In an embodiment, a probe device includes a portion having a curved surface and a plurality of tiles variously coupled to the curved surface. The tiles each include a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements and a base adjoining and supporting the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The probe device further comprises curved lens portions each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of tiles, wherein for each of the tiles, the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements of the tile are to propagate a wave toward the respective curved lens portion. In another embodiment, the probe device further comprises a sheath material surrounding the curved lens portions.

A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency ultrasound array and a low frequency transducer positioned behind or proximal to the high frequency ultrasound array. In one embodiment, a dampening material is positioned between a rear surface of the high frequency array and the a front surface of the low frequency array. The dampening preferably is high absorbing of signals at the frequency of the high frequency array but passes signals at the frequency of the low frequency transducer with little attenuation. In additional, or alternatively, the low frequency can angled with respect to the plane of the high frequency transducer to reduce inter-stack multipath reflections. Beamforming delays compensate for the differences in physical distances between the elements of the low frequency transducer and the plane of the high frequency transducer.

A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency ultrasound array and a low frequency transducer positioned behind or proximal to the high frequency ultrasound array. In one embodiment, a dampening material is positioned between a rear surface of the high frequency array and the a front surface of the low frequency array. The dampening preferably is high absorbing of signals at the frequency of the high frequency array but passes signals at the frequency of the low frequency transducer with little attenuation. In additional, or alternatively, the low frequency can angled with respect to the plane of the high frequency transducer to reduce inter-stack multipath reflections. Beamforming delays compensate for the differences in physical distances between the elements of the low frequency transducer and the plane of the high frequency transducer.

A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.

A method includes transmitting a focused ultrasound wave into a medium to form (i) an ultrasound intensity well within the medium that exhibits a first range of acoustic pressure and (ii) a surrounding region of the medium that surrounds the ultrasound intensity well and exhibits a second range of acoustic pressure that exceeds the first range of acoustic pressure. The method further includes confining an object within the ultrasound intensity well. Additionally, an acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic transducer. The acoustic lens has a varying longitudinal thickness that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the acoustic lens. Another acoustic lens is configured to be acoustically coupled to an acoustic that increases proportionally with respect to increasing azimuth angle of the segment.

An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a body defining a cavity and terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into first and second portions, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface.

An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a body defining a cavity and terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into first and second portions, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface.

An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a transducer array (108) with a two-dimensional non-rectangular array of rows (110) of elements, transmit circuitry (112) that actuates the elements to transmit an ultrasound signal into a field of view, receive circuitry (114) that receives echoes produced in response to an interaction between the ultrasound signal and a structure in the field of view, and a beamformer that processes the echoes, thereby generating one or more scan lines indicative of the field of view.

An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a transducer array (108) with a two-dimensional non-rectangular array of rows (110) of elements, transmit circuitry (112) that actuates the elements to transmit an ultrasound signal into a field of view, receive circuitry (114) that receives echoes produced in response to an interaction between the ultrasound signal and a structure in the field of view, and a beamformer that processes the echoes, thereby generating one or more scan lines indicative of the field of view.

An earpiece device includes a housing, a sound generator and a first blocker. The sound generator includes a first loudspeaker which includes a vibrating board. The vibrating board includes a first sound generating surface and a second sound generating surface. The first sound generating surface is disposed towards the exterior of the housing. The second sound generating surface is disposed opposite to the first sound generating surface. The first blocker includes a first portion, a second portion, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface is disposed towards the first sound generating surface. The second side surface is disposed opposite to the first side surface. The first portion is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface and is fixed to the cover plate. The second portion is disposed opposite to the first portion and is distant from the cover plate.