25528 results about "Ultrasound wave" patented technology

Ultrasonic horns configured for use with a surgical ultrasonic handpiece including a resonator are described. The ultrasonic horns include an elongated member having a longitudinal internal channel extending partially therethrough. Disposed on the distal end of the elongated member is a chisel and awl shaped tip configured for cutting and/or abrading hard tissue, for example bone.

The invention provides a method of sensitising target cells to ultrasound energy using a stimulus such as an electric field. This "electrosensitisation" enables target cells to be disrupted by ultrasound at frequencies and energies of ultrasound which do not cause disruption of non-sensitised (i.e., non-target) cells. As a consequence, the method increases the selectivity of ultrasound therapy, providing a way to ablate undesired cells, such as diseased cells (e.g., tumor cells) while minimising harm to neighboring cells. In another aspect, however, ultrasound can be used to sensitise cells while the electrical field is used to disrupt cells. The invention also provides an apparatus for performing the method and assays for identifying gene products and other molecules involved in apoptosis.

The invention relates to a preparation method of a polymer/graphene composite material through in situ reduction, which is characterized by comprising the following steps: adopting ultrasonic wave or grinding to evenly disperse the graphite oxide prepared by a Hummers method into polymer dispersion; introducing reducing agent into the polymer dispersion for in situ reduction, enabling the graphite oxide to be reduced into the grapheme so as to obtain stable polymer/graphene composite emulsion; carrying out demulsification, agglomeration and drying to obtain the composite polymer/grapheme composite master batch; adding the dried polymer/grapheme composite master batch and various assistants into the polymeric matrix according to a certain ratio; and carrying out double-roller mixing, vulcanization, melt extrusion or injection molding to obtain the polymer/graphene composite material with excellent physical and mechanical properties.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) for monitoring signs of acute or chronic cardiac heart failure by measuring cardiac blood pressure and mechanical dimensions of the heart and providing multi-chamber pacing optimized as a function of measured blood pressure and dimensions are disclosed. The dimension sensor or sensors comprise at least a first sonomicrometer piezoelectric crystal mounted to a first lead body implanted into or in relation to one heart chamber that operates as an ultrasound transmitter when a drive signal is applied to it and at least one second sonomicrometer crystal mounted to a second lead body implanted into or in relation to a second heart chamber that operates as an ultrasound receiver. The ultrasound receiver converts impinging ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transmitter through blood and heart tissue into an electrical signal. The time delay between the generation of the transmitted ultrasound signal and the reception of the ultrasound wave varies as a function of distance between the ultrasound transmitter and receiver which in turn varies with contraction and expansion of a heart chamber between the first and second sonomicrometer crystals. One or more additional sonomicrometer piezoelectric crystal can be mounted to additional lead bodies such that the distances between the three or more sonomicrometer crystals can be determined. In each case, the sonomicrometer crystals are distributed about a heart chamber such that the distance between the separated ultrasound transmitter and receiver crystal pairs changes with contraction and relaxation of the heart chamber walls.

An apparatus and method for treating subcutaneous tissues using acoustic waves in the range of low acoustic pressure ultrasound waves is disclosed. The method includes injections of enhancing agents, wherein disruption of subcutaneous tissues and subcutaneous cavitational bioeffects are produced by ultrasound waves having a power that will not produce tissue cavitation in the absence of the enhancing agents. The apparatus and method of use is useful for treatment of subcutaneous abnormalities including cellulite, lipomas, and tumors.

An ultrasonic surgical blade has a blade body and a shank. The shank is fixed at one end to the blade body and is operatively connectable at an opposite end to a source of ultrasonic vibrations. The shank has a longitudinal axis. The blade body is eccentrically disposed relative to the axis.

The invention is a method of using ultrasound waves that are focused at a specific location in a medium to cause localized production of bubbles at that location and to control the production, and the cavitational and heating effects that take place there. According to the method of the invention, the production and control is accomplished by selecting the range of parameters of multiple transducers that are focused at the location such that they produce by interference specific waveforms at the focal point, which are not produced at other locations. Preferably the region within the focal zone of all the transducers in which the specific waveform develops at significant intensities, is typically very small. The invention is also a system for carrying out the method. The method and system of the invention can be used to perform a variety of therapeutic procedures. Typical of such procedures is occlusion of varicose veins.

A system for ultrasonic mammography includes an ultrasonic mammography device for constructing an ultrasonic image of a breast having a support structure with an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the support structure. The system also includes a personal digital assistant operatively connected to the ultrasonic transducer via a communication link, a patient computer system operatively connected to the personal digital assistant via a second communication link, and a healthcare provider computer system operatively connected to the patient computer system via an internet, for constructing the image of the breast. The method includes the steps of positioning the ultrasonic mammography device having an ultrasonic transducer on the patient and activating the ultrasonic transducer to generate a signal for constructing an image of the breast. The method also includes the steps of transmitting the signal from the ultrasonic transducer to the personal digital assistant, and transmitting the signal via an internet to a healthcare provider computer. The method further includes the steps of using the signal to construct an image of the patient's breast.

A method and system for treating a patient to repair damaged tissue which includes exposing a selected area of bone marrow of a patient to ultrasound waves or ultra shock waves so that cells comprising stem cells, progenitor cells or macrophages are generated in the area of the bone marrow of the patient due to the ultrasound, converting the cells from the bone marrow of the patient and reducing the damaged tissue in the bone marrow of the patient by repairing the damaged tissue.

This invention incorporates the techniques of geophysical technology into medical imaging. Ultrasound waves are generated from multiple, simultaneous sources tuned for maximum penetration, resolution, and image quality. Digitally recorded reflections from throughout the body are combined into a file available for automated interpretation and wavelet attribute analyses. Unique points within the object are imaged from multiple positions for signal-to-noise enhancement and wavelet velocity determinations. This system describes gaining critical efficiencies by reducing equation variables to known quantities. Sources and receivers are locked in invariant, known positions. Statistically valid measurements of densities and wavelet velocities are combined with object models and initial parameter assumptions. This makes possible three-dimensional images for viewing manipulation, mathematical analyses, and detailed interpretation, even of the body in motion. The invention imposes a Cartesian coordinate system on the image of the object. This makes reference to any structure within the object repeatable and precise. Finally, the invention teaches how the recording and storing of the received signals from a whole body analysis makes a subsequent search for structures and details within the object possible without reexamining the object.

The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.

Disclosed are methods and systems for optimized deep or superficial deep-brain stimulation using multiple therapeutic modalities impacting one or multiple points in a neural circuit to produce Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) or Long-Term Depression (LTD). Also disclosed are methods for treatment of clinical conditions and obtaining physiological impacts. Also disclosed are: methods and systems for Guided Feedback control of non-invasive deep brain or superficial neuromodulation; patterned neuromodulation, ancillary stimulation, treatment planning, focused shaped or steered ultrasound; methods and systems using intersecting ultrasound beams; non-invasive ultrasound-neuromodulation techniques to control the permeability of the blood-brain barrier; non-invasive neuromodulation of the spinal cord by ultrasound energy; methods and systems for non-invasive neuromodulation using ultrasound for evaluating the feasibility of neuromodulation treatment using non-ultrasound/ultrasound modalities; neuromodulation of the whole head, treatment of multiple conditions, and method and systems for neuromodulation using ultrasound delivered in sessions.

[OBJECTS AND PROBLEMS] Relating to a mist generator capable of emitting any of chemical substances used in life, such as perfumes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides, in the form of fog or vapor. An object of the invention is to attain means for efficiently atomizing liquid, means for easily and rapidly switching the type of chemical substance emitted and a compact apparatus of good maintainability. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer; an ultrasonic propagation medium disposed so as to fill a plane of vibration of the transducer; liquid retaining means disposed so as to be in contact with an end face of the medium; and an ultrasonic focusing reflecting mechanism (concave reflection mirror) disposed in an ultrasonic propagation path, thereby the apparatus attains discharging into air and atomization of the liquid by means of ultrasonic waves. Atomization efficiency is enhanced by the use of an ultrasonic reflection tube, and mist emission is carried out. Use is made of a compact liquid container equipped at its bottom with an ultrasonic transmission membrane. Various types of liquids can be atomized by changing the direction of ultrasonic course. Mist can be emitted by means of a thermal current as heating means. IC tag is attached to the liquid retaining means or liquid injection means.

Ultrasound energy is delivered to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound energy is delivered at an output frequency that varies over time within a range of output frequencies, and a tuning function selects from within the range an operating output frequency for the ultrasound transducer based upon preprogrammed selection rules. The ultrasound energy is delivered to the ultrasound transducer at or near the operating output frequency selected, to perform a therapeutic or diagnostic function for a specified treatment time, after which operation of the ultrasound transducer is disabled.

Delamination of a laminated multilayer stack is provided by generating a layer-specific energy distribution in the stack during delamination. A localized energy transferrer can generate localized heating, cooling heating, cooling, or other form of energy absorption or transmission, in a bonding layer of a multilayer stack. Localized energy transfer can include thermal energy transfer, such as heating and/or cooling, acoustic energy transfer, such as applying ultrasonic energy, electromagnetic energy transfer, such as applying laser light, directed microwaves, etc. Localized energy transfer can generate a layer-specific energy distribution that can weaken the bonding layer while reducing damage to other layers of the stack.

An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems. The fuzzy logic controller is configured to receive, from at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems, input data including at least one of pixel image data and data for generating pixel image data; to process the input data using a set of inference rules to produce fuzzy output; and to convert the fuzzy output into numerical values or system states for controlling at least one of the transmit subsystem and the receiver subsystem that generate the pixel image data.

A system monitors and characterizes internal elasticity of a blood vessel to detect abnormality. A catheter system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, comprises an ultrasound device for emitting ultrasound wave signals within patient anatomy and acquiring corresponding ultrasound echo signals. A signal processor processes the ultrasound echo signals to, determine a signal indicating displacement of a tissue wall over at least one heart cycle and identify a displacement value in the displacement signal. The displacement value indicates a tissue wall displacement occurring at a point within a heart cycle. A comparator compares the tissue wall displacement value with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor, in response to the comparison indicator indicating the tissue wall displacement value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold.