Abstract: Transrectal ultrasound probe for boiling histotripsy ablation of prostate are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method for a transrectal ultrasound treatment uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The method includes: generating a boiling histotripsy (BH) therapy ultrasound by a therapy transducer in a frequency range of 1 MHz to 2.8 MHz and a surface intensity range of 10 W/cm2 to 80 W/cm2. The therapy transducer may be about 50 mm long and about 35 mm wide. The method also includes applying the therapy ultrasound by directing ultrasound pulses having ultrasound shock waves to a target tissue at a focal depth of 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm; generating at least one ?m-scale vapor bubble at a target region; growing the at least one vapor bubble to at least one mm-scale bubble; and mechanically disintegrating a surrounding tissue by interactions between mm-scale bubbles and the ultrasound shock waves within a pulse.

Abstract: Cell-separation systems and methods utilizing cell-specific microbubble tags and ultrasound-based separation are described. The methods are useful for simplification of time-consuming and costly cell purification procedures and real time apoptosis detection.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tuning lithotripsy frequency to target size are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lithotripsy system for comminuting a stone in a body includes: a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) therapy transducer configured to transmit smooth ultrasound waves within a burst of ultrasound waves toward the stone; and a controller configured to determine operating frequency of the ultrasound waves of the therapy transducer. The operating frequency of the ultrasound waves is determined as: f = Const . c d where: d is a diameter of the stone, f is the frequency of the ultrasound waves, c is a wave speed in the stone, and Const. is a predetermined constant.

Abstract: A method for attempting to fragment or comminute an object in a body using ultrasound includes producing a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) waveform by a therapy transducer. The BWL waveform is configured to fragment or comminute the object. The BWL waveform includes a first burst of continuous ultrasound cycles and a second burst of continuous ultrasound cycles. A burst frequency corresponds to a frequency of repeating the bursts of the BWL waveform. The method also includes determining a cycle frequency f of the continuous ultrasound cycles within the first burst and the second burst based on a target fragment size D, where the cycle frequency is: f(MHz)=0.47/D(mm).

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens includes a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable medium are described herein related to producing detection signals configured to induce an excited state of an object. A computing device may receive reflection signals, where the reflection signals correspond to at least one detection signals reflected from the object. Based on the received reflection signals, a presence of the object in the excited state may be determined. Further, an output device may provide an indication of the presence of the object in the excited state.

Abstract: This invention is related to technology of tissue-engineered constructs biofabrication from tissue spheroids. This novel technology of scaffold-free, nozzle-free and label-free bioassembly opens a unique opportunity for rapid biofabrication of 3D tissue and organ constructs with complex geometry. A combination of intense magnetic and acoustic fields could enable rapid levitational bioassembly of complex-shaped 3D tissue constructs from tissue spheroids at low concentration of paramagnetic agent (gadolinium salt) in the medium. Magnetic field provides objects levitation due to field configuration with the lowest magnetic field density in the center of working volume of medium with tissue spheroids, and three-dimensional acoustic field forms internal and external construct geometry by means of acoustic radiation forces.

Abstract: Transrectal ultrasound probe for boiling histotripsy ablation of prostate are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method for a transrectal ultrasound treatment uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The method includes: generating a boiling histotripsy (BH) therapy ultrasound by a therapy transducer in a frequency range of 1 MHz to 2.8 MHz and a surface intensity range of 10 W/cm2 to 80 W/cm2. The therapy transducer may be about 50 mm long and about 35 mm wide. The method also includes applying the therapy ultrasound by directing ultrasound pulses having ultrasound shock waves to a target tissue at a focal depth of 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm; generating at least one ?m-scale vapor bubble at a target region; growing the at least one vapor bubble to at least one mm-scale bubble; and mechanically disintegrating a surrounding tissue by interactions between mm-scale bubbles and the ultrasound shock waves within a pulse.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens includes a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.

Abstract: An example method includes generating an acoustic ultrasound wave that is focused at a focal point. The method further includes sequentially directing the focal point upon distinct portions of an object to form respective shock waves at the distinct portions of the object. The method further includes, via the respective shock waves, causing the distinct portions of the object to boil and form respective vapor cavities. The method further includes causing substantially uniform ablation of a region of the object that comprises the distinct portions. The substantially uniform ablation is caused via interaction of the respective shock waves with the respective vapor cavities. An example ablation system and an example non-transitory computer-readable medium, both related to the example method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to receiving arrays to measure a characteristic of an acoustic beam and associated systems and methods. The receiving arrays can include elongated elements having at least one dimension, such as a length, that is larger than a width of an emitted acoustic beam and another dimension, such as a width, that is smaller than half of a characteristic wavelength of an ultrasound wave. The elongated elements can be configured to capture waveform measurements of the beam based on a characteristic of the emitted acoustic beam as the acoustic beam crosses a plane of the array, such as a transverse plane. The methods include measuring at least one characteristic of an ultrasound source using an array-based acoustic holography system and defining a measured hologram at the array surface based, at least in part, on the waveform measurements. The measured hologram can be processed to reconstruct a characteristic of the ultrasound source.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.

Abstract: Cell-separation systems and methods utilizing cell-specific microbubble tags and ultrasound-based separation are described. The methods are useful for simplification of time-consuming and costly cell purification procedures and real time apoptosis detection.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for improved cavitation-induced drug delivery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for delivering a treatment composition to a target tissue using ultrasound includes: directing ultrasound waveforms toward the target tissue of a patient; generating ultrasound shock fronts at the target tissue of a patient; generating a cavitation inside the target tissue of a patient by the ultrasound shock front; and delivering the treatment composition to the patient. Absorption of the treatment composition by the target tissue is increased by the cavitation inside the target tissue. In some embodiments, the treatment composition may be delivered within a time period of +/?1 week from generating the cavitation.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and a computer-readable medium are described herein related to fragmenting or comminuting an object in a subject using a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) waveform. A computing device, such a computing device coupled to a transducer, may carry out functions for producing a BWL waveform. The computing device may determine a burst frequency for a number of bursts in the BWL waveform, where the number of bursts includes a number of cycles. Further, the computing device may determine a cycle frequency for the number of cycles. Yet further, the computing device may determine a pressure amplitude for the BWL waveform, where the pressure amplitude is less than or equal to 8 MPa. In addition, the computing device may determine a time period for producing the BWL waveform.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable medium are described herein related to producing detection signals configured to induce an excited state of an object. A computing device may receive reflection signals, where the reflection signals correspond to at least one detection signals reflected from the object. Based on the received reflection signals, a presence of the object in the excited state may be determined. Further, an output device may provide an indication of the presence of the object in the excited state.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable medium are described herein related to producing detection signals configured to induce an excited state of an object. A computing device may receive reflection signals, where the reflection signals correspond to at least one detection signals reflected from the object. Based on the received reflection signals, a presence of the object in the excited state may be determined. Further, an output device may provide an indication of the presence of the object in the excited state.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to methods for characterizing nonlinear ultrasound fields and associated systems and devices. In several embodiments, for example, a method of calculating output of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device comprises treating a target site with a multi-element HIFU array. In some embodiments, the array comprises a generally spherical segment. The method can further include simulating a field of the array by setting a boundary condition for the array. The boundary condition can be set by simplifying at least one geometrical aspect of the generally spherical segment.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto.