United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

National Institute of Aerospace Associates

Paul W Rehrig

Wesley S Hackenberger

Xiaoning Jiang

Ji Su

Tian-Bing Xu

Richard Romley

Jian R Yuan

The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved medical imaging device. In one embodiment, an imaging device includes a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends received within the lumen; and an imaging transducer assembly coupled to the distal end of the drive shaft and positioned at the distal portion of the elongate member. The imaging transducer assembly includes one or more imaging transducers formed with a piezoelectric composite plate using photolithography based micromachining.

Micromachined imaging transducer

A hybrid piezoelectric energy harvesting transducer system includes: (a) first and second symmetric, pre-curved piezoelectric elements mounted separately on a frame so that their concave major surfaces are positioned opposite to each other; and (b) a linear piezoelectric element mounted separately on the frame and positioned between the pre-curved piezoelectric elements. The pre-curved piezoelectric elements and the linear piezoelectric element are spaced from one another and communicate with energy harvesting circuitry having contact points on the frame. The hybrid piezoelectric energy harvesting transducer system has a higher electromechanical energy conversion efficiency than any known piezoelectric transducer.

Hybrid piezoelectric energy harvesting transducer system

Growing community of inventors

Port Matilda, PA, United States of America

Paul W Rehrig