The invention relates to a method for calibrating a treatment probe comprising at least one cylindrical transducer for generating high-intensity focused ultrasound in a target focus point, the probe being designed to be electrically connected to a power supply source for supplying an electrical signal for the power supply of the transducer, characterised in that the method comprises a step (20) of adjusting a frequency of the electrical signal for the power supply of the transducer in such a way that the variation between the maximum vibration intensity and the minimum vibration intensity of the transducer along the width thereof is minimal.

A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) device includes a substrate having an opening therethrough and a membrane attached to the substrate over the opening. An actuating structure layer on a surface of the membrane includes a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the membrane and an upper electrode layer. The actuating structure layer is patterned to selectively remove portions of the actuating structure from portions of the membrane to form a central portion proximate a center of the open cavity and three or more rib portions projecting radially outward from the central portion.

Systems and methods for non-invasive fat reduction can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a fat cell. The lesion can create an opening in the surface of the fat cell, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat cell and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat.

A system for maintaining coherence of ultrasound waves emitted by multiple transducer arrays includes multiple retention arms, each for receiving one of the transducer arrays; a connecting frame for receiving and mechanically retaining the arms in fixed angular relation to each other; and a processor configured to determine relative locations of the transducer arrays with respect to one another and the connecting frame; determine a location of the connecting frame relative to an anatomic region of interest; determine a spatial arrangement of the transducer elements in each transducer array with respect to the anatomic region of interest; and adjust a transmission configuration of the transducer elements in the transducer arrays to achieve a desired focusing property with respect to the anatomic region of interest while maintaining coherence therebetween.

An embodiment of the disclosure provides an ultrasound probe including a single large-area ASIC in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements are bonded. According to an embodiment, an ultrasound probe comprises: a transducer array including a plurality of transducer elements configured to transmit or receive ultrasound; and an integrated circuit, in which the transducer array is bonded, including a plurality of driving elements corresponding to the plurality of transducer elements, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a time delay table configured to output time delay information regarding respective ultrasound transmission and reception of the plurality of transducer elements.

An intra oral scanner (IOS) including a probe is disclosed. Optionally, the probe is calibrated to measure locations at a higher accuracy than the IOS. For example, the probe may be used to locate points in a 3D map at high precision and/or the points used to increase the precision of location of other points and/or surfaces in the map. In some embodiments, the probe includes a sensor. Optionally, the probe may be used to measure locations that are hard to view with the IOS. For example, the IOS probe combination may be used to produce 3D maps of a recess in a tooth and/or gums and/or a periodontal pocket and/or to traduce a 3D map or periodontal disease. In some embodiments the probe may be used to measure physical properties, for example, the IOS probe combination may be used to produce a 3D image of hardness of mucosa.

A voltage burst is generated using a voltage supply having a single DC output voltage, V.sub.H coupled with a switching arrangement, including an input and a voltage transmitter output (Tx_Out), the input coupled with the output of the voltage supply. A control arrangement coupled with the switching arrangement is configured to operate the switching arrangement so as to provide, at the Tx_Out, a voltage burst that varies between an intermediate voltage, V.sub.M, and one or both of V.sub.H, and a minimum voltage, V.sub.L, where V.sub.L<V.sub.M<V.sub.H.

The described architecture and techniques may provide for ultrasonic sensing using transmit and receive beamforming using an ultrasonic sensor with a continuous (e.g., non-segmented) blanket layer of piezo-sensitive material between a common electrode and an array of electrodes. For example, an ultrasonic biometric sensor may utilize a continuous blanket layer of piezo-sensitive material (e.g., such as a continuous copolymer, in lieu of an array of piezoelectric elements) between a common electrode and an electrode array for transmit and receive beamforming. The electrode array may employ individual transmission cycle control for each electrode to perform aspects of ultrasonic transmit and receive beamforming for biometric sensing/imaging. The continuous copolymer (e.g., or other blanket layer of piezo-sensitive material) may provide for a thin layer, between the common electrode and the electrode array, with desirable material properties to isolate each pixel from neighboring pixels and enable effective ultrasonic transmit and receive beamforming.

Devices and methods in which auscultation signals, ultrasound signals, and ambient noise signals may be simultaneously acquired by a same handheld device are provided. Moreover, in some embodiments, electrocardiogram (EKG) may be acquired by the handheld device. One such device includes a housing having a sensor portion at a distal end of the housing, and a handle portion between a proximal end and the distal end of the housing. An ultrasound sensor is positioned at least partially within the sensor portion of the housing, and a first auscultation sensor is positioned at least partially within the sensor portion of the housing. An ambient noise sensor is positioned at least partially within the housing between the handle portion and the proximal end of the housing.

Methods for non-invasive fat reduction can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a fat cell. The lesion can create an opening in the surface of the fat cell, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat cell and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat.