A handheld focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (f-ESWT) device includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a power supply circuit, and a plurality of driver circuits. The piezoelectric elements are each configured to generate an individual shock wave. The power supply circuit is configured to output a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage. The first DC voltage greater than the second DC voltage. The driver circuits are each operably connected to the first DC voltage, the second DC voltage, and to a corresponding piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. Each driver circuit includes a switching element electronically configurable in an open state and in a closed state. When the switching element is in the open state, the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage are applied to the corresponding piezoelectric element to pre-charge the corresponding piezoelectric element with a DC pre-charge voltage having a first polarity.

A control circuit of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasound endoscope controls a transmission circuit to generate a transmission signal, which includes a diagnostic driving pulse applied to each of a plurality of ultrasound transducers that generate ultrasound waves for acquiring an ultrasound image, in the case of acquiring the ultrasound image, and controls the transmission circuit to generate a polarization driving pulse, which has a polarization driving voltage different from voltage of the diagnostic driving pulse within the same settable voltage range as the diagnostic driving pulse and has a frequency different from a probe frequency band for acquiring the ultrasound image, in order to perform the polarization processing of the plurality of ultrasound transducers in the case of performing the polarization processing.

An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first electrode that is provided in an ultrasonic microphone including a vibration element having a function of performing conversion between mechanical vibration and an electrical signal; a second electrode that is provided at a position different from the first electrode in an in-plane direction intersecting a directional axis of the ultrasonic microphone; and a detection section that is provided to detect the presence or absence of attached matter attached to the ultrasonic sensor on the basis of a change in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Electrical bonded portions (100, 104) from a coaxial cable (56) to a piezoelectric body (49) are bonded by a resin material having conductivity (102), and the electrical bonded portions (100, 104) using the resin material (102) are covered with a gas barrier epoxy resin layer (106).

A system and method are provided for transthoracic echocardiogram imaging using ultrasound transducer arrays. The arrays are distinctly grouped, focused, positioned and directed within a housing comprising a solid yet flexible pad suited for placement on a portion of a patient's body.

A method for locating a plurality of elements comprising a flexible ultrasound phased array. The method includes constructing a matrix of traveltimes by iteratively transmitting a signal from one element of the plurality and receiving the signal at each of the other elements of the plurality. Traveltimes are derived from each received signal and arrayed in a matrix. Relative positions of the first element of the plurality and the last element of the plurality are established and the locations of the remaining elements of the plurality are iteratively modeled to fit the matrix of traveltimes.

A multi-frequency ultrasound therapy apparatus is configured to operate at its center frequency and at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. The center frequency can be for the entire apparatus or for each ultrasound source element. At least one source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency while, simultaneously, at least another source element can generate ultrasound energy at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. In addition, the same source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency and the higher harmonic of its center frequency, respectively, but at different times. A data storage unit that stores encrypted and encoded data is disposed on the apparatus. The encoded data includes a unique identification code of the apparatus, the condition of use of the apparatus, the center frequency of each source element, the ultrasound efficiency of each source element, and/or other parameters relating to the apparatus.

Spindle for carrying out machining assisted by non-ultrasonic axial oscillations, including a tool-bearing shaft, and an exciting portion, for subjecting the shaft to non-ultrasonic axial oscillations, especially during its rotation. The exciting portion including a first exciting stage, having at least one piezoelectric actuator, and a second exciting stage, having at least one piezoelectric actuator, having a non-zero axial overlap with the first exciting stage, the actuators of the two stages being arranged so that their effects add.

In an embodiment an acoustic transmission system includes a primary side having a transmitting unit configured to provide a transmit signal, a receiving unit configured to receive a received signal in response to the transmitted signal and an electroacoustic transducer configured to convert the transmit signal into an acoustic signal and an acoustic signal into the receive signal and a secondary side having a transponder configured to receive a receive signal and transmit a transmit signal and an electroacoustic transducer located between the primary side and the secondary side, the electroacoustic transducer having a medium permeable to acoustic signals.

An ultrasound device may include ultrasound transducer array that include one or more array elements of a first type and one or more array elements of a second type different from the first type. The first type may include a transducer configured to transmit acoustic waves. The second type may include an optical sensor. The array elements of the first and second types are configured to detect acoustic echoes corresponding to the transmitted acoustic waves.