An ultrasound probe has an acoustic window (10) or lens (20) through which ultrasound is transmitted and received by a transducer array (30) located behind the lens or window inside a probe enclosure. The external, patient-contacting surface (24) of the acoustic lens or window is textured. The texturing of the surface of the lens or window better retains gel spread over the lens or window for an ultrasound procedure, reduces reverberation artifacts, and diminishes the appearance of scratches on the lens or window.

Provided is an ultrasonic propagation member used in contact with a test target, wherein a surface of the ultrasonic propagation member contacting the test target has a shape conforming to a surface of the test target, or an ultrasonic propagation member having at least two surfaces, wherein hardness of one surface and hardness of another surface are different.

A transducer device may include an active layer having a proximal surface and a backing layer having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side being adjacent to the proximal surface. The proximal side may include (1) at least one first reflective surface approximately parallel to the proximal surface and positioned a first distance from the proximal surface, and (2) at least one second reflective surface approximately parallel to the proximal surface and positioned a second distance from the proximal surface, the second distance being different than the first distance.

An ultrasound interface element (10) is for establishing interface with an incident tissue surface (32) for the purpose of transfer of ultrasound waves. An ultrasound-transmissive active layer (14) is provided comprising one or more responsive material elements (16) deformable in response to an electromagnetic stimulus. The one or more elements are controlled to deform in a manner such as to progressively establish with the tissue surface (32) an outwardly expanding interface, starting from an initial point or line of contact and spreading outwards to a wider area.

The invention provides for a method and an apparatus (300) for positioning an ultrasound patch on a surface of a subject. The apparatus includes a first fixing unit (210) and a second fixing unit (310) adapted to be fixed to a surface of the subject at a first location and second location, respectively, with a space of exposed surface of the subject between them. The apparatus further comprises a holding unit (260) for positioning on the exposed surface of the subject within the space between the fixing units, the holding unit being adapted to receive the ultrasound patch. The holding unit is adapted to be coupled with the first and second fixing units at the surface of the subject and, when the holding unit is coupled to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit, the position of the holding unit is adjustable relative to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit.

A method for performing an ultrasound on a patient using an ultrasonic transducer has the steps of providing an ultrasound gel pad that includes a polymer gel body swollen in mineral oil, and positioning the ultrasound gel pad so that it, contacts both the patient and the ultrasonic transducer.

A method of evaluating tissue stiffness of a target area includes positioning an ultrasound elasticity imaging apparatus adjacent a surface of an area of tissue where the target area is located and applying a dynamic range of force to the tissue. A plurality of ultrasound beams can be directed at the tissue and a plurality of ultrasound echoes can be acquired from the strained tissue in the target area to calculate an amount of developed strain within the target area.

An ultrasound device (10) is disclosed comprising a transducer arrangement (110) and an acoustically transmissive window (150) over said arrangement, said window comprising an elastomer layer (153) having conductive particles dispersed in the elastomer, the elastomer layer having a pressure-sensitive conductivity, the ultrasound device further comprising an electrode arrangement (160) coupled to said elastomer layer and adapted to measure said pressure-sensitive conductivity. An ultrasound system and arrangement including such an ultrasound device are also disclosed.

The present invention provides scanning mechanisms for imaging probes using for imaging mammalian tissues and structures using high resolution imaging, including high frequency ultrasound and/or optical coherence tomography. The imaging probes include adjustable rotational drive mechanism for imparting rotational motion to an imaging assembly containing either optical or ultrasound transducers which emit energy into the surrounding area. The imaging assembly includes a scanning mechanism having including a movable member configured to deliver the energy beam along a path out of said elongate hollow shaft at a variable angle with respect to said longitudinal axis to give forward and side viewing capability of the imaging assembly. The movable member is mounted in such a way that the variable angle is a function of the angular velocity of the imaging assembly.

Provided is a composition for an acoustic wave probe including a polysiloxane mixture containing at least polysiloxane having a vinyl group and a phenyl group, polysiloxane having two or more Si—H groups in a molecular chain, and zinc oxide, a silicone resin for an acoustic wave probe, the acoustic wave probe, an acoustic wave measurement apparatus, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasound probe, a photoacoustic wave measurement apparatus, and an ultrasound endoscope.