. The console includes a housing, a computing device disposed within the housing, and a connector receptacle assembly coupled to the housing. The connector receptacle assembly includes a first connector bank including a first plurality of electrical connections; and a second connector bank including a second plurality of electrical connections. The connector receptacle assembly is selectively matable to a first connector of the first ultrasound imaging device via only the first connector bank and to a second connector of the second ultrasound imaging device via the first and second connector banks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention utilize a graph-based approach for simulating genomic datasets from large scale populations. Genomic data may be represented as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) that incorporates individual sample data including variant type, position, and zygosity. A simulator may operate on the DAG to generate variant datasets based on probabilistic traversal of the DAG. This probabilistic traversal reflects genomic variant types associated with the subpopulation used to build the DAG, and as a result, the generated variant datasets maintain statistical fidelity to the original sample data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention utilize a graph-based approach for simulating genomic datasets from large scale populations. Genomic data may be represented as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) that incorporates individual sample data including variant type, position, and zygosity. A simulator may operate on the DAG to generate variant datasets based on probabilistic traversal of the DAG. This probabilistic traversal reflects genomic variant types associated with the subpopulation used to build the DAG, and as a result, the generated variant datasets maintain statistical fidelity to the original sample data.

Abstract: A single element ultrasound transducer is fabricated from a laminate plate which produces multiple transducer elements simultaneously. The laminate plate includes the piezo ceramic, matching layer, and backing layer with rear electrode. The laminate plate is diced while mounted on nitto tape to retain the individual elements in position after dicing. The sides of the elements are covered with an insulating coating, which permits the transducer elements to be surface mounted on flex circuit by bonding the rear electrode to a signal conductor of the flex circuit and the matching layer to a return conductor by metallically coating the mounted transducer element and return conductor on the flex circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus (88) for mounting a nut plate (4) on an aircraft part and then masking the nut plate during painting of the aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), which apparatus (88) comprises: (i) the nut plate (4); (ii) a first bore (10) which extends through the nut plate (4); (iii) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (iv) a second bore (52) which extends through the masking formation (8); and (v) a mandrel (68) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the first and second bores (10, 52), and the apparatus (88) being such that: (vi) the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16) which is positioned at one end of the body portion (14) and which extends radially outwardly beyond the body portion (14), and a skirt portion (20) which is positioned at a periphery (22) of the masking portion (16) and which extends from a first face (24) of the masking portion (16) and away from the body portion (14); (vii) the body po

Abstract: Apparatus (42) for masking a nut plate (4) during painting of an aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), comprising: (i) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (ii) a bore (10) which extends axially through the masking formation (8); and (iii) a mandrel (12) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the bore (10) and projects beyond the masking formation (8), and the apparatus (42) being such that the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16), and a skirt portion (20); there are no supporting formations which extend between the body portion (14) and a face (30) of the masking portion (16) and which would act to provide unwanted masking of areas of parts of the aircraft being painted; and the body portion (14) and/or the masking portion (16) are provided with internal integral reinforcing.

Abstract: A curved high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer comprising a curved piezoelectric array having opposite convex and concave surfaces, the concave surface being a transmitting surface, and a plurality of acoustic transmission areas, a plurality of electrodes located on the surfaces of the curved piezoelectric array for applying electrical transmit signals to the acoustic transmission areas, and a unitary, continuously formed curved matching layer pre-formed to the desired curvature of the curved transducer array and bonded to the transmitting surface of the curved piezoelectric array which provides acoustic matching and electrical isolation for the transmitting surface of the curved piezoelectric array.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention utilize a graph-based approach for simulating genomic datasets from large scale populations. Genomic data may be represented as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) that incorporates individual sample data including variant type, position, and zygosity. A simulator may operate on the DAG to generate variant datasets based on probabilistic traversal of the DAG. This probabilistic traversal reflects genomic variant types associated with the subpopulation used to build the DAG, and as a result, the generated variant datasets maintain statistical fidelity to the original sample data.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe including an active thermal management system is disclosed. The active thermal management system may include a fluid chamber coupled to a transducer assembly of the ultrasound probe. The fluid chamber may include a coolant that may dissipate heat from the transducer assembly. The active thermal management system may further include a heat sink coupled to the fluid chamber and thermal management system. The heat sink may include fins that extend into the coolant. The coolant may be a liquid or a gas. The coolant may be circulated within the fluid chamber by a circulation device. The circulation device may be a pump, a fan, or an impeller. An ultrasound probe may further include a window that forms an enclosure over the lens of the transducer assembly. The enclosure may be fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber and filled with coolant to dissipate heat from the lens.

Abstract: Apparatus (88) for mounting a nut plate (4) on an aircraft part and then masking the nut plate during painting of the aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), which apparatus (88) comprises: (i) the nut plate (4); (ii) a first bore (10) which extends through the nut plate (4); (iii) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (iv) a second bore (52) which extends through the masking formation (8); and (v) a mandrel (68) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the first and second bores (10, 52), and the apparatus (88) being such that: (vi) the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16) which is positioned at one end of the body portion (14) and which extends radially outwardly beyond the body portion (14), and a skirt portion (20) which is positioned at a periphery (22) of the masking portion (16) and which extends from a first face (24) of the masking portion (16) and away from the body portion (14); (vii) the body po

Abstract: An ultrasonic HIFU transducer (120) has a threaded opening into which a modular cavitation sensor (90) is removably located. The modular cavitation sensor includes a modular housing (92) containing a piezoelectric transducer for sensing acoustic signals indicative of cavitation. The modular cavitation sensor has electrodes (96,98) which engage spring contacts (112,114) in the threaded opening when the modular housing is screwed into the threaded opening. A damaged sensor can be unscrewed and replaced simply without connectors or soldering.

Abstract: A single element ultrasound transducer is fabricated from a laminate plate which produces multiple transducer elements simultaneously. The laminate plate includes the piezo ceramic, matching layer, and backing layer with rear electrode. The laminate plate is diced while mounted on nitto tape to retain the individual elements in position after dicing. The sides of the elements are covered with an insulating coating, which permits the transducer elements to be surface mounted on flex circuit by bonding the rear electrode to a signal conductor of the flex circuit and the matching layer to a return conductor by metallically coating the mounted transducer element and return conductor on the flex circuit.

Abstract: An element pressure release system includes a mandrel having at least one groove or recess and a retainer having at least one window passing through the retainer. The retainer extends around a perimeter of the at least one window. A lug is positioned in the at least one window of the retainer, and a wedge is configured to engage a casing slip and the lug such that, when the element pressure release system is in a coupled position, the lug is capable of transferring a force from the retainer to the wedge and the casing slip. The element pressure release system is positionable in a decoupled position in which the mandrel is moved to align the at least one groove or recess with the lug to allow the lug to become disengaged from the wedge and thereby no longer transfer the force from the retainer to the wedge.

Abstract: A curved high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer comprising a plurality of curved composite ceramic piezoelectric tiles having opposite convex and concave surfaces, each tile having electrodes on the surfaces electrically coupled to the composite ceramic piezoelectric material, and a plurality of acoustic transmission areas located on each tile and actuated through electrodes on the convex surface, the transmission areas and electrodes being acoustically separated from surrounding areas by cuts into the composite ceramic piezoelectric material, the plurality of tiles fitting together to form a substantially continuous curved composite piezoelectric surface which transmits HIFU acoustic energy.

Abstract: Apparatus (42) for masking a nut plate (4) during painting of an aircraft part (6) containing the nut plate (4), comprising:) (i) a masking formation (8) which is made of a rigid plastics material; (ii) a bore (10) which extends axially through the masking formation (8); and (iii) a mandrel (12) which is made of a flexible material and which extends through the bore (10) and projects beyond the masking formation (8), and the apparatus (42) being such that the masking formation (8) comprises a body portion (14), a masking portion (16), and a skirt portion (20); there are no supporting formations which extend between the body portion (14) and a face (30) of the masking portion (16) and which would act to provide unwanted masking of areas of parts of the aircraft being painted; and the body portion (14) and/or the masking portion (16) are provided with internal integral reinforcing.