An ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic sensor and a control device. The ultrasonic sensor has a piezoelectric element that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves and plate portions and that are arranged so as to contact an upper surface of the piezoelectric element and have different thicknesses. The control device acquires a propagation time of a reflected wave reflected on an upper surface of the plate portion, calculates a sound velocity of the plate portion using the propagation time of the reflected wave and a thickness of the plate portion, and corrects a sound velocity of a pipe and acquires a sound velocity of the plate portion based on the calculated sound velocity. In addition, the control device acquires a propagation time of a reflected wave reflected on an upper surface of the plate portion, and calibrates a time axis based on the propagation time of the reflected wave, a thickness of the plate portion, and the sound velocity of the plate portion.

A medical introducer sheath comprises a tubular shaft and an ultrasonic transducer array. The tubular shaft has a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The inner surface and the outer surface define a wall having a shaft wall thickness, the wall defining a distal wall face proximate the distal end of the shaft extending at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic transducer array includes a plurality of ultrasound transducers disposed within the wall of the tubular shaft at the distal end thereof. The ultrasound transducers include an emitting/receiving surface generally aligned with the distal wall face, such that ultrasonic energy emitted from each of the ultrasound transducers is oriented directed generally at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

An ultrasound probe according to an embodiment includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements and a substrate. The plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements is divided in grid sections. The piezoelectric transducer elements have an ultrasound wave transmitting/receiving surface. The substrate is provided on a rear surface of the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The substrate has a wiring configured to connect a plurality of electrodes for a group of piezoelectric transducer elements to driving circuitry. The group of piezoelectric transducer elements is located in a substantially concentric circle among the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The rear surface of the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements is a surface opposite to the ultrasound wave transmitting/receiving surface.

Described herein is a method for manufacturing, or for use in manufacturing a flexible ultrasonic transducer array and the resultant ultrasonic transducer array. The method includes providing a layer of piezoelectric material onto a foil substrate and using additive techniques to apply at least one electrode to a surface of the piezoelectric material such that the electrodes are arranged in an electrode array. The method also includes using the additive techniques to applying a plurality of electrical conduction tracks and a plurality of electrical connectors to the surface of the piezoelectric material or to a layer of dielectric material provided on the surface of the piezoelectric material, such that respective electrical conduction tracks electrically connect a respective electrode to a respective electrical connector. The additive techniques comprise at least one of: masking, deposition, photo patterning, printing or patterned coating. Optionally layer of piezoelectric material comprises a layer of inorganic piezoelectric material that has been deposited onto the foil.

Breast imaging ultrasound systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a method for ultrasound imaging of a body includes: scanning a target volume in the body with an ultrasound transducer having a fixed focal number (FN); acquiring ultrasonic images of portions of the target volume, wherein the acquired images have the same voxel resolution; processing the ultrasonic images; and determining a 3D image of the target volume.

Devices, systems, and methods relating to intraluminal imaging are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intraluminal imaging device is disclosed. One embodiment of the intraluminal imaging device comprises a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The intraluminal imaging device further comprises an ultrasound imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The imaging assembly comprises a support member, a flexible substrate positioned around the support member, a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements integrated in the flexible substrate, and a plurality of control circuits disposed on the flexible substrate at a position proximal to the plurality of transducer elements. The plurality of control circuits has an outer profile that does not extend beyond an outer profile of the plurality of transducer elements.

An ultrasonic array oscillator according to the present technology includes ultrasonic oscillators and semiconductor chips. The ultrasonic oscillators form an array. The semiconductor chips are bonded to the respective ultrasonic oscillators to form impedance matching circuits.

Devices, systems, and methods relating to intraluminal imaging are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intraluminal imaging device is disclosed. One embodiment of the intraluminal imaging device comprises a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The intraluminal imaging device further comprises an ultrasound imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The ultrasound imaging assembly comprises a support member, a flexible substrate positioned around the support member and including a proximal region and a distal region, the proximal region comprising a plurality of cutouts defining a plurality of substrate ribbons, a plurality of transducer elements integrated in the distal region of the flexible substrate, and a plurality of control circuits disposed on the proximal region of the flexible substrate.

Embodiments of the invention include an acoustic transducer device having a base structure that is positioned in proximity to a cavity of an organic substrate, a piezoelectric material in contact with a first electrode of the base structure, and a second electrode in contact with the piezoelectric material. In one example, for a transmit mode, a voltage signal is applied between the first and second electrodes and this causes a stress in the piezoelectric material which causes a stack that is formed with the first electrode, the piezoelectric material, and the second electrode to vibrate and hence the base structure to vibrate and generate acoustic waves.

Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.