Abstract: A wearable device is provided. The wearable device may include a mount including a spherical outer surface, and an opening configured to receive a probe. The wearable device may include a base comprising an inner circumferential surface that interfaces with the spherical outer surface of the mount to selectively rotate the mount about at least one axis of the base. The wearable device may include a lock that locks a position of the probe relative to the mount and that locks the probe at an orientation relative to the base.

Abstract: The present discussion relates to structures and devices to facilitate application of an ultrasound therapy beam to a target anatomic region in a replicable manner. In certain aspects, adjustable positioning structures are described that allow a general probe positioning structure to be configured for a specific patient in a manner that allows the device to be used repeatedly to target the anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings. In other aspects, a probe positioning structure is fabricated that is specific to a respective patient anatomy, such that use of the probe positioning structure provides repeatable targeting of the target anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing an ultrasound probe of a wearable ultrasound system to a patient at a desired position are provided. The method includes affixing a first side of a pad to a patient or ultrasound probe. The pad includes the first side that is tacky and a second side that is moistened. The second side becomes tacky when moisture is absorbed and/or evaporates. The method includes manipulating the ultrasound probe to the desired position with respect to the patient with the pad between the ultrasound probe and the patient. The second side of the pad that is moistened provides a provisional slidable surface for manipulating the ultrasound probe. The method includes securing a fixture to the ultrasound probe and the patient. The fixture includes a probe attachment portion that is secured to the ultrasound probe and a patient attachment portion that is secured to the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging device or an ultrasound imaging probe includes an imaging device including at least one heat generating component and at least one thermal energy storage insert spaced from and disposed in thermal contact with the imaging device, the at least one thermal energy storage insert containing a phase change material (PCM) therein. The thermal energy storage insert is manufactured to closely confirm to a shape of a space defined within the interior of the probe. A method of forming the ultrasound imaging probe includes the steps of manufacturing a thermal energy storage insert from a thermally conductive material, filling the thermal energy storage insert with a phase change material (PCM) and positioning the thermal energy storage insert within an interior of the probe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a gel standoff for use with an ultrasound probe and compositions and techniques for making and using the same. The composition and properties of the gel standoff may be customized to accommodate a subject's clinical needs and/or a treatment protocol that utilizes the ultrasound probe. In certain embodiments the gel standoff may be designed to treat a subject via neuromodulation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing intelligent ultrasound data acquisition with a wearable ultrasound probe having electronics distributed between a patient-worn probe transducer assembly and a patient-worn probe controller assembly are provided. The wearable ultrasound probe includes a patient-worn probe transducer assembly including transducer elements disposed in a first housing. The transducer elements are configured to transmit ultrasound beams and convert received echoes to electrical signals in response to control signals. The wearable ultrasound probe includes a patient-worn probe controller assembly including at least one control processor disposed in a second housing. The at least one control processor is communicatively coupled to a connected device. The at least one control processor is communicatively coupled to the patient-worn probe transducer assembly via a wired connection.

Abstract: A wearable device is provided. The wearable device may include a mount including a spherical outer surface, and an opening configured to receive a probe. The wearable device may include a base comprising an inner circumferential surface that interfaces with the spherical outer surface of the mount to selectively rotate the mount about at least one axis of the base. The wearable device may include a lock that locks a position of the probe relative to the mount and that locks the probe at an orientation relative to the base.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is presented. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe handle. Moreover, the ultrasound probe also includes a phase change chamber monolithic with respect to a portion of the ultrasound probe handle, where the phase change chamber includes hermetic chamber walls extending around and defining an enclosed chamber and a material disposed within the hermetic chamber walls, where the material is configured to change phase in response to heat from a component of the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: The present discussion relates to the delivery of ultrasonic therapy energy to a target region in conjunction with a clear path determination that may assess one or more of: (1) presence of non-soft tissue regions within the therapy beam path (e.g., bone or bone-like structures, gas-filled cavities, and so forth), (2) partial “lift-off” of the probe head; or (3) sufficiency of acoustic coupling. Upon determination or confirmation of at least a partial clear path with respect to some or all of these factors, the therapy beam may be delivered to the target region.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a probe for a medical device. In one example, the probe includes an additively manufactured backing having a porous matrix and one or more thermal management structures. The porous matrix may attenuate acoustic energy and the one or more thermal management structures may enable a transfer of heat from a front of the probe to a rear of the probe.

Abstract: The present discussion relates to the delivery of ultrasonic therapy energy to a target region in conjunction with a clear path determination that may assess one or more of: (1) presence of non-soft tissue regions within the therapy beam path (e.g., bone or bone-like structures, gas-filled cavities, and so forth), (2) partial “lift-off” of the probe head; or (3) sufficiency of acoustic coupling. Upon determination or confirmation of at least a partial clear path with respect to some or all of these factors, the therapy beam may be delivered to the target region.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a probe for a medical device. In one example, the probe includes an additively manufactured backing having a porous matrix and one or more thermal management structures. The porous matrix may attenuate acoustic energy and the one or more thermal management structures may enable a transfer of heat from a front of the probe to a rear of the probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array architecture and manufacturing method is provided. The method includes providing an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of modules, each module including an ultrasonic transducer array and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), the ultrasonic transducer array and the ASIC electrically coupled to a flexible interconnect, the flexible interconnect coupled to a connector. The ASIC and flexible interconnect may be arranged such that each ultrasonic transducer array is directly adjacent to another ultrasonic transducer array. The ASIC may be electrically coupled to the flexible interconnect and the ASIC to the transducer array via a redistribution layer. Each of the plurality of modules may be a stack with the ultrasonic transducer array on the RDL and RDL on the ASIC, wherein the flexible interconnect extends laterally from a top surface of the ASIC and curves down to a bottom surface of the ASIC.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for thermally conductive shock absorbers for medical imaging probes. An example medical imaging probe may have, at least, a transducer disposed underneath a contact surface of the medical imaging probe, with the transducer configured to transmit and receive signals based on a medical imaging technique; a support structure disposed underneath the transducer; and a thermally conductive shock absorber (TCSA) layer disposed between the transducer and the support structure, with the thermally conductive shock absorber (TCSA) layer is configured to facilitate both of thermal transfer in a direction from the contact surface into the support structure, and absorbing at least a portion of impact force applied to at least the contact surface. The support structure may include a heat sink.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an electro-acoustic module for a transducer probe. In one example, the electro-acoustic module may include an acoustic stack and at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) electrically coupled to the acoustic stack by an interconnect having a fan-out architecture. The electro-acoustic module may have an active aperture substantially equal to an overall size of the electro-acoustic module in at least one or an azimuth and an elevation direction.

Abstract: The present discussion relates to structures and devices to facilitate application of an ultrasound therapy beam to a target anatomic region in a replicable manner. In certain aspects, adjustable positioning structures are described that allow a general probe positioning structure to be configured for a specific patient in a manner that allows the device to be used repeatedly to target the anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings. In other aspects, a probe positioning structure is fabricated that is specific to a respective patient anatomy, such that use of the probe positioning structure provides repeatable targeting of the target anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and use for ultrasound mediated microbubble delivery of pharmaceutical compositions to pulmonary tissue are provided. The pulmonary ultrasound apparatus includes an ultrasound signal generator for generating ultrasonic signals, an ultrasound transducer assembly having an ultrasound transducer operatively connected to the ultrasound signal generator, the ultrasound transducer configured to transmit the ultrasound signal generated by the ultrasound signal generator to pulmonary tissue, wherein the ultrasonic signal is transmitted at a frequency, a pressure, and a pulse duration for cavitating microbubbles to deliver a pharmaceutically active molecule to the pulmonary tissue.

Abstract: The present discussion relates to structures and devices to facilitate application of an ultrasound therapy beam to a target anatomic region in a replicable manner. In certain aspects, adjustable positioning structures are described that allow a general probe positioning structure to be configured for a specific patient in a manner that allows the device to be used repeatedly to target the anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings. In other aspects, a probe positioning structure is fabricated that is specific to a respective patient anatomy, such that use of the probe positioning structure provides repeatable targeting of the target anatomic region, even when in non-clinical settings.

Abstract: A grid of phased array transducers includes a piezoelectric layer and a plurality of ground contact traces. The piezoelectric layer includes a first side and a second side. The plurality of ground contact traces is disposed on the first side of the piezoelectric layer along an elevational direction, where each ground contact trace of the plurality of ground contact traces extends along an azimuthal direction. Further, each phased array transducer of the grid of phased array transducers is disposed between an adjacently disposed pair of ground contact traces of the plurality of ground contact traces. Moreover, each phased array transducer includes at least a portion of at least one ground contact trace of a corresponding pair of ground contact traces, and where each phased array transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging device or probe includes a tip having a heat conducting exterior housing within which an imaging element is positioned. The imaging element is engaged with a heat sink formed of an electrically insulating material that also has high thermal conductivity. The heat sink contacts and extends through and electrically insulating enclosure within which the imaging element is disposed. As a result, the heat generated by the imaging element can be readily conducted to the ambient environment via the heat sink and heat conductive exterior housing while also enabling the imaging element and other electrical components to be electrically insulated from the housing.