An ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer can be configured for flow metering applications and can include a head mass, a tail mass, and a spanning element joining the head mass with the tail mass. At least one cavity can be created in the head mass, tail mass, or spanning element using additive manufacturing. A method of manufacturing is also provided. The method of manufacturing can include forming a head mass utilizing a first process of additive manufacturing. The method of manufacturing can also include forming a tail mass utilizing a second process or additive manufacturing. The method of manufacturing can further include joining the head mass and the tail mass by a spanning element.

Piezoelectric devices having small dimensions and which can operate at high frequencies with high penetration depths for a given applied voltage are described. The devices may be well suited for integration into medical devices, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, to provide high resolution ultrasound images.

An ultrasound energy delivery system is provided that includes a transducer and a housing.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for haptic feedback devices with reduced power consumption. In one embodiment, an example device may include a first spring, a mass coupled to the first spring, and a resonant piezoelectric actuator coupled to the first spring. The resonant piezoelectric actuator may be configured to impart a force on the mass via the first spring responsive to an applied voltage. The device may include a power source configured to supply the applied voltage to the resonant piezoelectric actuator, where motion of the mass generates vibration.

An ultrasonic transducer device including a substrate, an edge support structure connected to the substrate, and a membrane connected to the edge support structure such that a cavity is defined between the membrane and the substrate, the membrane configured to allow movement at ultrasonic frequencies. The membrane includes a structural layer, a piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode placed on the first surface of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the first electrode is located at the center of the membrane, a second electrode placed on the first surface of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the second electrode is a patterned electrode comprising more than one electrode components that are electrically coupled, and a third electrode coupled to the second surface of the piezoelectric layer and electrically coupled to ground.

Described are micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) with convex or concave electrodes, which have enhanced pressure amplitude and frequency response behavior when driven at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, as well as methods of making the same.

In an embodiment, a multilayer piezoelectric element includes a multilayer piezoelectric body and multiple internal electrodes. The multilayer piezoelectric body has a pair of principal faces in a first-axis direction, a pair of end faces in a second-axis direction crossing at right angles with the first-axis direction and defining the longitudinal direction, and a pair of side faces in a third-axis direction crossing at right angles with the first-axis direction and second-axis direction. The multiple internal electrodes are placed inside the multilayer piezoelectric body and stacked in the first-axis direction. Among the multiple internal electrodes, a center internal electrode placed at the center part of the multilayer piezoelectric body is such that its first cross-sectional shape, as viewed from the third-axis direction, has undulations greater than the undulations of the second cross-sectional shape of the center internal electrode as viewed from the second-axis direction.

An ultrasonic sensor array includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, each transducer including a piezoelectric member. Each of the transducers includes an electret member, a receive (Rx) layer configured to exhibit a first d33 resonating mode coefficient and a transmit (Tx) layer configured to exhibit a second d33 resonating mode coefficient, the first coefficient being different from the second coefficient. The transducers are disposed on a flexible substrate.

An ultrasound transducer and a method of making this transducer, where the transducer includes at least two piezoelectric elements, oriented adjacent to each other in a stack. Each piezoelectric element includes a first surface which includes an electrode of a first polarity, a second surface which includes an electrode of a second polarity, a thickness between the first surface and the second surface, and an ultrasound transmitting surface. This surface does not include an electrode. The transducer also includes a first electrical connection between a surface of a first of the at least two piezoelectric elements of the first polarity and a surface of a second of the at least two piezoelectric elements of the first polarity and a second electrical connection between a surface of a first of the at least two piezoelectric elements of the second polarity and a surface of a second of the at least two piezoelectric elements of the second polarity.

An ultrasound transducer includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are layered in the thickness direction and that generate a longitudinal vibration in the thickness direction. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged so that the thicknesses thereof are sequentially larger from the antinode side of the longitudinal vibration towards the node side of the longitudinal vibration.