The present invention describes a method to shape and control acoustic and pressure waves through to the use of metasurfaces applied to the waves. In particular the present invention describes a method to make the use of metasurfaces, for long wavelength waves, like the sound and haptic waves, convenient and practical by up-converting to higher frequency the original signal. Ultrasonic waves reduce the size of the metastructures within the metasurfaces to become small enough to open new frontier in the control of acoustic and pressure waves. The metasurfaces can be made tunable to widen even more the possible applications for metasurface technologies.

Apparatuses and methods to generate high frequency shock waves in a controlled manner. The generated shock waves can be delivered to certain cellular structures of a patient for use in medical and/or aesthetic therapeutic applications. The shock waves can be configured to impose sufficient mechanical stress to the targeted cells of the tissue to rupture the targeted cells. Embodiments of the apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide targeted rupturing of specific cells without damaging side effects such as cavitation or thermal degradation of surrounding non-targeted cells.

An ultrasound transducer assembly includes a housing; a wedge-shaped acoustic modal convertor (AMC) in the housing with a first surface exposed by an opening in the housing, and a second surface that meets the first surface at a tip located in the housing, and extends from the tip at an angle into the housing, wherein the second surface has a recessed portion formed therein, wherein the second surface of the AMC is oriented at a specific oblique angle to the first surface of the AMC; and a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer disposed in the recessed portion of the second surface of the AMC, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound transducer is connected to an electrically tuned circuit that resonates at a specific frequency and has a finite bandwidth.

An apparatus comprising an ultrasound transducer configured for emitting ultrasound is provided. The ultrasound transducer comprises a hollow piezoelectric transducer body having a longitudinal axis and a radially inner surface, a tubular backing support member extending longitudinally through the piezoelectric transducer body and having a radially outer surface, a chamber defined between the radially inner surface of the piezoelectric transducer body and the radially outer surface of the tubular backing support member and between a first end and an opposite second end in an axial direction, wherein said ends are each formed by a conductive part and a gas-tight sealing layer of metal solder material in contact with the surface of the conductive part, which is opposite to the chamber.

A support structure for placement on or about a subject's head supports an ultrasound transducer array configured to deliver transcranial stimulation to a specified region or regions of the subject's brain using pre-recorded neurostimulation data. The pre-recorded neurostimulation data comprises patterns of stimulation of the specified region or regions of the subject's brain or other person's brain developed to recreate a response by one or more of a sensing organ or sensing organs, a vestibular system, and a memory of the subject. A magnetic sensor array is mounted to the support structure and configured to transcranially sense local magnetic fields emanating from the specified region or regions of the subject's brain caused by delivery of the transcranial stimulation and produce contemporaneous neurostimulation data developed using the transcranially sensed local magnetic fields. Electronic circuitry comprising a controller is configured to control operation of the respective arrays.

Disclosed are devices suitable for treatment of subcutaneous tissue by transdermally-inducing ultrasonic vibrations in subcutaneous tissue and/or transdermally delivering energy with electromagnetic radiation such as light to subcutaneous tissue. In some embodiments, the treatment of subcutaneous tissue is effective in reducing the amount of subcutaneous fat therein. In some embodiments, transdermal radiation-delivery of energy and transdermal induction of ultrasonic vibrations in subcutaneous tissue can be performed simultaneously, alternatingly or in an unrelated fashion. In some embodiments, the device simultaneously transdermally-induces both ultrasonic transverse and ultrasonic longitudinal vibrations in subcutaneous tissue.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a cleaning device. The shaft assembly includes a first tube and an acoustic waveguide. The first tube has a first inner diameter and a distal end. The waveguide has a first outer diameter. The waveguide extends within the first tube. The first outer diameter of the acoustic waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tube together define a gap. The ultrasonic blade extends distally from the distal end of the first tube. The acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade. The cleaning device is configured to actuate within the gap to thereby clean at least a portion of the shaft assembly and/or at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade.

Methods of treating the skin and in particular removing pigment from a tattoo are provided. In preferred embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer is placed at a plurality of locations above the skin and focused acoustic waves at 7 MHz or more are transmitted into the skin. The focal point of the focused acoustic waves is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm below the surface of the skin. The design of the piezoelectric transducer along with the frequency of operation are carefully chosen to create points of treatment with a desired size and shape. The correct amount of energy is supplied to the points of treatment to produce a lesion of a desired size and shape. The lesions are spaced and located to effect the treatment of the skin.

Retinal disease is responsible for many instances of vision impairment. Often, individuals with vision impaired due to retinal disease continue to have functioning retinal neurons. Thus, systems, methods, and devices to stimulate retinal neurons may restore sight for vision-impaired individuals. Systems, methods, and devices provided herein direct ultrasound energy into retinal neurons and modulate phase and amplitude of ultrasound energy in time and space domains in order to variously stimulate various retinal neurons, generating neural responses consistent with visual reproduction of intended images.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a cleaning device. The shaft assembly includes a first tube and an acoustic waveguide. The first tube has a first inner diameter and a distal end. The waveguide has a first outer diameter. The waveguide extends within the first tube. The first outer diameter of the acoustic waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tube together define a gap. The ultrasonic blade extends distally from the distal end of the first tube. The acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade. The cleaning device is configured to actuate within the gap to thereby clean at least a portion of the shaft assembly and/or at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade.