Abstract: An apparatus and method for prevention and treatment of marine biofouling on a surface to be treated by the apparatus includes a body defining a cavity, the body terminating in a distal open end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be treated such that the surface forms a first end wall of a chamber within the cavity; an acoustic transducer mounted within the cavity to form an opposite second end wall of the chamber, the acoustic transducer being adapted to cause acoustic pressure fluctuations; and a reservoir for a liquid, the reservoir including an inlet passage and a plurality of mutually spaced outlet passages for liquid flow from the reservoir into the chamber, the outlet passages at least partially surrounding the chamber in the vicinity of the distal open end.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface, the apparatus including a body defining a chamber, an inlet for liquid flow into the chamber, an outlet for liquid flow from the chamber, a nozzle connected to the outlet for generating an output flow of liquid for cleaning a surface, an acoustic transducer associated with the body to introduce acoustic energy into the liquid within the chamber whereby the acoustic energy is present in the liquid flowing out of the nozzle, and a gas bubble generator for generating gas bubbles within the liquid flowing out of the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface, the apparatus including a body defining a chamber, an inlet for liquid flow into the chamber, an outlet for liquid flow from the chamber, a nozzle connected to the outlet for generating an output flow of liquid for cleaning a surface, an acoustic transducer associated with the body to introduce acoustic energy into the liquid within the chamber whereby the acoustic energy is present in the liquid flowing out of the nozzle, and a gas bubble generator for generating gas bubbles within the liquid flowing out of the nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a SONAR system operable to transmit a pair of pulses including an up-chirp signal and a down-chirp signal wherein the down-chirp signal is a time-reversed version of the up-chirp signal. Also disclosed is a related method of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a body defining a cavity and terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into first and second portions, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a conical body defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid and having a nozzle located a front end of the conical body and configured to discharge a stream of the liquid, a rear wall positioned at a rear of the conical body and at least partially defining the chamber, an inlet in communication with the chamber for introducing the liquid into the chamber, an acoustic transducer positioned at the rear wall, the acoustic transducer configured to generate acoustic energy and to introduce the acoustic energy into the liquid contained in the chamber, and an exhaust system including a vent in communication with the chamber to remove a mixture of liquid and gas bubbles from the chamber, an exhaust leading away from the vent, and an outlet in communication with the exhaust and configured to discharge the liquid and gas bubbles into or adjacent to the stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for prevention and treatment of marine biofouling on a surface to be treated by the apparatus includes a body defining a cavity, the body terminating in a distal open end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be treated such that the surface forms a first end wall of a chamber within the cavity; an acoustic transducer mounted within the cavity to form an opposite second end wall of the chamber, the acoustic transducer being adapted to cause acoustic pressure fluctuations; and a reservoir for a liquid, the reservoir including an inlet passage and a plurality of mutually spaced outlet passages for liquid flow from the reservoir into the chamber, the outlet passages at least partially surrounding the chamber in the vicinity of the distal open end.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a body defining a cavity and terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into first and second portions, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a SONAR system operable to transmit a pair of pulses including an up-chirp signal and a down-chirp signal wherein the down-chirp signal is a time-reversed version of the up-chirp signal. Also disclosed is a related method of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a surface, the apparatus comprising: a body defining a cavity, the body terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface to be cleaned forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion of the chamber to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion of the chamber to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a surface, the apparatus comprising: a body defining a cavity, the body terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface to be cleaned forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion of the chamber to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion of the chamber to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for classifying a shockwave is described, particularly for use in an Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) system. The method for classifying a shockwave generated and directed towards a stone in an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment comprises receiving an acoustic signal at a passive unfocused acoustic sensor, determining whether at least one characteristic of the received acoustic emissions exceeds a respective pre-determined threshold value, and classifying the shockwave as effective or ineffective in dependence upon said determination. A method for predicting the outcome of an SWL treatment is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface, the apparatus including a body defining a chamber, an inlet for liquid flow into the chamber, an outlet for liquid flow from the chamber, a nozzle connected to the outlet for generating an output flow of liquid for cleaning a surface, an acoustic transducer associated with the body to introduce acoustic energy into the liquid within the chamber whereby the acoustic energy is present in the liquid flowing out of the nozzle, and a gas bubble generator for generating gas bubbles within the liquid flowing out of the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for creating an acoustic observation of a target volume, the method comprising the steps of transmitting a group of at least two acoustic pulses towards the target volume, receiving at least one detector an echo of the group scattered from the target volume, the echo having linear and nonlinear components, processing the scattered signal in such a way as to enhance at least part of the nonlinear component (and suppress the linear component) of the scattered signal in a signal P+, processing the scattered signal in such a way as to suppress at least part of the nonlinear component (and enhance the linear component) of the scattered signal in a signal P?, and producing a detection signal from a mathematical combination of the signals P+ and P?.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for classifying a shockwave is described, particularly for use in an Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) system. The method for classifying a shockwave generated and directed towards a stone in an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment comprises receiving an acoustic signal at a passive unfocused acoustic sensor, determining whether at least one characteristic of the received acoustic emissions exceeds a respective pre-determined threshold value, and classifying the shockwave as effective or ineffective in dependence upon said determination. A method for predicting the outcome of an SWL treatment is also described.