Abstract: An ablation system comprises a tool including an shaft having proximal and distal end portions, a handle at the proximal end portion, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal end portions. The system further includes an ablation subsystem comprised of an ablation element at the distal end portion of the shaft, and an ablation source connected to the ablation element. The system further includes an imaging subsystem comprising an ultrasound imaging transducer disposed proximate the ablation element. The transducer is pivotally attached to the shaft or the ablation element to allow the transducer to articulate between stowed and deployed positions. The imaging subsystem further comprises a processor connected to the transducer configured to receive image data acquired by the transducer, and to generate an image corresponding thereto. The imaging subsystem still further includes a display connected to the processor configured to display the generated image.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: Ultrasonic, sonic or vibratory energy, delivered non-invasively, minimally invasively or invasively (e.g. surgically), is utilized to provide direct cleaning action at or to the location of the implanted device such as a prosthetic heart valve with undesirable deposits of at least some amount thereon or therein. Such ultra-sound energy may be aided by the use of a drug in association or cooperation with the acoustic irradiation. The “cleaning” acoustic energy may optionally be delivered under the guidance of an imaging modality and may be delivered in a timed or gated manner such that the valve occluders or leaflets are in a preferred position (assuming they are functioning) during exposures.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: A wearable treatment or therapy apparatus for provision of an acoustically enabled or acoustically enhanced treatment or therapy to a patient or treatment subject is provided. Also provided are apparatuses for delivering an acoustic or acoustically-aided therapy or treatment to a patient or treatment-subject.

Abstract: Condensation of water from a gas, such as from atmospheric air or other nearby ambient gas, is provided for use in a variety of jetting devices, such as lab-on-a-chip applications. Further embodiments involve the use of frozen liquids, not limited to frozen condensed water, and microcooling of fluidic components or working materials for improved process control and reliability.

Abstract: The formation and manipulation of microbubbles, microdroplets and films of (preferably) flowable materials, such as liquids and gases, are used to beneficially control or modulate acoustic-energy propagation, electromagnetic-energy propagation or electrical potential and current application. A droplet, bubble or film causes at least one of reflection, refraction, diffraction, attenuation, sapping, scattering, dissipation, redirection, conversion or blocking of at least one component of the energy due to the droplet, bubble or film causing a propagation discontinuity, disruption or energy-barrier to the energy. The energy comprises at least one of acoustic, electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, kinetic, mechanical, chemical, RF, thermal, pneumatic, hydraulic or non-visible optical energy.

Abstract: Condensation of water from a gas, such as from atmospheric air or other nearby ambient gas, is provided for use in a variety of jetting devices, such as inkjet and lab-on-a-chip applications. Further embodiments involve the use of frozen liquids, not limited to frozen condensed water, and microcooling of fluidic components or working materials for improved process control and reliability.

Abstract: A system for optically characterizing an acoustic beam generally includes an immersant, which is an immersion medium seeded with a plurality of seed particles that respond to illumination with fluorescence indicative of at least one parameter of the immersant such as flow or temperature. Optical transmitters illuminate the immersant slicewise, and optical receptors receive the fluorescence in order to generate a three-dimensional map of the parameter over time. A processor back-calculates one or more characteristics of an acoustic beam that results in the map. The processor initially generates a behavior model of an acoustic beam propagating in the immersant by utilizing initial guesses for the characteristics. The initial guess model is compared to the map, and an optimization routine is used to refine the initial guesses. The process repeats iteratively with refined guesses until the difference between the model and the map is minimized.

Abstract: Various novel means are provided to neutralize determined if not fanatical attackers, and in most embodiments to proactively prevent harm to most or all innocent bystanders. In one example, a system offering protection to victims of any one or more of terrorism, criminal behavior and disasters is provided. The system provides protection via one or more of i) immobilization of a perpetrator, if any, ii) protective physical immobilization of potential or actual victims of a disaster, iii) protective physical shielding of actual or potential victims of a disaster, iv) physical blockage of dangerous flying projectiles or debris whether coming from a perpetrator or as a consequence of an actual or potential disaster or v) visual blockage of the perpetrator such that he cannot easily act against victims.

Abstract: A means and method are provided for enhancing or replacing the natural excitation of the human vocal tract by artificial excitation means, wherein the artificially created acoustics present additional spectral, temporal, or phase data useful for (1) enhancing the machine recognition robustness of audible speech or (2) enabling more robust machine-recognition of relatively inaudible mouthed or whispered speech. The artificial excitation (a) may be arranged to be audible or inaudible, (b) may be designed to be non-interfering with another user's similar means, (c) may be used in one or both of a vocal content-enhancement mode or a complimentary vocal tract-probing mode, and/or (d) may be used for the recognition of audible or inaudible continuous speech or isolated spoken commands.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

Abstract: A capacitive microelectromechanical ultrasound transducer array with improved efficiency and durability is provided. Efficiency is provided by stacking CMUTs in the range dimension (i.e. away from the face of the transducer). A plurality of chambers and associated membranes are stacked along a range dimension or parallel to the direction of acoustic radiation. Because the CMUT transducer element is stacked, ultrasound is transmitted through the plurality of chambers, amplifying the response of the transducer element. Durability is increased within the transducer by filling the chamber with a nongaseous filler. A liquid, polymer, solid or plasma fills the chamber or chambers. The nongaseous filler allows movement of the membrane for transducing between acoustic and electrical energies, but prevents collapse or bottoming out of the membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnostic ultrasound imaging with a probe combining one or more ultrasound imaging transducer elements and a body-tissue parameter measurement mechanism to detect body-tissue properties. At least one ultrasound transducer element provides an ultrasound image field of view of at least a portion of the body-tissue being measured by the parameter measurement mechanism. The parameter measurement mechanism is typically a mechanically or electrically operated mechanism attached to the probe near at least one ultrasound transducer element in order to combine information from the body-tissue parameter measurement mechanism and ultrasound transducer element for easier identification of abnormal body-tissue properties (e.g., tumors, dead, or diseased body-tissue).

Abstract: A plurality of piezomaterial bodies, such as panels or slices, are merged together to form a larger piezomaterial body. For example, a 0.75×22 cm polycrystalline piezomaterial body is formed, where the distances are along lateral or footprint dimensions. The thickness of the piezomaterial body is substantially less than either of the distances along first and second lateral dimensions that define the footprint. Preferably, each piezomaterial body has a panel shape, and a plurality of panels are merged to form a large multi-panel.