In an embodiment, a transducer includes a first optical fiber having an ultrasound generator including a nanoparticulate material on an end thereof; and a second optical fiber having an ultrasound detector on an end thereof, wherein the ultrasound detector includes a Fabry Perot cavity. In another embodiment, a transducer includes an ultrasound generator comprising a nanoparticulate material and an ultrasound detector comprising a Fabry Perot cavity, wherein both the ultrasound generator and the ultrasound detector are disposed on an end of a first optical fiber.

The present invention provides an object information acquiring apparatus including an irradiating unit, receiving elements which receive acoustic waves generated from an object and output electric signals, a probe which has a supporting member and on which the receiving elements are arranged in the supporting member such that respective directivity axes are converged, a weighting processing unit which performs weighting on electric signals. The weighting processing unit applies higher weights to a first electric signal corresponding to higher intensity of the acoustic wave.

A method for determining an acoustic power of an ultrasonic emitter comprises coupling the ultrasonic emitter to a test medium, driving the ultrasonic emitter to induce acoustic waves in the test medium along an acoustic wave propagation direction, the acoustic waves causing a change of the refractive index of the test medium, selectively irradiating a probe portion of the test medium with a collimated beam of light along a beam direction which is different from the acoustic wave propagation direction, such that the collimated beam of light intersects the acoustic waves, passing the collimated beam of light through an optical element or optical assembly configured for focusing the collimated beam in a focal plane, and determining the acoustic power of the ultrasonic emitter based on a refraction-induced width of a light intensity distribution in the focal plane.

An apparatus or a system may include an ultrasonic sensor array, a radio frequency (RF) source system and a control system. Some implementations may include a light source system and/or an ultrasonic transmitter system. The control system may be capable of controlling the RF source system to emit RF radiation and of receiving signals from the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to acoustic waves emitted from portions of a target object in response to being illuminated with the RF radiation. The control system may be capable of acquiring ultrasonic image data from the acoustic wave emissions received from the target object.

A transponder is used for tracking a position of a distal end of a medical device in an ultrasound image and/or enhancing an ultrasound image.

Mixed sensor array devices are provided herein. Mixed sensor arrays as described herein include acoustic energy generating elements and optical fiber based acoustic sensors. Optical fiber based sensors may optical structures responsive to physical parameters including acoustic signals, pressure, and temperature, and are configured to detect and receive acoustic signals and other physical parameters and provide associated optical signals to a system for processing and interpretation to implement tracking, location, imaging, and other sensing capabilities. Optical fiber based sensors provided herein may be disposed at ends of or along the length of optic fibers. Optical fiber based sensors may be included within various devices, including, for example, medical devices.

Systems, devices and methods for obtaining or providing listening involve utilizing one or more electromagnetic signal (energy) detection-facilitated modulation sensing devices to sense audio frequency modulated signals received from or associated with one or more illuminated and/or luminous objects; and generating or providing a listening output of the sensing device(s), the listening output including signals and/or information indicating or providing a representation of a disturbance to an electromagnetic field or fields at or associated with at least one of said one or more objects, the disturbance being or including an audio frequency modulation of a signal from or associated with (e.g., received from) at least one of said one or more objects.

Systems, devices and methods for obtaining or providing listening involve utilizing one or more electromagnetic signal (energy) detection-facilitated modulation sensing devices to sense audio frequency modulated signals received from or associated with one or more illuminated and/or luminous objects; and generating or providing a listening output of the sensing device(s), the listening output including signals and/or information indicating or providing a representation of a disturbance to an electromagnetic field or fields at or associated with at least one of said one or more objects, the disturbance being or including an audio frequency modulation of a signal from or associated with (e.g., received from) at least one of said one or more objects.

Systems, devices and methods for obtaining or providing listening involve utilizing one or more electromagnetic signal (energy) detection-facilitated modulation sensing devices to sense audio frequency modulated signals received from or associated with one or more illuminated and/or luminous objects; and generating or providing a listening output of the sensing device(s), the listening output including signals and/or information indicating or providing a representation of a disturbance to an electromagnetic field or fields at or associated with at least one of said one or more objects, the disturbance being or including an audio frequency modulation of a signal from or associated with (e.g., received from) at least one of said one or more objects.

A medical object for arrangement in an object under examination includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber is configured to contact at least one light source optically. The medical object further includes multiple photoacoustic absorbers that are arranged in sections along a direction of longitudinal extension of the optical fiber and/or along a periphery of the medical object. The multiple photoacoustic absorbers are configured to be arranged at least in part in the object under examination. The optical fiber is configured to conduct an excitation light emitted by the at least one light source to the multiple photoacoustic absorbers. The multiple photoacoustic absorbers are configured to be excited by the excitation light for the photoacoustic emission of ultrasound.