Abstract: A flashlight comprises a housing having, for example, a tapered portion and a hole at a forward end thereof with a flexible/bendable extension including a solid state light source extending through the hole at the forward end thereof. A switch, preferably in a tail cap, selectively connects the solid state light source and at least one battery in the housing in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The flexible extension preferably makes electrical contact with the housing and/or preferably includes an insulating cover having an end retained in the housing.

Abstract: A system and method of building wireless component applications are provided. Component applications are executed on mobile communication devices, which communicate with a web service via a wireless network and the Internet. The component applications comprise data components, presentation components, and message components, which are written in XML code. The component applications further comprise workflow components which are written in a subset of ECMAScript, and are embedded in the XML code.

Abstract: A system and method of building component applications are provided. Component applications are executed on terminal devices, which communicate with a schema-based service via a network and the Internet. The component applications comprise data components, presentation components, and message components, which are written a structured definition language such as XML code. The component applications further comprise workflow components which can be written as a series of instructions such as in a subset of ECMAScript, and are embedded in the XML code.

Abstract: A system and method of creating and communicating with wireless component applications is provided. Mobile communication devices communicate with a web service via a wireless network, the Internet, and optionally a message-map service. Each wireless component application is executed by a component framework on one of the mobile communication devices, and comprises data components, presentation components, message components, and workflow components. The component framework executes the component application in an application container which provides access to framework services which include a communication service, a screen service, a persistence service, an access service, a provisioning service, and a utility service. Messages can be sent from the component application to the message-map service, which converts each of the messages to a format required by the web service using an application message-map, and then sends the message to the web service.

Abstract: A light source assembly comprises a dielectric body having an exterior surface and a light source mounted coaxially proximate an end of the dielectric body. A first electrical lead of the light source provides an electrical lead at an end of the dielectric body distal the solid state light source and a second electrical lead thereof provides an electrical lead at the periphery of the dielectric body. A resilient member improves electrical contact of the second electrical lead at the periphery.

Abstract: A flashlight comprises a housing having, for example, a tapered portion and a hole at a forward end thereof with a flexible/bendable extension including a solid state light source extending through the hole at the forward end thereof. A switch, preferably in a tail cap, selectively connects the solid state light source and at least one battery in the housing in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The flexible extension preferably makes electrical contact with the housing and/or preferably includes an insulating cover having an end retained in the housing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.

Abstract: A switch as for a flashlight selectively connects, for example, a solid state light source and a battery in the flashlight in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The switch comprises a pushbutton and a metal contact having a periphery that selectively contacts a housing, and a spring. Pressing the pushbutton moves the pushbutton and the metal contact to contact the housing. The metal contact may include a feature for centering the metal contact with respect to the pushbutton and thus with respect to the housing end. The switch may be disposed in a tail cap attached to a flashlight housing.

Abstract: A switch as for a flashlight selectively connects, for example, a solid state light source and a battery in the flashlight in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The switch comprises a pushbutton and a metal contact having a circular periphery that selectively contacts a housing, and a spring. Pressing the pushbutton moves the pushbutton and the metal contact to contact the housing. The metal contact may be a ferrule having a cylindrical portion centered with respect to the housing end and a circular flange providing the circular periphery. The switch may be disposed in a tail cap attached to a flashlight housing at a cylindrical end thereof.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a non-invasive bubble measuring instrument operable for detecting, distinguishing, and counting gaseous embolisms such as bubbles over a selectable range of bubble sizes of interest. A selected measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected is insonified by two distinct frequencies from a pump transducer and an image transducer, respectively. The image transducer frequency is much higher than the pump transducer frequency. The relatively low-frequency pump signal is used to excite bubbles to resonate at a frequency related to their diameter. The image transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode at a controllable repetition rate that transmits bursts of high-frequency ultrasonic signal to the measurement volume in which bubbles may be detected and then receives the echo. From the echo or received signal, a beat signal related to the repetition rate may be extracted and used to indicate the presence or absence of a resonant bubble.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements, at least some of which have multiple piezoelectric and electrode layers. The resonant frequency of the transducer elements may range from 500 kHz to 300 MHz or more. A single array may have transducer elements of different resonant frequencies, and the array may be sparsely populated. Highest frequencies are typically obtained when the piezoelectric layers are made from vapor deposited PZT in accordance with a disclosed deposition process. The array may have a 1-D configuration, 1.5-D or 2-D, configuration. The array may be positioned in a probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasound over a wide frequency range, i.e., 500 KHz-300 MHz. Ultrasound may be transmitted from a single transducer array at multiple frequencies simultaneously or sequentially via separate, acoustically isolated transducer elements, each having a unique resonant frequency. Signal-to-noise ratio may be enhanced through use of multiple piezoelectric layer transmit transducer elements and single piezoelectric layer receive transducer elements, both on a single transducer array. Aspect ratios approaching unity for transducer elements of the array may be obtained, which can be used to reduce grating lobes. Sparsely populated transducer arrays are included in the imaging system. Methods of ultrasound imaging and ultrasound therapy obtainable with the present imaging system are included in the invention.