Apparatus and methods for removing a dental crown from a tooth. Chemical bonds within an adhesive, between the adhesive and the crown, and between the adhesive and the tooth may secure the crown to the tooth. The chemical bonds may be weakened. After weakening the bonds, the crown may not be securely affixed to the tooth. After weakening the bonds, the crown may be easily removed from the tooth. The bonds may be weakened by applying ultrasonic waves to the adhesive. Sonic energy of the waves may heat the adhesive. The bonds may be weakened by positioning the adhesive within an electric field. The bonds may be weakened by applying heat to the adhesive. The heating may cause particles within the adhesive to expand. The electric field and/or the sonic energy may be applied via an electronic tool.

A sensor has a sensor element (5) with two opposite sides (11, 9) and an interconnect (7) with first and second terminal segments (13B, 13F) interconnected by an intermediate segment (42). The first terminal segment (13F) is positioned against a first side (11) of the sensor element and comprises a first contact terminal (50). The second terminal segment (13B) is positioned against the second side (9) of the two opposite sides of the sensor element and comprises a second contact terminal (52) on a surface facing the second side (11). There are third and fourth, external, contact terminals (54, 56). The interconnect provided electrical connections between the first and fourth contact terminals (50, 56) and between the second and third contact terminals (52, 54).

Disclosed is an ultrasound vortex energy injection device configured in such a way as to disperse ultrasound waves without focusing the ultrasound waves with respect to an area coming in contact with a human body, and at the same time, apply a vortex-type stimulus in a circumferential direction of an area getting in contact with the human body with respect to a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged to be spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of an area opposed to the human body where ultrasound waves are transmitted.

A high voltage driving circuit for driving a load receives a low voltage input signal and generates a high voltage output signal. A short circuit protection circuit including a first electronic switch operated by the low voltage input signal and a second electronic switch operated by a low voltage signal obtained by a voltage division of the output high voltage signal. The first electronic switch causing a first pull-up current to be sent to a capacitive element whose voltage controls an input of a threshold comparator. A second electronic switch causes a second pull-down current to be drawn from the capacitive element whose voltage controls the input of the threshold comparator. A short circuit detection signal is generated at an output of said threshold comparator, indicating a short circuit and capable of inhibiting operation of the driving circuit.

Disclosed are methods of obtaining zero vergence ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy with ultrasound waves that do not converge and do not diverge. The method includes coupling a sonodynamic therapy device with an array of flat piezoelectric transducers to a skin surface. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce a zero vergence ultrasound wave to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Ultrasound imaging and therapy with the same array of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers is provided. The electronics includes a per-pixel switch for each transducer element. The switches provide an imaging mode driven completely by on-chip electronics and a therapy mode where off-chip pulsers provide relatively high voltages to the transducer elements.

Phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and an electrical circuitry for ultrasonic vibrating the needle. A power source provides pulsed electrical power to the handpiece electrical circuitry and an input is provided for enabling a surgeon to select an amplitude of dislighted pulses and a pulse width. A control system and pulse duty cycle is provided for controlling the off duty cycle to insure heat dissipation before a subsequent pulse is activated, including a foot pedal switch.

A body-cavity-insertion-type probe wherein an internal unit (internal assembly) has an oscillator unit, a relay board, and electronic circuit board, and a backing member. The backing member is retained in a state of being housed inside a backing case, and the backing case is retained by two recesses formed in an inside surface of a heat dissipation shell as a probe head case. An exhaust heat sheet is joined to a peripheral region of a back surface of the electronic circuit board. A rear wing and a front wing of the exhaust heat sheet are joined to the backing case.

A periodontal endoscope includes an imaging handle having an imaging end that supports a camera sensor and an introducer including an introducer blade such that the introducer blade is selectively rotatable about the camera sensor for engaging gingival tissue in the field of view for any rotational orientation of the introducer blade relative to the camera while illuminated by an optical fiber bundle. An automatic illuminance controller controls an illumination light source at least within each frame as the frame is scanned based on dynamic range of the camera sensor such that high intensity areas of the frame receive a reduced amount of illumination light by reducing the illumination drive signal as compared to low intensity areas of the frame which receive an increased amount of illumination light by increasing the illumination drive signal relative to the high intensity areas.