Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting a disease state of a subject using ultrasound imaging and ancillary information to the ultrasound imaging. At least two quantitative measurements of a subject, including at least one measurement taken using ultrasound imaging, as part of quantified information can be identified. One of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a first predetermined standard, included as part of ancillary information to the quantified information, in order to identify a first initial value. Further, another of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a second predetermined standard, included as part of the ancillary information, in order to identify a second initial value. Subsequently, the quantitative information can be correlated with the ancillary information using the first initial value and the second initial value to determine a final value that is predictive of a disease state of the subject.

Abstract: Example aspects of a nozzle cap for a fire hydrant and a method for manufacturing a nozzle cap to detect leaks in a fluid system are disclosed. The nozzle cap for a fire hydrant can comprise a cap body, the cap body comprising an inner housing and an outer housing, the outer housing defining a cavity; a vibration sensor received within the cavity and configured to detect leaks in a fluid system connected to the fire hydrant; and a metal insert contacting the vibration sensor and the inner housing.

Abstract: Example aspects of a nozzle cap for a fire hydrant and a method for manufacturing a nozzle cap to detect leaks in a fluid system are disclosed. The nozzle cap for a fire hydrant can comprise a cap body, the cap body comprising an inner housing and an outer housing, the outer housing defining a cavity; a vibration sensor received within the cavity and configured to detect leaks in a fluid system connected to the fire hydrant; and a metal insert contacting the vibration sensor and the inner housing.

Abstract: A simulator system can be used to train personnel regarding transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) performance techniques. TEE is an ultrasonic imaging modality that can be used to capture images of a subject's heart. An imaging probe is inserted into the esophagus of the subject and positioned/aimed toward the subject's heart to capture the images. The TEE training system described is a system for ultrasonic diagnosis training (e.g., targeting the heart) which can be operated using an actual echocardiography machine used in clinic setting, and allows the practice of both acquisition and manipulation of images by the user so as to provide multiple aspects of learning 3D TEE.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beam overlap verification system and method for phased array ultrasonic inspection. A scan plan for the ultrasonic inspection defines a suitable probe, wedge and calibration block having machined defects for the geometry to be inspected, and makes a beam definition which defines a set of ultrasonic beams emitted by the phased array. An intersection amplitude unit records the response amplitudes from each defect at predetermined intersection points of adjacent beam pairs as the probe and wedge are manually scanned across the calibration block. An overlap verification module determines the ?6 dB overlap of all adjacent beam pairs which are relevant to the geometry to be inspected, and verifies that the beam overlap conforms to the required coverage according to the ASME or other relevant codes. In this way, coverage is experimentally verified during calibration prior to inspection of a known geometry, such as a weld.

Abstract: Methods and systems for verification of an environmental seal provided by an encapsulant coating of a bottom-ported MEMS microphone package. A purposeful acoustic leak is provided on an upper surface of a package housing (in the form of an additional acoustic port) and a sealing material is applied to an outer surface of the package housing. A properly applied encapsulant coating will completely seal the additional acoustic port on the upper surface of the package housing. However, the placement of the additional acoustic port on the upper surface of the package housing will have a significant, detectable effect on the frequency response of the microphone if it is not completely sealed by the encapsulant coating. Accordingly, the environmental seal provided by the encapsulant coating is verified by confirming, based on the acoustic frequency response testing, that the encapsulant coating has effectively sealed the additional acoustic port on the upper surface of the package housing.

Abstract: Provided herein is a phantom capable of mimicking both a dense breast and a fatty breast. A phantom for ultrasound measurement includes: a first member that mimics an object of interest for measurement; and a second member having provided therein the first member. The second member has the property to decrease its sound speed with a temperature increase brought by external temperature control. The sound speed of the second member at a predetermined temperature is equal to the sound speed of a third member surrounding the second member. The first member and the second member are immiscible with each other.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an acoustic monitoring system of an additive manufacturing machine includes installing a calibration system on the machine and performing a calibration process. Specifically, the calibration system includes a calibration platform removably mountable to a build platform of the additive manufacturing machine and having calibrated acoustic source mounted thereon for defining a measurement standard. The acoustic waves generated by the calibrated acoustic source are measured by the acoustic monitoring system and compared to the known measurement standard to determine whether system adjustments would improve process tolerances or uniformity.

Abstract: The invention provides a contrast carrier device with geometric calibration phantom on computed tomography, comprising: a front ring body having a front outer peripheral surface; the front outer peripheral surface is provided with a front correction bead; a loading table, wherein one end of the loading table is connected with the front ring body; a rear ring body is oppositely arranged at the other end of the front ring body connected to the loading table, wherein the rear ring body has an outer peripheral surface, the rear peripheral surface is provided with a rear correction bead; a virtual axis passes through the center of the front ring body and the center of the rear ring body, respectively, and the front correction bead and the rear correction bead.

Abstract: A pseudo defect sample for adjusting an ultrasonic flaw detection measurement condition to inspect a defect within a target material, the pseudo defect sample comprising a substrate which has a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the substrate having a counterbore which is formed therein from a side of the first surface to a first depth, and a flat-bottomed hole which is formed from the bottom surface of the counterbore to a second depth and formed in a part of a bottom surface of the counterbore, and a ratio ?/d of an equivalent circle diameter ? of the flat-bottomed hole to the second depth d of the flat-bottomed hole being: 0.08 or more and less than 0.40 when the equivalent circle diameter ? of the flat-bottomed hole is less than 0.3 mm; 0.1 or more and less than 0.60 when the equivalent circle diameter ? of the flat-bottomed hole is 0.3 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm; and 0.11 or more and less than 1.60 when the equivalent circle diameter ? of the flat-bottomed hole is 0.

Abstract: A system and method directed to inspecting a high density polyethylene pipe. The system includes a pipe inspection tool that is positioned about a fused polyethylene pipe joint. The inspection tool may include search units, a pipe carriage, a pulser and a phased array testing instrument programmed to adjust an amplitude response signal from the search units based on a vertically established time corrected gain curve. The inspection tool is rotated around the high density polyethylene pipe joint while propagating acoustical waves at various patterns and angles through the polyethylene pipe joint. Prior to the joint inspection, the inspection tool is calibrated using a calibration tool which includes a block having an array of equal sized bores positioned along different axis' through the block's depth. The block is constructed of the same material type and grade as the pipes that were fused together to form the polyethylene pipe joint.

Abstract: Various embodiment methods to reliably and repeatedly replicate delaminations/disbonds and/or porosity defects in specimens/structures may include constructing the specimens/structures such that aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders are placed or deposited in selected delamination/disbonding and/or porosity locations in the specimen/structure before the specimen/structure is cured. In various embodiments, the specimens/structures may be composites and/or bonded structures and the structures may be flat or curved. The aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders may mimic delamination/disbonding and/or porosity defects in the cured specimens/structures. The cured specimens/structures including the replicated aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders may be used for nondestructive inspection or other measurements, such as POD studies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide phantoms, and associated methods of calibration which are suitable for use in both medical resonance imaging and radiographic imaging systems. A phantom for calibration of a medical imaging system, comprises a first component having a first outer shape, a portion of which defines part of at least one pocket; and a second component coupled to the first component and having a second outer shape, a portion of which defines another part of the at least one pocket. At least one of the first and second components comprises a reservoir, the reservoir having a shape at least a portion of which locates a center of the at least one pocket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a model for use in an imaging technique based on an interaction of the model with an electromagnetic radiation. The model comprises a plurality of volume elements. The interaction intensities of two neighboring volume elements are distinguishable by an imaging technique. The model comprises first volume elements made of a supporting material, and second volume elements are made of a supporting material and a contrast material and exhibit a higher interaction intensity with the electromagnetic radiation than the first volume elements because of the presence of contrast material. The second volume elements have been generated by a printing method. The invention further relates to a method for fabricating the model by 3D printing.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present application, a system is provided for crack monitoring in a structure of interest, comprising means for extracting wave modes existing in a frequency interval of interest, means for finding a source of emission on the structure of interest, means for correcting for dispersion to reconstruct an original ratio of wave modes at the source of emission, and means for correlating the original ratio of wave modes to a crack depth. One advantage of this solution in contrast to prior art techniques is that no a priori knowledge on propagation speed is necessary since actual wave modes can be detected from dispersion relations of wave modes, e.g. Lamb waves at a fixed frequency band in accordance with their calculated speeds. Decentralized acquisition and processing, i.e. monitoring a structure from a localized area, is an important feature of this solution, consequent to which, the data transfer and storage are reduced substantially.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes: a first and second flaw detection head; a moving mechanism that causes the first flaw detection head and the second flaw detection head to perform scanning; a calibration area in which a calibration standard sample is disposed; a flaw detection area in which an inspection object is disposed; and a controller that performs a first calibration process or a second calibration process, the first calibration process being a process of causing the first flaw detection head to scan the calibration standard sample to perform calibration using the calibration standard sample, the second calibration process being a process of causing the second flaw detection head to scan the calibration standard sample to perform calibration using the calibration standard sample when performing a first flaw detection process of performing ultrasonic flaw detection inspection of the inspection object by the first flaw detection head.

Abstract: A method of making a vascular phantom based on imaging data of vasculature of a subject. A mold having a core and a shell is constructed based on the imaging data. A liquid precursor is introduced into the mold and is cured. The mold is removed, leaving a model of the vasculature of the subject. A plaque component is fabricated by making a plaque mold and introducing liquid precursors containing T1 and T2 modifiers to mimic the T1 and T2 of portions of the plaque. The plaque components are attached to the vasculature using adhesive.

Abstract: A heel test block comprises a semi-cylinder, a first flat plate and a second flat plate, wherein the side surface of the semi-cylinder comprises a circular arc-shaped surface and a first plane, the first flat plate and the second flat plate are arranged on one side of the first plane, all the parts of the first flat plate have the same thickness, all the parts of the second flat plate have the same thickness, the first flat plate and the second flat plate are arranged in parallel to the first plane, the first flat plate and the second flat plate are arranged on the two sides of the mother line of the semi-cylinder respectively, and the thickness of the first flat plate is less than that of the second flat plate.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are presented for electronically emulating the impedance characteristics of materials, e.g., for standardizing and calibrating electromagnetic measuring devices for the measurement of physical properties of materials. The electronic impedance emulation apparatus according to some embodiments includes an electronic material emulation circuit in communication with the electromagnetic measuring device. The electronic material emulation circuit and the electromagnetic measuring device are controlled by a at least one computing device, which can control the frequency of signal(s) generated by the electromagnetic measuring device. The at least one computing device can instruct the electronic emulator to produce signals having complex impedance characteristics of the material under test at the test frequency. The emulation data can be stored and used for the calibration and/or standardization of the electromagnetic measuring device.

Abstract: A multi-stage turbocharger arrangement (TLA), having a high-pressure stage, the high-pressure turbine of which has an associated first bypass valve; and having a low-pressure stage which is arranged downstream as viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gases and which has a low-pressure turbine and a second bypass valve, wherein at least one of the bypass valves is arranged in an associated, cooled housing module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a composite structure. A thickness profile of a portion of a region of a composite structure is identified. The region has a cross-section with non-parallel surfaces. An estimated thickness for a location within the region and outside of the portion is identified using the thickness profile. An indication of whether the location has undesirable porosity is generated based on information about attenuation of response sound signals and the estimated thickness for the location.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method suitable for calibrating a phased array system configured to inspect square bars. A square bar is provided with an array of parallel linear notches across the full range of the testing surface of the square bar for this calibrating purpose. The square bar is passed through the probe in probe's passive direction during the calibration. The phased array system is adjusted and calibrated so that the echo amplitude for each inspection channel of the phased array probe received from each notch is substantially equal. Then a known flaw with a typically expected flaw's size and shape is created on the same testing surface so that the system's sensitivity is adjusted using the amplitude of the echo signal from the known flaw as a baseline.

Abstract: A method of selecting one element among a plurality of elements of a phased-array ultrasonic weld inspection arrangement during inspection of a weld to obtain optimum weld inspection coverage. The weld connects portions of material having a known thickness. The elements extend along an ultrasonic transmission wedge of the arrangement that supports the extent of the elements at a wedge angle relative to the welded material. The method includes utilizing material thickness, offset distance of an edge of the wedge from a weld centerline and number of elements within calculation that yields the selection.

Abstract: A method for fabricating composite porosity standards may include the steps of providing a plurality of uncured composite coupons, each uncured composite coupon being formed from a composite material, providing a plurality of curing processes, selecting a curing process for each of the uncured composite coupons, curing each uncured composite coupon in accordance with a selected curing process to form a plurality of cured composite coupons, each cured composite coupon being formed from the composite material and having a percent porosity, measuring the percent porosity of each cured composite coupon, and correlating each measured percent porosity of a plurality of measure percent porosities to a corresponding cured composite coupon of the plurality of cured composite coupons to form a plurality of porosity standards.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave transmitter device includes an ultrasonic wave driving circuit that modulates an ultrasonic wave based on a pseudorandom signal to generate an ultrasonic wave driving signal, and an ultrasonic wave transmitter driven by the ultrasonic wave driving signal to send out an ultrasonic wave signal of a frequency higher than a fundamental frequency of the ultrasonic wave driving signal. The ultrasonic wave transmitter includes a cylindrically-shaped piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element sending out the ultrasonic wave signal and an ultrasonic wave absorber that covers part of a base member holding the piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: An anthropomorphic phantom for medical imaging systems is disclosed, which is configured with organ models designed to mimic the three-dimensional shape of human organs, and also by the arrangement of plate-like first connecting elements inside their corresponding organ models, lesion phantoms for simulating tumors can be fixedly secured inside the corresponding organ model using a plurality of first connection holes formed on the first connecting element. Therefore, by the distribution of those first connection holes, not only the lesion phantoms can be arranged at any position inside the corresponding organ model at will as required, but also by modularized design of the anthropomorphic phantom, organ models can first be assembled to form a module structure while the whole module structure with the organ model can be moved into and assembled easily with a torso-like humanoid housing of the anthropomorphic phantom by the use of a handle element.

Abstract: A control unit makes a provisional determination as to whether or not a measurement subject is moving using a detection signal from a sensor that detects movement in bedding on which the measurement subject is sleeping. In the case where at least one of a first period, in which periods determined to have body movement repeat cyclically, and a second period, in which a period determined to have body movement continues for at least a predetermined amount of time, has occurred, at least one of a period in the first period determined to have body movement and the second period are corrected to a period of no body movement.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: An acoustic micro-device testing apparatus including an acoustic device, at least one device under test (DUT), and a bearing plate is disclosed. The acoustic device provides a testing acoustic source to a first side of the DUT through the main channel and to a second side of the DUT through the side channel. The bearing plate has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a chamber sunken into the bearing plate. The second surface has a bearing space sunken into the bearing plate and bearing the DUT. The bearing plate has a main channel connecting the chamber and the DUT and at least one side channel connecting the chamber and the bearing space directly or through the main channel. A cover unit covers the bearing plate so that the bearing space and the chamber form a confined space. The DUT is in the confined space.

Abstract: It is provided a phantom for optical measurement of a living body, with excellent reproducibility at a high precision and capable of simulating various kinds of living tissues such as skin, maculae on skin, blood vessels, red blood cells in blood vessels, blood clots, tumors, fat or the like. A phantom for optical measurement of a living body includes a substrate composed of a thermoplastic resin or a mixture of a thermoplastic resin and an oil, a film provided on at least one main face of the substrate and composed of a hydrophilic resin, and an ink printed pattern fixed on the film and simulating the tissue of a living body.

Abstract: Provided is a phantom including a medium that is visually transparent, solid particles, included in the medium that are visually transparent and are able to scatter a first ultrasound, and a contrast agent included in the medium that is changed to be in an opaque state from a visually transparent state by irradiation of a second ultrasound. Also provided are an ultrasound system including the phantom, and a method of manufacturing the phantom.

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers may be mapped by varying a focus-affecting parameter and adjusting the parameter so as to improve focus quality. In some embodiments, mapping involves successively varying the phase of one transducer element, or group of elements, with respect to a constant phase of the other transducer elements, and determining the phase at which a tissue displacement in the ultrasound focus is maximized.

Abstract: A cavitational ultrasound (e.g., Histotripsy) gel phantom and cavitational ultrasound testing system are provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the phantom and system is that it can allow for instant visual feedback on the efficacy and dosage of a Histotripsy transducer. The changes in the gel phantom can be visualized with the naked eye without having to wait for histology. The changes in the gel phantom can also be visualized with a camera, with ultrasound imaging, or with microscopy. In various embodiments, the phantom includes indicators such as carbon particles, dye-encapsulated beads, and red blood cells. Methods associated with use of the cavitational ultrasound gel phantom and testing system are also covered.

Abstract: Automated image interpretation is provided with transducer position and/or orientation sensing. The current position of a transducer is used to determine the anatomy being imaged. Other reference information, such as (1) the previous position of the transducer and the known anatomy being imaged at that time or (2) a reference device at a known location, is used in the determination. The anatomy is determined based on position sensing or determined based on position sensing and other anatomy features, such as image analysis.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for creation of discrete corrosion defects with a wide range of diameter to depth aspect ratios for painted test standards. Also provided are methods for use of those test standards to characterize the corrosion under paint detection threshold, statistical reliability, and accuracy of NDI and/or NDT techniques including but not limited to flash thermography, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, microwave testing, shearography, and infrared testing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an NDT/NDI calibration process that automatically detects erroneous TOF readings by providing a predetermined time acceptance window. During the calibration process, TOF readings acquired by a UT device are validated to determine whether the TOF reading for the thin test block falls within the range of the predetermined time acceptance window. If the TOF reading for the thin block (T2) falls out of the predetermined time acceptance window, the operator is alerted of an error and to repeat the TOF test for the thin block.

Abstract: The present invention is seen to provide a new methodology, testing system designs and concept to enable in situ real time monitoring of the cure process. Apparatus, system, and method for the non-destructive, in situ monitoring of the time dependent curing of advanced materials using one or more differential ultrasonic waveguide cure monitoring probes. A differential ultrasonic waveguide cure monitoring probe in direct contact with the material to be cured and providing in situ monitoring of the cure process to enable assessment of the degree of cure or cure level in a non-cure related signal variances (e.g., temperature) independent calibrated response manner. A differential ultrasonic waveguide cure monitoring probe including a transducer coupled to a waveguide and incorporating correction and calibration methodology to accurately and reproducibly monitor the cure process and enable assessment of cure level via ultrasonic reflection measurements.

Abstract: A method for determining time a single transit of an acoustic wave through a test material using a calibration material having known acoustic velocity characteristics and an acoustic pitch-catch system with a signal recorder for recording a received signal as a function of time. The system includes a first configuration for transmission of acoustic shear waves and a second configuration for transmission of acoustic longitudinal waves. In the first configuration, a first acoustic zero is determined when the acoustic shear waves are applied to the calibration material. In its second configuration, a second acoustic zero is determined when the acoustic longitudinal waves are applied to the calibration material. Each configuration is coupled to a test material with the respective first and second acoustic zeroes identified on the recorder. The signal recorder determines a single transit time for the acoustic waves through the test material.

Abstract: A method for configuring an array of transducers in an ultrasonic test apparatus for detecting flaws in welds connecting the edges of metal bodies such as plates or pipelines. The method includes the steps of: providing geometrical data of the bevelled edges of the bodies before being welded; identifying different facets of the geometry of the edges; providing geometrical data of a reference plate including a reflector; selecting the angles; and the positions of the transducers in accordance with the geometry of the edges; mounting the transducers to a scanning mechanism in accordance with the selections made; connecting the transducers to at least one control unit for transmitting ultrasound and receiving echo signals by means of the transducers and subsequently calibrating by means of the reference plate the positions of the transducers relative to the scanning mechanism and calibrating gain and gate settings by means of the reference plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to pseudo porosity standards, and methods for their manufacture and use, which substantially mimic the effect porosity has on ultrasonic sound as it passes through a composite laminate, such as a metallic interleaved composite laminate. An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials having porosity may include a member having at least one thickness, at least one metallic shim, and at least one mesh. A plurality of metallic shims and meshes may be disposed in alternating layers within the member. The member may be manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin using a stereo lithography process. Use of the mesh may produce a standard which transmits ultrasonic energy, with the mesh scattering and attenuating the energy. Use of the metallic shim may aide in modeling a metallic laminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to tapered reference standards, and methods for their manufacture and use. An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for tapered, composite materials may include a member having at least one tapered section. The member may be manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin using a stereo lithography process. The tapered reference standards may substantially mimic the affect on ultrasonic sound passing through tapered sections in composite laminates.

Abstract: The invention relates to pseudo porosity standards, and methods for their manufacture and use, which substantially mimic the effect porosity has on ultrasonic sound as it passes through a composite laminate. An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials having porosity may include a member having at least one thickness and at least one mesh. The member may be manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin using a stereo lithography process. Use of the mesh produces a standard which transmits ultrasonic energy, with the mesh scattering and attenuating the energy. The manufactured reference standard may replace more costly porous, fiber-reinforced, composite reference standards in the aircraft industry and in other non-aircraft applications.

Abstract: A phantom device for mimicking anatomical structures, comprising: at least one electronic device layer comprising segmented areas of liquid crystals for forming a graphic layout of an anatomical structure; the segments comprising dyes of various absorbing characteristics for mimicking anatomical structures such as blood vessels; the areas further comprising electrically controllable optical diffuser and/or absorber elements for varying the absorption in the segments so as to mimic dynamical properties of said anatomical structure.

Abstract: A method and a device are for testing the detectability of at least one flaw in a component, or for evaluating ultrasonic signals of the flaw. The method provides for an electronic specification of the flaw to be generated, which includes a two-dimensional or three-dimensional point pattern. This specification predefines the number, position, shape, orientation, and dimensions of flaws to be deliberately generated. A test specimen is produced, where for each point of the point pattern, a microcrack is generated at the position of this point. An ultrasonic image of the test specimen is recorded and evaluated. The test specimen may be made out of a material transparent to visible light, e.g., crown glass, optical glass, borosilicate glass, or quartz glass. The microcracks may be produced, using internal laser engraving.

Abstract: Using an ultrasonic field, properties of a solid liquid suspension such as through-transmission attenuation, backscattering, and diffuse field are measured. These properties are converted to quantities indicating the strength of different loss mechanisms (such as absorption, single scattering and multiple scattering) among particles in the suspension. Such separation of the loss mechanisms can allow for direct comparison of the attenuating effects of the mechanisms. These comparisons can also indicate a model most likely to accurately characterize the suspension and can aid in determination of properties such as particle size, concentration, and density of the suspension.

Abstract: A device and method that enables the reliable and reproducible testing of the cleaning efficiency of an ultrasonic cleaning device is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to pseudo porosity standards, and methods for their manufacture and use, which may substantially mimic the effect porosity has on ultrasonic sound as it passes through a composite laminate. An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials having porosity may include a member having at least one thickness. The member may be defined by at least one hollow, non-spherical shaft. The member may be manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin using a stereo lithography process. The non-spherical shaft may scatter and attenuate ultrasonic energy. The reference standard may replace more costly, porous, fiber-reinforced, composite reference standards in the aircraft industry and in other non-aircraft applications.

Abstract: A calibration device is described for use in calibrating an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, where the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and calibration circuitry. A connector has a first end for connecting with a first fluid conduit and a second end for connecting with a second fluid conduit. A cavity between the first and second ends permits the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit. A first calibration sphere is positioned relative to the connector for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer. The reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus.