The invention describes a device comprising at least one emitter of P-waves and/or S-waves, preferably shear waves, more preferably axisymmetric waves, and at least one wave receiver, wherein the receiver or receivers are disposed concentrically, and the disposition of the emitters and receivers allows same to simultaneously come into direct contact with a specimen, the structure of which it is desired to characterise. Also described is a method for characterising the spatial distribution of mechanical parameters of a specimen, based on the emission of shear waves and the subsequent reception thereof.

Method comprising: supplying electricity to at least one wave transducer (25) for synthesising an ultrasonic surface wave propagating in a medium (10) to a body (15) arranged on one side of the medium, at least one portion of the electrical supply energy being converted into heat by the transducer, the electrical energy supplied to the transducer being sufficient for the heat and the energy of the ultrasonic surface wave to cause: —the body to melt when the body is in the solid state, and/or—the body to be maintained in the liquid state when the temperature of the medium is below the solidification temperature of the body.

An optical reflector element includes: a pair of vibrator groups each of which includes tuning fork vibrators that are coupled together such that vibration centers of the tuning fork vibrators align on an imaginary rotational axis; a reflective body interposed between the pair of vibrator groups; a pair of supports that couple the pair of vibrator groups and the reflective body together; and a base to which the pair of vibrator groups are coupled in a manner that allows the pair of vibrator groups to vibrate.

An apparatus may include a vibration member, a supporting member at a rear surface of the vibration member, and a vibration apparatus. The vibration apparatus may be disposed at the supporting member and may include a curved shape.

An apparatus may include a vibration member, a supporting member at a rear surface of the vibration member, and a vibration apparatus. The vibration apparatus may be disposed at the supporting member and may include a curved shape.

An apparatus may include a vibration member, a rear cover at a rear surface of the vibration member, a first vibration device at a first rear region of the rear cover, and a second vibration device at a second rear region of the rear cover. The first vibration device may overlap at least one of a horizontal region and a middle region of the rear cover. The second vibration device may overlap a periphery region or a middle region of the rear cover.

An apparatus may include a vibration member, a rear cover at a rear surface of the vibration member, a first vibration device at a first rear region of the rear cover, and a second vibration device at a second rear region of the rear cover. The first vibration device may overlap at least one of a horizontal region and a middle region of the rear cover. The second vibration device may overlap a periphery region or a middle region of the rear cover.

The invention relates to a matrix array of ultrasonic transducer elements comprising a plurality of transducer elements that are distributed over a distribution area, each of the transducer elements being suitable for emitting, from an emission surface, ultrasound at a frequency comprised between 100 kHz and 100 MHz, wherein: each of the transducer elements is configured to emit ultrasound divergently at least level with the working volume; the largest dimension of the emission area of each of said transducer elements is larger than 1.5 times the wavelength of the ultrasound in water at 30° C.; and the distribution of the transducer elements over the distribution area of the array is aperiodic.

An acoustic transducer, in particular for an ultrasonic sensor, is proposed. The acoustic transducer has a functional group, the functional group encompassing a diaphragm cup and at least one electroacoustic transducer element. The acoustic transducer furthermore has a housing. The diaphragm cup encompasses a vibration-capable diaphragm and an encircling wall, as well as at least one electroacoustic transducer element, the transducer element being embodied to excite the diaphragm to vibrate and/or to convert vibrations of the diaphragm into electrical signals. The diaphragm cup is constituted from a plastic material, the at least one transducer element being integrated into the vibration-capable diaphragm, the transducer element having an electrically active polymer.

Disclosed embodiments include illustrative piezoelectric element array assemblies, methods of fabricating a piezoelectric element array assembly, and systems and methods for shearing cellular material. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative piezoelectric element array assembly includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to produce ultrasound energy responsive to amplified driving pulses. A lens layer is bonded to the at least one piezoelectric element. The lens layer has a plurality of lenses formed therein that are configured to focus ultrasound energy created by single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element into a plurality of wells of a microplate disposable in ultrasonic communication with the lens layer, wherein more than one of the plurality of lenses overlie single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element.