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| 20080249419 | TIME-OF-FLIGHT TRIANGULATION BASED METHODS OF DEVICE SPATIAL REGISTRATION FOR MULTIPLE-TRANSDUCER THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS - Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a therapeutic ultrasound device spatial registration method and apparatus. The method enables locating a tissue target and surrounding tissue structures affecting the available acoustic beam paths to the target, relative to each individual therapeutic and diagnostic (e.g., imaging) transducer, in a device comprising a plurality of such transducers. By locating the target and tissue structures relative to each therapeutic transducer and/or array (e.g., in “local” coordinates) assists in transforming the locations relative to any transducers, enabling determination of which therapeutic transducers to use to treat the target, and specification of their respective ultrasound powers or energy, focal locations and beam patterns. The registration method employs a plurality of emitter and receiver acoustic sensors on, respectively, a plurality of imaging and therapeutic transducer device panels. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20110230763 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING A THERAPEUTIC SITE - A targeting catheter is used to locate an arteriotomy, such as is formed during a femoral artery catheterization procedure. The targeting catheter includes one or more targeting aids, such as an inflatable balloon or sensor (e.g., Doppler or temperature sensor), to locate the arteriotomy. The targeting aid may be positioned at the arteriotomy. An ultrasonic beacon on the catheter may then be located relative to a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator (e.g., by using acoustic time-of-flight) so that the focus of ultrasonic energy from the applicator can be aligned with the arteriotomy. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110230796 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING A THERAPEUTIC SITE - A targeting catheter is used to locate an arteriotomy, such as is formed during a femoral artery catheterization procedure. The targeting catheter includes one or more targeting aids, such as an inflatable balloon or sensor (e.g., Doppler or temperature sensor), to locate the arteriotomy. The targeting aid may be positioned at the arteriotomy. An ultrasonic beacon on the catheter may then be located relative to a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator (e.g., by using acoustic time-of-flight) so that the focus of ultrasonic energy from the applicator can be aligned with the arteriotomy. | 09-22-2011 |
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| 20100228126 | ULTRASOUND TREATMENT AND IMAGING APPLICATOR - An ultrasound treatment system includes an applicator in which a therapeutic ultrasound transducer is surrounded by an annular imaging transducer. Illumination signals generated by the therapy or imaging transducer are sequentially or simultaneously delivered to tissue in a viewing space to create corresponding echo signals that are received by the elements of the annular imaging transducer. These echo signals are analyzed with a processor to produce an image of tissue in the viewing space. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100241005 | OFFICE-BASED SYSTEM FOR TREATING UTERINE FIBROIDS OR OTHER TISSUES WITH HIFU - A method for treating a desired volume of tissue using HIFU or other energy modality to ablate a pattern of elemental treatment volumes each having a volume that is greater than that of the focal zone of the HIFU transducer but smaller than the overall volume of the desired treatment volume. In one embodiment, the pattern of elemental treatment volumes are arranged to form a shell which partially or wholly encapsulates the desired volume of tissue, which then necroses in situ due to effects other than direct HIFU damage (including some combination of ischemia, thermal conduction, inflammation, apoptosis, etc.). The necrosed tissue remains in the body and is subsequently resorbed and/or healed via normal body mechanisms. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20110112400 | HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND CATHETER APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR RENAL NEUROMODULATION - Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device that employs high intensity focused ultrasound. The high intensity focused ultrasound may be used for application of energy to modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. The ultrasound transducer for delivering the energy may be located remotely from the desired treatment area. In particular embodiments, an ultrasound transducer may apply energy at one or more focal zones or focal points that target renal nerves. | 05-12-2011 |
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| 20100036291 | OPTIMIZATION AND FEEDBACK CONTROL OF HIFU POWER DEPOSITION THROUGH THE FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF BACKSCATTERED HIFU SIGNALS - A system and method for dynamically adjusting the energy of HIFU signals delivered to a patient, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits a HIFU signal into a patient and receives echoes therefrom. The echo signals are analyzed to determine the energy of the signals in a first range, such as at one or more harmonics and/or sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal, and energy of the echo signals in a second range such as at the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal. Based on the comparison, the energy and/or focus of the HIFU signals delivered to the patient is adjusted. An image of the compared echo signal powers in two or more frequency ranges may also be displayed for a user or used to adjust the focus point of the HIFU signals. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100036292 | OPTIMIZATION AND FEEDBACK CONTROL OF HIFU POWER DEPOSITION THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF DETECTED SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS - A system and method for adjusting or selecting the treatment parameters for HIFU signals to treat a target treatment site, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits one or more test signals into patient tissue and receives signals created in response to the test signals. The signals are analyzed to determine a response curve of how a characteristic of the signal varies with the one or more test signals. The response curve of the detected signals is used to select a treatment parameter. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100106019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDBACK CONTROL OF HIFU TREATMENTS - HIFU therapy to a desired tissue site is controlled based on detected changes in one or more characteristics of a received backscatter signal resulting from exposure of the tissue to HIFU or other interrogation signals. In one embodiment, the bloom of backscatter signals outward from a treatment region (e.g., towards the HIFU transducer) is detected and monitored. Once the bloom reaches a predetermined location, treatment is stopped. Other signal characteristics such as angular distribution of frequency components in the backscatter signal, changes in reflection, power required to saturate a tissue characteristic, changes in attenuation and changes in a cumulative energy distribution function of the backscatter signal that change as a result of the application of HIFU power are also used to control the delivery of HIFU signals in accordance with other embodiments of the disclosed technology. | 04-29-2010 |
