Abstract: A manufacturing a process is provided for the bulk manufacture of transducer arrays, including arrays having at least one 3D printed (or otherwise additive manufactured) acoustic matching layers. In certain implementations, the manufactured transducers include a composite-piezoelectric transducer on a de-matching layer. In one implementation, by producing multiple arrays at once on a common carrier, and by using direct-deposit additive processes for the matching layers, the described processes greatly reduce the number of parts and the number of manual operations.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a part including depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface of a binder jet printer and selectively printing a binder solution having a linkable thermoplastic binder into the layer of the powder in a pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the part. The linkable thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand and a second polymer strand, the first polymer strand includes a first functional group and the second polymer strand includes a second functional group, and the first and second functional groups non-covalently couple the first polymer strand with the second polymer strand.

Abstract: A method includes providing a biological sample, providing a sample collection device, wherein the sample collection device includes a sample binding surface including a photodegradable polymer configured to bind the biological sample, contacting the biological sample with the sample binding surface of the sample collection device, and irradiating the sample binding surface and the bound biological sample using light emitted from a light source to initiate degradation of the photodegradable polymer of the sample binding surface to cause release of the biological sample.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe configured for use in a multi-modality imaging system includes a body including one or more electrical components of the ultrasound probe, an outermost housing enclosing the ultrasound probe, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield disposed between the body and the housing, wherein the EMI shield is configured to reduce interference between the ultrasound probe and one or more different imaging systems of the multi-modality imaging system. The ultrasound probe further includes a transducer disposed on a patient-facing surface of the ultrasound probe and a cable coupled to the body and configured to communicatively couple the ultrasound probe to an ultrasound imaging system of the multi-modality imaging system, wherein the ultrasound probe comprises substantially non-ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite for use in an ultrasonic transducer and a method of forming the same is provided. The composite has a piezoelectric ceramic component and a hydrophobic polymer component arranged to form a 1-3, 2-2, or 3-3 composite type. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic polymer is selected to polymerize at a moderate temperature.

Abstract: Assemblies for an ultrasonic probe and manufacturing methods are presented. In one example, the method includes additively forming first portions of the assembly using a first material with first acoustic properties and second portions of the assembly using a second material with second acoustic properties, the first and second acoustic properties being configured to modify ultrasonic signals of the ultrasonic probe. In another aspect, a housing for an ultrasonic probe is presented. The housing includes additively-formed portions, a fluid channel, and at least one cavity. The first additively-formed portions include a first material with first acoustic properties. The second additively-formed portions include a second material with second acoustic properties. The first and second acoustic properties are configured to modify ultrasonic signals of the ultrasonic probe. The fluid channel is for receiving fluid within the housing of the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a part includes depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface and selectively printing a binder solution comprising a binder into the layer of powder in a first pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the part. The method also includes selectively printing a channel support agent solution comprising a channel support agent into the layer of powder to generate a green body. The channel support agent is selectively printed in a second pattern representative of an internal channel of the part. The method further includes heating the green body part above a first temperature to remove the binder and generate a brown body part and heating the brown body part above a second temperature to sinter the powder to generate the part having the internal channel generated from removal of the channel support agent.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes a transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements. The transducer array has a first side and a second side. Further, one or more ground electrodes are disposed on the first side of the transducer array, and one or more signal electrodes are disposed on the second side of the transducer array. Moreover, an acoustic backing structure is operatively coupled to the plurality of transducer elements of the transducer array. Also, a plurality of electrical traces is routed on a surface of the acoustic backing structure and operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more signal electrodes and one or more ground electrodes.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a metal part includes depositing a layer of a metal powder on a working surface of a binder jet printer and selectively printing a binder solution having a reversible binder into the layer of metal powder in a pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the metal part. The method also includes curing the reversible binder in the printed layer to generate a layer of a green body metal part and heating the green body metal part above a first temperature to remove a substantial portion of the reversible binder and generate a brown body metal part. The reversible binder is thermally decomposed to generate oligomers that remain within and strengthen the brown body metal part. The method further includes heating the brown body metal part above a second temperature to remove the oligomers and sinter the metal powder to generate the metal part. The metal part is substantially free of char residue.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite for use in an ultrasonic transducer and a method of forming the same is provided. The composite has a piezoelectric ceramic component and a hydrophobic polymer component arranged to form a 1-3, 2-2, or 3-3 composite type. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic polymer is selected to polymerize at a moderate temperature.

Abstract: A composition suitable for forming a support using a three-dimensional (3D) deposition method is presented. The composition includes a wax including at least one functional group capable of reacting with a build material used in the 3D deposition method, when exposed to an actinic radiation, wherein the functional group is itself substantially non-reactive to the actinic radiation. A method of forming a three dimensional (3D) article is also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the bulk manufacture of transducer arrays, including arrays having at least one 3D printed (or otherwise additive manufactured) acoustic matching layers. In certain implementations, the manufactured transducers include a composite-piezoelectric transducer on a de-matching layer. In one implementation, by producing multiple arrays at once on a common carrier, and by using direct-deposit additive processes for the matching layers, the described processes greatly reduce the number of parts and the number of manual operations.

Abstract: A transducer probe is presented. The transducer probe includes a housing having a probe surface at a first end. Further, the transducer probe includes an acoustic array having an array aperture, wherein the acoustic array is disposed adjacent the probe surface of the housing, and wherein the acoustic array is configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards a target volume. Also, the transducer probe includes a flex interconnect configured to electrically couple the acoustic array to at least one electronic unit. Furthermore, the transducer probe includes an electrical standoff disposed between the acoustic array and the flex interconnect to reduce a footprint of the transducer probe to a first value, wherein the first value is proximate to a lateral size of the array aperture.

Abstract: A colorimetric time indicator configured to indicate time specificity is provided. The colorimetric time indicator includes a colorimetric layer configured to be operatively coupled to a disposable medical device. The colorimetric time indicator is configured to indicate the time specificity via one or more visual indicators upon exposure to one or more external stimuli.

Abstract: Methods comprising the use of photoactivated chemical bleaching for detecting multiple targets in a biological sample are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a biological sample containing multiple targets, binding at least one probe to one or more target present in the sample, and observing a signal from the probe. The method further includes the steps of contacting the sample comprising the bound probe with an electron transfer reagent and irradiating the sample, thereby initiating a photoreaction that substantially inactivates the probe by photoactivated chemical bleaching. The method further includes the steps of binding at least one probe to one or more target present in the sample, and observing a signal from the probe. The process of binding, observing and bleaching may be iteratively repeated.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite for use in an ultrasonic transducer and a method of forming the same is provided. The composite has a piezoelectric ceramic component and a hydrophobic polymer component arranged to form a 1-3, 2-2, or 3-3 composite type. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic polymer is selected to polymerize at a moderate temperature.

Abstract: An article comprises a solvent cast film comprising a polyetherimide comprising structural units derived from a dianhydride component selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, and combinations thereof, and a diamine component. The polyetherimide has a glass transition temperature that is at least 190° C. The film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, and less than 5% residual solvent by weight. The film has less than 15 molar % of a member selected from the group consisting of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, dianhydrides of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, esters of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition suitable for forming a support using a three-dimensional (3D) deposition method is presented. The composition includes a wax including at least one functional group capable of reacting with a build material used in the 3D deposition method, when exposed to an actinic radiation, wherein the functional group is itself substantially non-reactive to the actinic radiation. A method of forming a three dimensional (3D) article is also presented.

Abstract: A colorimetric time indicator configured to indicate time specificity is provided. The colorimetric time indicator includes a colorimetric layer configured to be operatively coupled to a disposable medical device. The colorimetric time indicator is configured to indicate the time specificity via one or more visual indicators upon exposure to one or more external stimuli.

Abstract: A component includes a micro-hologram layer, where the micro-hologram layer includes layers inert to light interleaved with layers of functional film. The functional film layers are made of a material that undergoes a change in its refractive index when illuminated by a light beam, yet undergoes no change in its refractive index when illuminated by a different light beam. The components may further include interleaved spacer films with multiple micro-hologram layers and other elements (e.g., servo layer, coatings, and the like) so as to comprise a data storage device. Methods of manufacturing the component and device are also disclosed.