Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic probe having improved heat dissipation capability. The ultrasonic probe includes a housing, an acoustic module disposed in the housing, and configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal to an object and receive an signal reflected from the object, an electronic circuit disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the acoustic module to drive the acoustic module, and a hole communicating an outside of the housing with the electronic circuit so that the electronic circuit is cooled by air outside the housing.

Described are ultrasound transducer modules and handheld ultrasound imagers including thermal and acoustic management features to produce high quality ultrasound images in a portable, handheld form factor.

A flexible variable frequency ultrasonic therapeutic probe based on thermoacoustic effect of a carbon nanotube film comprises an ultrasonic sound production element, and a heat dissipation layer and an acoustic matching layer located on both sides thereof. The sound production element comprises a carbon nanotube film, metal electrodes and wires, and the shape and size of the sound production element can be adjusted according to the actual functional requirements. When a signal is accessed into the sound production element, the carbon nanotube film produces a corresponding temperature change, which causes the surrounding media to expand and contract and to excite ultrasonic waves. The present invention greatly improves the coupling efficiency between the probe and the subject, reduces the energy loss of ultrasonic waves, and enhances the uniformity of the sound intensity distribution in the affected part.

An imaging device includes a two dimensional array of piezoelectric elements. Each piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric layer; a bottom electrode disposed on a bottom side of the piezoelectric layer and configured to receive a transmit signal during a transmit mode and develop an electrical charge during a receive mode; and a first top electrode disposed on a top side of the piezoelectric layer; and a first conductor, wherein the first top electrodes of a portion of the piezoelectric elements in a first column of the two dimensional array are electrically coupled to the first conductor.

Disclosed herein is a magnetic-based tracking system for tracking an ultrasound probe to create a three-dimensional visualization. The system includes a reference device including a reference magnet; an ultrasound probe including an ultrasound acoustic transducer or acoustic array that acquires ultrasound images and a magnetometer that detects a magnetic field generated by the reference magnet. The ultrasound probe couples a first ultrasound image with a first magnetic field strength, wherein both of the first ultrasound image is received and the first magnetic field strength is detected at a first time; and a console including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of processor executed logic modules that perform operations including receiving and recording a plurality of coupling of ultrasound images and detected magnetic field strengths, and generating the 3D visualization from the ultrasound images by aligning the ultrasound images in accordance with a corresponding detected magnetic field strength.

Methods and systems for treating skin, such as stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis or a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

The invention relates to a probe (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) which has a sealed cooling chamber (140, 240, 340, 440, 540) arranged within a casing (112, 212, 312, 412, 512) of the probe. An interface unit (124, 224, 324, 424, 524) of the probe is at least partially arranged within the cooling chamber or in contact with the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is at least partially filled with a heat transfer liquid (142, 242, 342, 442, 542).

An ultrasonic probe has a transduction layer in which a plurality of transducers are placed, a backing layer provided at a rear side of the transduction layer with a wiring layer therebetween, and a plurality of heat dissipation members provided in the backing layer. The plurality of heat dissipation members extend in a line form in the backing layer, and are placed with an aligned direction of extension. An area occupancy percentage of the heat dissipation member at a center region of the backing layer is larger than that at an outer side of the center region. The center region is not positioned at ends of the cross section intersecting the direction of extension of the heat dissipation member, includes a center of gravity of the cross section, and occupies an area less than or equal to a half of an area of the cross section.

Described are ultrasound transducer modules and handheld ultrasound imagers including thermal and acoustic management features to produce high quality ultrasound images in a portable, handheld form factor.

An ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic vibrator that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave; a wire member that is electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and is provided along a side surface of the ultrasonic vibrator; a shield member that is provided outside the wire member from a viewpoint of the ultrasonic vibrator and electrically protects the ultrasonic vibrator; and a first heat conduction member that is provided in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein the first heat conduction member and the shield member are thermally connected to each other.