Wireless communication between personal electronic devices and hearing aids using high frequency audio and ultrasound

Ultrasound-Powered Implants: A Critical Review of Piezoelectric Material Selection and Applications

Ultrasound-powered implants (UPIs) represent cutting edge power sources for implantable medical devices (IMDs), as their powering strategy allows for extended functional lifetime, decreased size, increased implant depth, and improved biocompatibility. IMDs are limited by their reliance on batteries. While batteries proved a stable power supply, batteries feature relatively large sizes, limited life spans, and toxic material compositions. Accordingly, energy harvesting and wireless power transfer (WPT) strategies are attracting increasing attention by researchers as alternative reliable power sources. Piezoelectric energy scavenging has shown promise for low power applications. However, energy scavenging devices need be located near sources of movement, and the power stream may suffer from occasional interruptions. WPT overcomes such challenges by more stable, on-demand power to IMDs. Among the various forms of WPT, ultrasound powering offers distinct advantages such as low tissue-mediated attenuation, a higher approved safe dose (720 mW cm^-2 ), and improved efficiency at smaller device sizes. This study presents and discusses the state-of-the-art in UPIs by reviewing piezoelectric materials and harvesting devices including lead-based inorganic, lead-free inorganic, and organic polymers. A comparative discussion is also presented of the functional material properties, architecture, and performance metrics, together with an overview of the applications where UPIs are being deployed.

Ultrasound in air-Guidelines, applications, public exposures, and claims of attacks in Cuba and China

This editorial introduces a Special Issue of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, on "Ultrasound in Air." In this Special Issue, one paper covers ways of categorizing the ultrasonic regimes, and three papers cover human effects. One of those three, plus five others, constitute the six papers that report on the measured outputs of commercial devices. Two cover calibration, and the final three papers cover novel applications. This editorial outlines the context in which these papers provide individual studies, including the development of technology and guidelines for safe exposure, and ending with an analysis of what is currently known about claims of sonic attacks on embassy staff in Cuba and China.