Abstract: A method for producing an ECG-triggered retrospective color-flow ultrasound image comprises generating ultrasound, transmitting the ultrasound into a subject at a first location, wherein a first reference point of an ECG signal taken from the subject triggers the ultrasound transmission, receiving ultrasound reflected from the subject at the first location, transmitting the ultrasound into the subject at a second location, wherein a second reference point of an ECG signal taken from the subject triggers the ultrasound transmission receiving ultrasound reflected from the subject at the second location, processing the received ultrasound to form ultrasound color traces, and reconstructing the ultrasound color traces to form the ultrasound image.

Abstract: A transducer with triangular cross-sectional shaped pillars is described for suppressing lateral modes within a composite, and a method for producing the same. According to one aspect of the present application, a plurality of triangular cross-sectional shaped pillars extends outwardly from a substrate and form an array of pillars. The resulting array of pillars is configured to suppress the lateral modes of the transducer at higher operating frequencies, such as, at or above 15 MHz, at or above 20 MHz, or at or above 30 MHz.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer comprises a stack having a first face, an opposed second face and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The stack comprises a plurality of layers, each layer having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, wherein the plurality of layers of the stack comprises a piezoelectric layer and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is connected to the piezoelectric layer and defines an opening extending a second predetermined length in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the stack. A plurality of first kerf slots are defined therein the stack, each first kerf slot extending a predetermined depth therein the stack and a first predetermined length in a direction substantially parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A high frequency focused transducer may be formed by fabricating a piezoelectric or ferroelectric wafer of a thickness less than about 100 microns and bonding a malleable sheet to the wafer with a thin layer of adhesive. Thereafter, the composite may be pressed into a spherical mold to form a curved transducer without fracturing the wafer. In another embodiment, a conductive adhesive layer may be applied to the wafer to a thickness sufficient to hold the wafer in a curved state, when set. After the adhesive is set, the composite may be pressed into the mold while the adhesive is held at an elevated temperature whereat it is elastic. Thereafter the composite is cooled so that the adhesive layer is stabilized and the curved transducer is removed from the well.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanning system includes an array of transducer elements and an electrode array, movable with respect to the array to transducer elements. The electrode array is in electrical contact with transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrode array. The piezoelectric ceramic material is situated between the two-dimensional array of electrodes and the common ground electrode. Each electrode in the two-dimensional array of electrodes is electrically isolated from the other electrodes in the two-dimensional array of electrodes. The piezoelectric ceramic material may be arranged to form pillars, each pillar extending from an electrode from the two-dimensional array of electrodes to the common ground electrode. The movable electrode array is mounted on, for example, a thin Mylar membrane. The movable electrode array may be arranged in a variety of patterns.