Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound-assisted endoscopy. An ultrasound-assisted endoscopy system may include a selectively positioned bracket with an opening for receiving an endoscope and an array of transducer elements of an ultrasound probe that are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the endoscope. The ultrasound probe may be coupled to the endoscope by the selectively positioned bracket, which may be configured to acquire an image along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer is provided. The capacitive transducer includes a plate including a protruding center mass and a substrate with a center depression configured to accept the center mass. The capacitive transducer also includes a first electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center mass and a second electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The capacitive transducer further includes a third electrode coupled to a horizontal edge surface of the center mass and a fourth electrode coupled to a horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The plate is coupled to the substrate at least along an outer perimeter area of the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: A micromachined ultrasonic transducers with non-coplanar actuation and displacement comprising a plate with a protruding center mass, a substrate with a center depression configured to accept the center mass, a first electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center mass, and a second electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The plate may be coupled to the substrate at least along an outer perimeter area of the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a single element ultrasound transducer. In one embodiment, a method for the transducer comprises laminating a comb structure and a conductive base package into an acoustic stack with a non-conductive glue, grinding the acoustic stack, and dicing the ground acoustic stack along a plane extending from the top surface of the second fin of the conductive base package to the bottom surface of the acoustic stack. The resulting transducer may have a flat front face with a non-conductive groove separating a ground pad formed by the conductive base package from a signal pad formed by a matching layer of the comb structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a single element ultrasound transducer. In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer comprises a front face, a back face parallel to the front face, a piezoelectric layer having a top surface electrically coupled to the signal pad and a bottom surface electrically coupled to the ground pad. In this way, the transducer can work robustly and may be automatically mounted to an imaging probe.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer comprising a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and a sidewall between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The sidewall is configured to separate the top electrode and the bottom electrode by a gap. There is a high contact resistance part on one or both of a bottom side of the top electrode or a top side of the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A backing panel for a transducer of an ultrasound scanner probe, comprising a core layer sandwiched by a first skin layer and a second skin layer. The transducer may comprise a front portion and a rear portion, where the front portion points to a direction of a target for the ultrasound scanner probe, and the first skin layer is adjacent to the rear portion of the transducer.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a deployable invasive device. In one example, the deployable invasive device has a transducer with a plurality of transducer arrays linked by at least one shape memory material, the at least one shape memory material configured to transition the transducer between a first, folded shape and a second, unfolded shape in response to one or more stimuli. When in the second, unfolded shape, an active area of the transducer is increased relative to the first, folded shape.

Abstract: A deployable invasive device includes a transducer with a plurality of elements linked by at least one shape memory material configured to move the plurality of elements relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to a stimulus. The shape memory material comprises at least one active region configured to facilitate transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The deployable invasive device includes at least one integrated circuit configured to process signals from at least one of the plurality of elements and a plurality of conductive traces on or in the shape memory material and extending through the active region. The conductive traces are configured to conduct signals to the at least one integrated circuit, wherein the conductive traces are configured to conform as the shape memory material moves the elements between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A deployable invasive device includes a transducer with a plurality of elements with linked by at least one shape memory material, the at least one shape memory material configured to move the plurality of the elements relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to the thermal stimulus. The shape memory material comprises at least one active region configured to change shape to facilitate transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The deployable invasive device further includes at least one integral heating resistor on or within the at least one active region and configured to heat the shape memory material surrounding the integral heating resistor to provide the thermal stimulus.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer is provided. The capacitive transducer includes a plate including a protruding center mass and a substrate with a center depression configured to accept the center mass. The capacitive transducer also includes a first electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center mass and a second electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The capacitive transducer further includes a third electrode coupled to a horizontal edge surface of the center mass and a fourth electrode coupled to a horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The plate is coupled to the substrate at least along an outer perimeter area of the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: An ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device and a method of manufacturing the ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device. The ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device includes an invasive medical device, an electrical trace deposited either directly on the surface of the invasive medical device or onto an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the surface of the invasive medical device, where the electrical trace is deposited during an additive manufacturing process. The ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device includes an ultrasound transducer assembly attached to the invasive medical device and electrically connected to the electrical trace, and a transducer support structure attached to the invasive medical device, where the transducer support structure defines a nest that is adapted to receive the ultrasound transducer assembly.

Abstract: A micromachined ultrasonic transducers with non-coplanar actuation and displacement comprising a plate with a protruding center mass, a substrate with a center depression configured to accept the center mass, a first electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center mass, and a second electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The plate may be coupled to the substrate at least along an outer perimeter area of the plate and the substrate.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a deployable invasive device. In one example, the deployable invasive device has a transducer with a plurality of transducer arrays linked by at least one shape memory material, the at least one shape memory material configured to transition the transducer between a first, folded shape and a second, unfolded shape in response to one or more stimuli. When in the second, unfolded shape, an active area of the transducer is increased relative to the first, folded shape.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a deployable invasive device. In one example, the deployable invasive device has a transducer including a plurality of transducer arrays spaced apart by a shape memory material. The shape memory material is configured to transition between a first configuration with a first set of dimensions and a second configuration with a second, larger set of dimensions.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a transducer for a deployable catheter. In one example, a method for forming the transducer includes coupling an acoustic stack to a shape memory material while in a planar configuration to form a transducer and exposing the shape memory material to a curling stimulus to adjust the transducer to a curved configuration.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer comprising a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and a sidewall between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The sidewall is configured to separate the top electrode and the bottom electrode by a gap. There is a high contact resistance part on one or both of a bottom side of the top electrode or a top side of the bottom electrode.

Abstract: An ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device and a method of manufacturing the ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device. The ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device includes an invasive medical device, an electrical trace deposited either directly on the surface of the invasive medical device or onto an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the surface of the invasive medical device, where the electrical trace is deposited during an additive manufacturing process. The ultrasound-enabled invasive medical device includes an ultrasound transducer assembly attached to the invasive medical device and electrically connected to the electrical trace, and a transducer support structure attached to the invasive medical device, where the transducer support structure defines a nest that is adapted to receive the ultrasound transducer assembly.

Abstract: A backing panel for a transducer of an ultrasound scanner probe, comprising a core layer sandwiched by a first skin layer and a second skin layer. The transducer may comprise a front portion and a rear portion, where the front portion points to a direction of a target for the ultrasound scanner probe, and the first skin layer is adjacent to the rear portion of the transducer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a single element ultrasound transducer. In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer comprises: a piezoelectric layer, a matching layer, one surface of the matching layer is electrically coupled to a top surface of the piezoelectric layer and another surface of the matching layer forms a signal pad within a front face of the ultrasound transducer, and a base package electrically coupled to a bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer, the base package extending horizontally and laterally to form a back face of the ultrasound transducer parallel to the front face of the ultrasound transducer, and extending vertically relative to the back face of the ultrasound transducer to form a ground pad within the front face of the ultrasound transducer. In this way, the transducer can work robustly and may be automatically mounted to a flat substrate with printed circuit.