Abstract: Calibration or quality assurance devices and methods that ensure proper ultrasound exposure. An apparatus for calibrating an ultrasound transducer is provided. The apparatus includes a hydrophone assembly having a layer containing a solid material and a hydrophone element embedded in the solid material of the layer. A method of calibrating a therapeutic ultrasound system including an ultrasound transducer and system electronics is also provided. The method may include connecting the ultrasound transducer to an electronics module, separately connecting the system electronics to the electronics module, driving the ultrasound transducer at a given frequency to emit an ultrasound beam, sensing the ultrasound beam with a hydrophone element, and measuring a signal that is output from the hydrophone element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, a method for testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device coupled with the acoustic system via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. The signal can include a pattern of pulses including Doppler pulses. At least one Doppler pulse from the pattern pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device. A response to the signal from the acoustic system can be provided by generating an echo pulse with the testing device based on the detected at least one Doppler pulse wherein the echo pulse is frequency shifted from the detected at least one Doppler pulse and mimics a response to the detected at least one Doppler pulse for a selected acoustic probe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. At least one pulse from a pattern pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device by matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern for the acoustic system. For example, matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern can comprise determining whether the pulse pattern includes a first pulse type. If the pulse pattern includes the first pulse type, a determination can be made whether the pulse pattern further includes a second pulse type. If the pulse pattern further includes the second pulse type, a subsequent pulse of the second pulse type can be identified and detected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, a method for testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device coupled with the acoustic system via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. The signal can include a pattern of pulses. At least one pulse from the pattern of pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device. A response to the signal from the acoustic system can be provided by generating an echo pulse with the testing device based on the detected at least one pulse. The echo pulse can mimic a response to the detected at least one pulse for a selected acoustic probe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. At least one pulse from a pattern pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device by matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern for the acoustic system. For example, matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern can comprise determining whether the pulse pattern includes a first pulse type. If the pulse pattern includes the first pulse type, a determination can be made whether the pulse pattern further includes a second pulse type. If the pulse pattern further includes the second pulse type, a subsequent pulse of the second pulse type can be identified and detected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, a method for testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device coupled with the acoustic system via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. The signal can include a pattern of pulses. At least one pulse from the pattern of pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device. A response to the signal from the acoustic system can be provided by generating an echo pulse with the testing device based on the detected at least one pulse. The echo pulse can mimic a response to the detected at least one pulse for a selected acoustic probe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, a method for testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device coupled with the acoustic system via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. The signal can include a pattern of pulses including Doppler pulses. At least one Doppler pulse from the pattern pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device. A response to the signal from the acoustic system can be provided by generating an echo pulse with the testing device based on the detected at least one Doppler pulse wherein the echo pulse is frequency shifted from the detected at least one Doppler pulse and mimics a response to the detected at least one Doppler pulse for a selected acoustic probe.

Abstract: A hand-held testing device tests operation of acoustic elements of an acoustic device. The hand-held testing device has a housing, a power supply local to the housing, an acoustic transducer, and circuitry. The circuitry is disposed within the housing and is provided in electrical communication with the power supply and with the acoustic transducer. The circuitry is configured to identify production of a voltage pulse by the acoustic transducer in response to receipt of a received acoustic signal by the acoustic transducer from one of the acoustic elements and to operate the transducer to transmit a transmitted acoustic signal to the acoustic element.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a gas-supersaturated fluid and delivering the fluid at high delivery pressures to thereby prevent bubble nucleation is disclosed. The system comprises a housing for containing a removable fluid assembly for housing a fluid to be gas-supersaturated and a drive assembly for delivering the fluid to a delivery site. The housing assembly comprises a cylinder and a piston which may be advanced along the inner surface of the cylinder to pressurize and to deliver the fluid. To generate a gas-supersaturated fluid, the housing assembly is removed from the system housing, filled with a fluid, and gas is introduced at or slightly above the desired gas partial pressure into the cylinder.

Abstract: A hand-held testing device tests operation of acoustic elements of an acoustic device. The hand-held testing device has a housing, a power supply local to the housing, an acoustic transducer, and circuitry. The circuitry is disposed within the housing and is provided in electrical communication with the power supply and with the acoustic transducer. The circuitry is configured to identify production of a voltage pulse by the acoustic transducer in response to receipt of a received acoustic signal by the acoustic transducer from one of the acoustic elements and to operate the transducer to transmit a transmitted acoustic signal to the acoustic element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic system having multiple transmitter elements and multiple receiver elements. A transmitter signal generated by a selected transmitter element is received. An echo electrical signal is generated in response to receipt of the transmitter signal. The echo electrical signal is transmitted to a selected receiver element. Information generated by the acoustic system with the selected receiver element in response to the echo signal is analyzed to diagnose operational characteristics of the selected receiver element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device. A reference signal is generated. A capacitance associated with the selected transducing element is determined from the reference signal. Operational characteristics of the selected transducing element are diagnosed from the determined capacitance and the electrical received signal.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a gas-supersaturated fluid and delivering the fluid at high delivery pressures to thereby prevent bubble nucleation is disclosed. The system comprises a housing for containing a removable fluid assembly for housing a fluid to be gas-supersaturated and a drive assembly for delivering the fluid to a delivery site. The housing assembly comprises a cylinder and a piston which-may be advanced along the inner surface of the cylinder to pressurize and to deliver the fluid. To generate a gas-supersaturated fluid, the housing assembly is removed from the system housing, filled with a fluid, and gas is introduced at or slightly above the desired gas partial pressure into the cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device. A reference signal is generated. A capacitance associated with the selected transducing element is determined from the reference signal. Operational characteristics of the selected transducing element are diagnosed from the determined capacitance and the electrical received signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic system having multiple transmitter elements and multiple receiver elements. A transmitter signal generated by a selected transmitter element is received. An echo electrical signal is generated in response to receipt of the transmitter signal. The echo electrical signal is transmitted to a selected receiver element. Information generated by the acoustic system with the selected receiver element in response to the echo signal is analyzed to diagnose operational characteristics of the selected receiver element.