An apparatus comprises a source of ultrasound energy comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers. Each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers is configured to direct ultrasound energy to a treatment region located at a depth below a skin surface associated with a patient. The apparatus further comprises a control system for controlling power to the plurality of ultrasound transducers and a water circulation system for controlling a temperature associated with the plurality of ultrasound transducers. The apparatus further comprises an imaging transducer for spatially registering the location of the treatment region.

An ultrasound phantom comprising: water; agar; a thickening polysaccharide; and a water-retention auxiliary agent, wherein when a first phase transition point is defined as a temperature at which an aqueous dispersion liquid of the agar is solated by temperature raising and becomes a solated aqueous solution of the agar, and a second phase transition point is defined as a temperature at which the solated aqueous solution of the agar is gelated by temperature lowering, the thickening polysaccharide does not have a phase transition point at which an aqueous solution of the thickening polysaccharide is gelated by temperature lowering in a temperature range from the second phase transition point to the first phase transition point, and a polar term δP of Hansen solubility parameters of the water-retention auxiliary agent is 13.0 MPa.sup.0.5 or more.

Disclosed is a device for medical imaging, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. The device includes a printed circuit board and an enclosure configured to disperse heat generated by the printed circuit board. The enclosure comprises a first heat spreader coupled to and in thermal contact with the printed circuit board, a second heat spreader in thermal contact with the first heat spreader at an interface such that the heat is distributed between the first heat spreader and the second heat spreader across the interface, a first cover portion coupled to and in thermal contact with the first heat spreader; and a second cover portion coupled to and in thermal contact with the second heat spreader, wherein the first cover portion is coupled to the second cover portion to form the enclosure.

The disclosed embodiments relate to a portable ultrasound device. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to an acoustic lens positioned at an ultrasound probe. The acoustic lens may be configured for impedance matching and signal attenuation. In one embodiment, ultrasound signal attenuation is provided by forming an acoustic lens as a solid admixture of signal attenuating particles in a polymer matrix.

Acoustic imaging artifacts produced by imaging systems and devices can be reduced or eliminated by including a multisink medium in the systems or devices. The multisink material can be disposed between an acoustically reflective component of the imaging system or device and an ultrasound transducer of the imaging system or device. Inclusion of a multisink medium that is thermally conductive and acoustically non-conductive can reduce acoustic imaging artifacts while maintaining or improving heat management within imaging systems and devices.

Systems and methods are provided for form-in-place shape-stabilized phase change material for transient cooling. An example combined structure, in accordance with the present disclosure, may include a heat spreading structure and a material structure for holding phase change material. The material structure may be arranged or disposed on a surface of the heat spreading structure. The phase change material may be configured to change phase in response to heat from a component of a system that includes the combined structure, and the material structure has mechanical and structural characteristics for holding the phase change material within the material structure when the phase change material changes phase. The phase change material may be mixed with filler material and/or additives for further assisting in holding the shape of phase change material within the material structure when the phase change material changes phase.

A control circuit of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasound endoscope controls a transmission circuit to generate a transmission signal, which includes a diagnostic driving pulse applied to each of a plurality of ultrasound transducers that generate ultrasound waves for acquiring an ultrasound image, in the case of acquiring the ultrasound image, and controls the transmission circuit to generate a polarization driving pulse, which has a polarization driving voltage different from voltage of the diagnostic driving pulse within the same settable voltage range as the diagnostic driving pulse and has a frequency different from a probe frequency band for acquiring the ultrasound image, in order to perform the polarization processing of the plurality of ultrasound transducers in the case of performing the polarization processing.

An ultrasonic probe including ultrasonic vibrators for transmitting ultrasound and a housing for encasing the ultrasonic vibrators. The ultrasonic probe includes a heat dissipation member encased in the housing in thermal connection with the ultrasonic vibrators and housing, and constructed separately from the housing, wherein the heat dissipation member has opposing surfaces and facing inner surfaces of the housing, the opposing surfaces being secured in close contact with the inner surfaces.

A gripping apparatus includes: a temperature adjusting device held in a substrate wherein the substrate defines an open region; a phase change material held within the open region and thermally coupled with the temperature adjusting device such that a temperature change in the temperature adjusting device causes a temperature change in the phase change material; and a controller connected to the temperature adjusting device and configured to send a signal to the temperature adjusting device to change its temperature and thereby change the temperature of the phase change material that is thermally coupled with the temperature adjusting device. The phase change material is either in a solid state and configured to grip a stick or in a liquid state and the phase change material and configured to loosen its grip on the stick such that the stick is capable of moving through the phase change material.

Apparatuses, systems, and techniques are provided for modular ultrasonic transducers and frame. An ultrasonic transducer array may include a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame. The modular ultrasonic transducer array frame may include mechanisms for the attachment of ultrasonic transducer modules to the ultrasonic transducer array frame. The ultrasonic transducer array may include ultrasonic transducer modules which may include arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements within the ultrasonic transducer modules. Two of the ultrasonic transducer modules may include arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements where the ultrasonic transducer elements are different between the two ultrasonic transducer modules.