The present invention concerns an ultrasonic vibration system comprising a sonotrode which has two sonotrode end faces and a circumferentially extending lateral surface connecting the two sonotrode end faces together, wherein the sonotrode has an elongate core element and at least one wing element, wherein core element and wing element respectively extend from the one sonotrode end face to the other sonotrode end face in a longitudinal direction, wherein the wing element has a sealing surface which is provided to come into contact with a material for processing thereof and is connected to the core element by way of a plurality of webs spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the core element, and a converter which is optionally connected to the sonotrode by way of an amplitude transformer. According to the invention it is proposed that the ultrasonic vibration system is connected to a machine stand by way of a mounting connected to the lateral surface.

An ultrasound transducer unit including a plurality of ultrasound transducers transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from an inside of a subject. In a case where a checking operation unit is operated, a controller controls a driving voltage supply unit such that a driving voltage is supplied with all of the plurality of ultrasound transducers as driving target transducers. In a case where the checking operation unit is operated, a depolarization determination unit calculates, for each ultrasound transducer, a reception sensitivity in a case where an ultrasound wave is received by driving all of the plurality of ultrasound transducers as the driving target transducers, and determines whether or not a depolarization determination value calculated from the reception sensitivity of each ultrasound transducer satisfies numerical conditions. If the numerical conditions are satisfied, a polarization voltage supply unit supplies a polarization voltage to each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers.

An electronic device including an array of ultrasonic transducers, a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the array of ultrasonic transducers, and a control module communicatively coupled to the array of ultrasonic devices and the temperature sensor. The control module is for receiving the temperature and for controlling operation of the array of ultrasonic transducers based at least in part on the temperature.

A method for identifying a mechanical impedance of an electromagnetic load may include generating a waveform signal for driving an electromagnetic load, the waveform signal comprising a first tone at a first driving frequency and a second tone at a second driving frequency. The method may also include during driving of the electromagnetic load by the waveform signal or a signal derived therefrom, receiving a current signal representative of a current associated with the electromagnetic load and a back electromotive force signal representative of a back electromotive force associated with the electromagnetic load. The method may further include determining amplitude and phase information of the current signal responsive to the first tone and second tone, determining amplitude and phase information of the back electromotive force signal responsive to the first tone and second tone, and identifying parameters of the mechanical impedance of the electromagnetic load based on the amplitude and phase information of the current signal and the amplitude and phase information of the back electromotive force signal.

The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

A method for calibrating a wire clamp device includes: preparing a wire clamp device provided with a pair of arm parts having tips for clamping a wire, the arms extending from the tips toward base ends, and a drive part provided with a piezoelectric element for drive, connected to the base ends of the pair of arm parts and opening/closing the tips of the pair of arm parts; a step of detecting, by electrical continuity between the tips, a timing at which the pair of arm parts enters a closed state when the piezoelectric element for drive is driven, and acquiring a reference voltage; and a step of calibrating, on the basis of the reference voltage, an application voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element for drive. Thus, it is possible to perform accurate and stable wire bonding.

A superficial foreign bodies detecting system for ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The system comprises a micro controller which comprises a main controlling unit, a driving signal generating unit, a signal receiving unit, and a residual vibration detecting unit. The driving signal generating unit is controlled by the main controlling unit so as to transmit a first sensor driving signal to the ultrasonic sensor, thereby making the sensing head to output an ultrasonic wave. In case of the transmission of the first sensor driving signal is stopped, the residual vibration detecting unit is enabled to apply a residual vibration measuring process to the ultrasonic sensor. Consequently, according to a residual vibration signal received from the residual vibration detecting unit, the main controlling unit is able to judge whether there is at least one foreign body attached on the surface of the sensing head.

This invention is the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data and ultrasound images on the removable memory card. The improved methods provide the steps of the operation of the improved ultrasound apparatus, and the improved ultrasound apparatus includes the microprocessor unit and control organs unit, which provide control of an ultrasound unit, comprising piezoelectric devices, a transmission unit, a battery unit, including battery and battery wireless charging control circuitry, indication unit, and includes a card insertion registration device recognizing the presence of a removable memory card in the ultrasound probe.

Piezoelectric sensor controllers may facilitate detection and identification of various potential fault states with novel parameter measurements. In an illustrative embodiment of a piezoelectric-based sensor having a shorted-reverberation based resonant frequency measurement, the sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer that provides residual reverberation after being driven. The sensor further includes a controller that provides a low impedance path for the piezoelectric transducer during the residual reverberation and that measures current through the low impedance path to determine a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer. In an illustrative embodiment of a sensing method having a shorted-reverberation based resonant frequency measurement, the method includes: driving a piezoelectric transducer that provides residual reverberation after being driven; providing a low impedance path for the piezoelectric transducer during the residual reverberation; and measuring current through the low impedance path to determine a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer.

Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a surgical operation support system for obtaining position information of a device outside an imaging area and presenting the position information to a user together with an ultrasound image. The surgical operation support system includes the ultrasound imaging apparatus, an ultrasonic source fixed to a therapeutic tool to be inserted into a subject body, a display device for displaying the ultrasound image and the position of the ultrasonic source. The ultrasound imaging apparatus is provided with a position estimator for estimating the position information of the ultrasonic source, and the position estimator analyzes a grating lobe artifact (false image) that is generated by the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic source outside the imaging area, to estimate the position information of the ultrasonic source with respect to the imaging area.