TRANSMISSIVE IMAGING AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS
Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.
1 - 419 . (canceled)
420 . An apparatus comprising:
a flexible support; and
a plurality of ultrasound elements disposed on the flexible support and configured as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) elements, the plurality of ultrasound elements being arranged to emit ultrasound radiation of sufficient intensity to induce a change in a state of a tissue.
421 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound elements is a first plurality of ultrasound elements, and further comprising a second plurality of ultrasound elements configured as ultrasound imaging elements and disposed on the flexible support.
422 . The apparatus of claim 421 , wherein at least some ultrasound elements of the first plurality of ultrasound elements are interspersed with at least some ultrasound elements of the second plurality ultrasound element.
423 . The apparatus of claim 421 , wherein at least some ultrasound elements of the first plurality of ultrasound elements are interleaved with at least some ultrasound elements of the second plurality ultrasound element.
424 . The apparatus of claim 421 , wherein the first plurality of ultrasound elements and the second plurality of ultrasound elements are arranged in combination in a checkerboard pattern.
425 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound elements comprises first and second ultrasound elements, the first and second ultrasound elements being movable relative to one another.
426 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound elements are configured to collectively define a HIFU focal length movable in three dimensions.
427 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the first plurality of ultrasound elements comprises capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs).
428 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the flexible support is made of a non-magnetic material.
429 . The apparatus of claim 420 , further comprising one or more detectors disposed on the flexible support and configured to sense an amount by which the flexible support is flexed.
430 . The apparatus of claim 429 , wherein the one or more detectors comprise variable resistance resistors.
431 . The apparatus of claim 420 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound elements is arranged in at least two dimensions.