Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of transducer elements grouped into element groups, wherein the element groups comprise a plurality of first element groups (having a first orientation) and a plurality of second element groups (having a second orientation different from the first orientation). A first conductor is connected to each of the elements in each first element grouping and a second conductor is connected to each of the elements in each second element grouping. Each element group is adapted to be activated for transmission or reception by the application of a bias voltage, by way of a plurality of bias voltage circuits, and controlled by a plurality of transmit and receive circuits. The system is adapted to acquire first ultrasound data, wherein the bias voltage is applied to the first conductors of the array (or a sub-array) and the transducers receive a signal from a transmit and receive circuit.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. An ultrasound imaging assembly is disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound imaging assembly includes a plurality of acoustic elements and an acoustically-transparent window disposed over the plurality of acoustic elements. The acoustically-transparent window comprising a plurality of layers formed on top of one another. The plurality of layers includes an innermost layer directly contacting the plurality of acoustic elements, an outermost layer opposite the innermost layer, and an adhesive layer. The outermost layer includes a tubing. A hardness of the innermost layer is less than hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers. A hardness of the outermost layer is greater than the hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: The invention provides a handheld imaging device capable of performing biplane imaging, wherein a first image plane or a second imaging plane (having different orientations) may be selected for image capture based on a motion characteristic of the device as determined by a sensor.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. An ultrasound imaging assembly is disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound imaging assembly includes a plurality of acoustic elements and an acoustically-transparent window disposed over the plurality of acoustic elements. The acoustically-transparent window comprising a plurality of layers formed on top of one another. The plurality of layers includes an innermost layer directly contacting the plurality of acoustic elements, an outermost layer opposite the innermost layer, and an adhesive layer. The outermost layer includes a tubing. A hardness of the innermost layer is less than hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers. A hardness of the outermost layer is greater than the hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of operation for capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical switches, such as CMUT cells for use in an ultrasound system. An RFMEMS may include substrate, a first electrode connected to the substrate, a membrane and a second electrode connected to the membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of operation for capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical switches, such as CMUT cells for use in an ultrasound system. An RFMEMS may include substrate, a first electrode connected to the substrate, a membrane and a second electrode connected to the membrane. In some examples, there is a dielectric stack between the first and second electrodes. The dielectric stack design minimizes drift in the membrane collapse voltage. In other examples, a voltage supply coupled to an ultrasonic array compressing the CMUT cells is adapted to provide a sequence of voltage profiles to the electrodes of the CMUT cell, wherein each profile includes a bias voltage and a stimulus voltage, and wherein a polarity of each subsequent voltage profile in the sequence is opposite to the polarity of the preceding profile. In another example, there is a capacitance sensing circuit provided, which is arranged to determine a drift voltage of the CMUT cell.

Abstract: A transducer array (10) is disclosed comprising a plurality of CMUT cells (100, 100, 100?), each CMUT cell comprising a first electrode (110) supported by a substrate (101) and a second electrode (120) supported by a membrane suspended over a cavity (105) between the first electrode and the second electrode, the plurality of CMUT cells comprising a first group of CMUT cells (100) each having a membrane comprising a first layer stack (130); and a second group of CMUT cells (100?) each having membrane comprising a second layer stack (130?), the second layer stack including a layer (135) of a material having a higher density than any of the layers in the first layer stack. Also disclosed is a device comprising such a transducer array, an ultrasound imaging system including such a transducer array and a method of operating such an ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An acoustic lens suitable for a CMUT array (74) is provided. The acoustic lens comprising: a first layer (47) comprising a thermoset elastomer having a polymeric material selected from hydrocarbons, wherein the first layer has an inner surface (72) arranged to face the array and an outer convex shaped surface (40) arranged to oppose the inner surface; and a second layer (42) coupled to the outer surface of the first layer and comprising thermoplastic polymer polymethylpentene and an elastomer selected from the polyolefin family (POE) blended therein, wherein the outer layer located at the outer surface of the acoustic window layer, wherein the first layer has a first acoustic wave velocity (v1) and the second layer has a second acoustic wave velocity (v2), said second velocity is larger than the first acoustic wave velocity.

Abstract: An ultrasound array for acoustic wave transmission comprising at least one capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) cell (6), wherein the CMUT cell comprises a substrate (4); a first electrode (7); a cell membrane (5) having a second electrode (7?), which opposes the first electrode and the substrate with a cavity (8) there between, wherein the membrane is arranged to vibrate upon the cell activation; and an acoustic window layer (13), overlaying the cell membrane, and having an inner surface opposing the cell membrane and an outer surface. The acoustic window layer comprises a first layer comprising molecules of antioxidant and a polymeric material (47) with insulating particles (41) embedded therein, wherein the polymeric material consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms and has a density equal or below 0.95 g/cm3 and an acoustic impedance equal or above 1.45 MRayl.

Abstract: A mechanism for tracking the position of an interventional device from a sensing signal, generated by a capacitive pressure sensing arrangement of the interventional device, responsive to a change in pressure applied to a capacitor of the capacitive pressure sensing arrangement. The sensing signal is processed to identify a first response, which is responsive to ultrasound wave(s) incident on the capacitive pressure sensing arrangement. The first response is then further processed using a tracking algorithm to track the position of the interventional device with respect to the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound wave(s).

Abstract: The invention provides a handheld imaging device capable of performing biplane imaging, wherein a first image plane or a second imaging plane (having different orientations) may be selected for image capture based on a motion characteristic of the device as determined by a sensor.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor for a pressure-sensing guidewire or catheter includes a substrate; a first active cell formed in the substrate; a second active cell formed in the substrate, wherein the first active cell and the second active cell are electrically active to generate electrical signals representative of an external pressure; and an optional dummy cell formed in the substrate, wherein the dummy cell is electrically inactive such that no electrical signal representative of the external pressure is generated. An intraluminal pressure-sensing device and a system are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of transducer elements grouped into element groups, wherein the element groups comprise a plurality of first element groups (having a first orientation) and a plurality of second element groups (having a second orientation different from the first orientation). A first conductor is connected to each of the elements in each first element grouping and a second conductor is connected to each of the elements in each second element grouping. Each element group is adapted to be activated for transmission or reception by the application of a bias voltage, by way of a plurality of bias voltage circuits, and controlled by a plurality of transmit and receive circuits. The system is adapted to acquire first ultrasound data, wherein the bias voltage is applied to the first conductors of the array (or a sub-array) and the transducers receive a signal from a transmit and receive circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of operation for capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical switches, such as CMUT cells for use in an ultrasound system. An RFMEMS may include substrate, a first electrode connected to the substrate, a membrane and a second electrode connected to the membrane. In some examples, there is a dielectric stack between the first and second electrodes. The dielectric stack design minimizes drift in the membrane collapse voltage. In other examples, a voltage supply coupled to an ultrasonic array compressing the CMUT cells is adapted to provide a sequence of voltage profiles to the electrodes of the CMUT cell, wherein each profile includes a bias voltage and a stimulus voltage, and wherein a polarity of each subsequent voltage profile in the sequence is opposite to the polarity of the preceding profile. In another example, there is a capacitance sensing circuit provided, which is arranged to determine a drift voltage of the CMUT cell.

Abstract: An intraluminal ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. An ultrasound imaging assembly is disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound imaging assembly includes a plurality of acoustic elements and an acoustically-transparent window disposed over the plurality of acoustic elements. The acoustically-transparent window comprising a plurality of layers formed on top of one another. The plurality of layers includes an innermost layer directly contacting the plurality of acoustic elements, an outermost layer opposite the innermost layer, and an adhesive layer. The outermost layer includes a tubing. A hardness of the innermost layer is less than hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers. A hardness of the outermost layer is greater than the hardnesses of every other layer of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An acoustical lens (20) for an ultrasound probe (14) is disclosed. The acoustical lens comprises an inner surface (26) for facing an emission surface (46) of an ultrasound transducer (40) and for receiving ultrasound waves from the ultrasound transducer. The acoustical lens further comprises an outer surface (24) for emitting the ultrasound waves received at the inner surface, wherein the inner surface is formed as a convexly curved surface and wherein at least one recess (34) is associated to an edge of the inner surface for capturing mold material.

Abstract: A large aperture CMUT transducer array is formed of a plurality of adjacently located tiles of CMUT cells. The adjacent edges of the tiles are formed by an anisotropic etch process, preferably a deep reactive ion etching process which is capable of cutting through the die and its substrate while maintaining vertical edges in close proximity to the CMUT cells at the edge of the tile. This enables the CMUT cells of continuous rows or columns to exhibit a constant pitch over multiple CMUT cell tiles. The tiles also contain interconnect electrodes along an edge for making electrical connections to the tiles with flex circuit.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor (10) is disclosed comprising a membrane (21) including a second electrode (23) spatially separated by a cavity (20) from a substrate (11) including a first electrode (13) opposing the second electrode; and a central pillar (22) extending from the membrane to the substrate such that the cavity is an annular cavity enveloping said central pillar. Also disclosed is an invasive medical instrument comprising such a capacitive pressure sensor and a method of manufacturing such a capacitive pressure sensor.

Abstract: An acoustic window layer for an ultrasound array, which layer has an inner surface arranged to face the array and an outer surface arranged to face a patient, and comprising an outer layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer selected from a polyolefin family (TPO) and an elastomer selected from the polyolefin family (POE) blended therein, wherein the outer layer located at the outer surface of the acoustic window layer. In a preferred embodiment the blend comprises a copolymer of ethylene-octene and polymethylpentene. The thermoplastic polyolefin provides the blend with mechanical, chemical stability and low acoustic wave attenuation; whilst the polyolefin elastomer provides a possibility to tune the acoustic impedance of the blend and to further improve its acoustic wave propagation properties.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound transducer device comprising an electroactive polymer (EAP) element coupled atop a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) element, wherein the two elements are controlled to vibrate concurrently at a common frequency by application to each of a drive signal of the same AC frequency.