Abstract: A system and method for tracking a cross-section geometry of a blood vessel is provided. The system includes at least one sensor a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and a controller. The ultrasonic transducers are configured to non-invasively sense a blood vessel and provide signals representative of the blood vessel. The controller is in communication with the at least one sensor and a non-transitory memory storing instructions. The instructions when executed cause the controller to: a) control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to periodically sense the blood vessel and produce signals representative of a plurality of features of the blood vessel; and b) track the plurality of features of the blood vessel, using the signals representative of the plurality of features to determine a cross-section geometry of the blood vessel as a function of time.

Abstract: A biomedical sensor is provided that includes a deformable body panel, a first ultrasonic transducer, a second ultrasonic transducer, and a displacement sensor. The first and second ultrasonic transducers are attached to, and the displacement sensor is in communication with, the deformable body panel. The biomedical sensor is disposable in at least one default configuration wherein the first and second ultrasonic transducers are disposed relative to one another in a known first spatial transducer configuration. The biomedical sensor is disposable in one or more deformed configurations wherein the first and second ultrasonic transducers are disposed relative to one another in a second spatial transducer configuration different than the first spatial transducer configuration. The at least one displacement sensor is configured to produce signal information indicative of a difference between the first and second spatial transducer configurations.

Abstract: A system for measuring an analyte within a cerebral venous blood flow is provided. The system includes an excitation light source, a light delivery element, an ultrasound receiving mechanism, and a controller. The excitation light source is configured to produce one or more wavelengths operable to cause an analyte to photoacoustically produce at least one ultrasonic signal. The light delivery element is disposed on a posterior region of a human head, and receives light from the light source. The ultrasound receiving mechanism is disposed on an anterior region of the head. The mechanism includes at least one ultrasonic receiver. The controller is configured to control the excitation light source to selectively produce the excitation light, and to measure an amount of the analyte present within the cerebral venous blood flow.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively sensing a blood vessel are provided. The system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor has an array of ultrasound transducers that includes at least a first ultrasound transducer and a second ultrasound transducer. The controller is in communication with the first ultrasound transducer and the second ultrasound transducer, and a memory storing instructions. The instructions when executed cause the controller to: a) control the first ultrasound transducer to produce a first ultrasonic beam, to receive reflected first ultrasonic signals, and to communicate first sensed signals to the controller; b) control the second ultrasound transducer to produce a second ultrasonic beam, to receive reflected second ultrasonic signals, and to communicate second sensed signals to the controller; c) determine a first vessel diameter value; d) determine a second vessel diameter value; and e) determine a pulse wave velocity value.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively measuring at least one analyte within a blood vessel is provided. The system includes an excitation light source having at least one excitation laser configured to selectively produce an excitation light beam, an interrogation light source having at least interrogation laser configured to selectively produce an interrogation light beam at a predetermined interrogation wavelength, a Fabry-Perot sensor configured to be transparent to excitation light, and to reflect interrogation light, at least one light beam steering device, a light detector, and a controller in communication with the excitation light source, the interrogation light source, the at least one light beam steering device, the light detector, and a memory storing instructions.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting a loop and/or a knot in a catheter includes a first coil and a second coil in spaced positions on a catheter body of the catheter. A driver is coupled by a wired communication link to the first coil, wherein the driver is configured to transmit a first signal to the first coil. A receiver is coupled by a wired communication link to the second coil, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a second signal from the second coil indicative of a proximity of the first coil and the second coil. A signal analyzer is coupled by a wired or wireless communication link to the receiver that is configured to receive the second signal from the receiver and determine whether there is a change in the second signal indicative of a formation of the loop and/or the knot in the catheter.

Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer includes a flux guide surrounded by one or more permanent magnets abutting side faces of the flux guide. The magnetic field from the permanent magnets enters the flux guide where repulsion between the magnetic fields directs at least a portion of the magnetic fields toward a test face abutting a test object. The flux density at the test face is greater than the flux density within the originating permanent magnets. An active portion of a coil disposed between the flux guide and the test object contains conductors that are substantially straight, parallel and carry current in the same direction in order to provide substantially mode pure and uni-directionally polarised excitation of shear waves within the test object.

Abstract: An echo measurement system transmits a transmitted-signal which is modulated over a period of time corresponding to a modulation duration. The modulation could be, for example, modulation to represent a coded signal. A transducer (2), which may be common between transmission and reception, receives a received-signal which is cross-correlated with the transmitted-signal. The transmitted-signal comprises a plurality of transmission periods separated by a plurality of transmission pauses. The modulation duration extends over two or more of the transmission periods and the duration of the transmission pauses is varied within a range of transmission pause duration. The technique seeks to improve the signal-to-noise ratio without imposing undesirable other constraints.

Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer includes a flux guide surrounded by one or more permanent magnets abutting side faces of the flux guide. The magnetic field from the permanent magnets enters the flux guide where repulsion between the magnetic fields directs at least a portion of the magnetic fields toward a test face abutting a test object. The flux density at the test face is greater than the flux density within the originating permanent magnets. An active portion of a coil disposed between the flux guide and the test object contains conductors that are substantially straight, parallel and carry current in the same direction in order to provide substantially mode pure and uni-directionally polarised excitation of shear waves within the test object.