An ultrasound imaging system includes a thermally conductive frame and a number of electronic components and a display that are sealed within the frame. The frame further includes a plenum extending through the frame with surfaces that are thermally coupled to the electronic components and the display. An active cooling mechanism, such as one or more fans, moves air through the plenum to remove heat generated by the electronic components and display. The plenum is environmentally sealed so that moisture, dust, air or other contaminants drawn into the plenum do not contact the sealed electronic components and display in the frame.

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.

A system and method for automatically cleaning air filters of a medical imaging system is provided. The method includes monitoring an air filter operating condition, determining that the air filter operating condition is not within a pre-determined threshold, and providing a control signal to at least one air filter. The at least one air filter comprises a motor, drive shaft, rotatable passive shaft, continuous belt air filter, and a stationary filter brush. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the motor. The continuous belt air filter is coupled to the drive shaft and the passive shaft. The stationary filter brush is mounted against the continuous belt air filter. The method includes rotating, by the motor in response to the control signal, the drive shaft to translate the continuous belt air filter around and between the drive shaft and the rotatable passive shaft, and across the stationary filter brush.

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.

Systems and methods of transmitting heat away from an ultrasound probe are disclosed within. In one embodiment, a handheld ultrasound probe includes a transducer, electronics configured to drive the transducer, and a housing surrounding the transducer assembly and the electronics. A slot extending from a first side of the housing to a second side of the housing and can allow air to pass adjacent transducer and the electronics. The slot can be sized to inhibit accessibility of an operator’s finger to an inner surface of slot.

The present technology relates to a display device, a display method, and an ultrasonic diagnostic system capable of providing a realistic ultrasonic diagnostic result. An image corresponding to an image signal obtained from an output signal of an ultrasonic diagnostic device is displayed on a display panel. Moreover, the display panel is vibrated according to a sound vibration signal obtained from the output signal by an actuator disposed on a back surface side of the display panel, whereby sound that is audibly sensed and vibration that is tactilely sensed are output on the display panel. The present technology can be applied to, for example, the ultrasonic diagnostic system or the like that performs inspection using ultrasonic waves.

Described are micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) with convex or concave electrodes, which have enhanced pressure amplitude and frequency response behavior when driven at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, as well as methods of making the same.

An ultrasonic transducer (200) includes: a piezoelectric vibrator assembly (10), an acoustic matching layer (20), a heat sink (30), and an acoustic absorption layer (40). The heat sink (30) comprises a body (31), and a head portion (32) and a tail portion (33). The body (31) has a central axis extending in a direction from the head portion (32) to the tail portion (33). A surface of the tail portion (33) of the heat sink (30) disposed away from the head portion (32) is a first surface (331). The first surface (331) is an oblique surface or a tapered surface. The angle between the first surface (331) and the central axis is an acute angle. The acoustic absorption layer (40) at least covers the first surface (331).

A probe, in particular for ultrasound, having a cooling chamber which is fluidtight and at least partially filled with a dielectric heat-transfer fluid. An interface unit associated with an emitting and/or receiving element of the probe is located at least partially inside or in contact with the cooling chamber. The probe includes a dry chamber separated from the cooling chamber by a fluidtight wall, and a porous heat sink arranged at least partially inside the cooling chamber.

Systems and methods are provided for passive cooling for medical imaging probes. A medical imaging probe configured for use in a medical imaging system may include an enhanced shaft that has a thermal body frame disposed within a space inside the shaft; and a thermal tube disposed within an interior surface of the shaft. The thermal body frame may be connected at a cap end of the shaft with a transducer. The thermal body frame and the thermal tube configured for thermal conduction, and the thermal body frame and the thermal tube are arranged such that they are in contact with one another to facilitate transfer of heat from the transducer to an exterior surface of the shaft.