145 results about "Focal zone" patented technology

Methods and devices that provide ultrasonic energy used to cause one or more nerves to become dysfunctional. A nerve to be treated is placed in the focal zone of ultrasonic energy emitted by ultrasound transducer. A first level of ultrasonic energy is provided to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the first level sufficient to stimulate the nerve. A verification is made that the desired nerve is being stimulated by the first level of ultrasonic energy. For example, the patient may be asked to confirm that the ultrasonically stimulated nerve corresponds to the pain that is affecting the patient. Subsequent to verifying the stimulated nerve is the nerve desired for the reduction of pain, a second level of ultrasonic energy is delivered to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the second level of ultrasonic energy sufficient to cause nerve dysfunction.

A focused ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer device forming an opening, and having a plurality of transducer elements positioned at least partially around the opening. A focused ultrasound system includes a structure having a first end for allowing an object to be inserted and a second end for allowing the object to exit, and a plurality of transducer elements coupled to the structure, the transducer elements located relative to each other in a formation that at least partially define an opening, wherein the transducer elements are configured to emit acoustic energy that converges at a focal zone.

An ultrasound transducer having multiple focal zones is described. In one embodiment there is an ultrasound transducer manufactured as a single piece but having two or more focal zones. In a second embodiment there is a transducer assembly combining a high frequency and low frequency transducer. In a third embodiment there is an interchangeable assembly allowing for different ultrasound transducers to be used based on procedural needs. Variations of each embodiment are also disclosed.

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.

Systems and methods using magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring the temperature of a tissue mass being heated by energy converging in a focal zone that is generally elongate and symmetrical about a focal axis. A first plurality of images of the tissue mass are acquired in a first image plane aligned substantially perpendicular to the focal axis. A cross-section of the focal zone in the first image plane is then defined from the first plurality of images. A second plurality of images are acquired of the tissue mass in a second image plane aligned substantially parallel to the focal axis, the second image plane bisecting the first image plane at approximately a midpoint of the defined focal zone cross-section.

An ultrasound transducer having multiple focal zones is described. In one embodiment there is an ultrasound transducer manufactured as a single piece but having two or more focal zones. In a second embodiment there is a transducer assembly combining a high frequency and low frequency transducer. In a third embodiment there is an interchangeable assembly allowing for different ultrasound transducers to be used based on procedural needs. Variations of each embodiment are also disclosed.

System and method for non-invasive lysis of sub-dermal tissue by means of focused ultrasonic energy, the system comprising: a source of ultrasonic energy adapted to operate in continuous wave mode and to focus ultrasonic energy in a focal zone within the sub-dermal tissue, the ultrasonic energy being adapted to induce tissue cavitation in the focal zone; means for continuous displacement of the source over the skin surface; and means for determining a safe speed for the displacement, the safe speed allowing to avoid thermal tissue damage. The source of ultrasonic energy is accommodated in a hand-held applicator including a wheeled traction system powered by an electric drive.

Methods and devices that provide ultrasonic energy used to cause one or more nerves to become dysfunctional. A nerve to be treated is placed in the focal zone of ultrasonic energy emitted by ultrasound transducer. A first level of ultrasonic energy is provided to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the first level sufficient to stimulate the nerve. A verification is made that the desired nerve is being stimulated by the first level of ultrasonic energy. For example, the patient may be asked to confirm that the ultrasonically stimulated nerve corresponds to the pain that is affecting the patient. Subsequent to verifying the stimulated nerve is the nerve desired for the reduction of pain, a second level of ultrasonic energy is delivered to the nerve using the ultrasound transducer, the second level of ultrasonic energy sufficient to cause nerve dysfunction.

Disclosed is a focal balloon having at least one reference zone and a focal zone. In one embodiment, the reference zone and focal zone are inflatable to a first generally cylindrical profile at a first pressure. At a second, greater pressure, the focal section expands to a second, greater diameter, while the reference zone remains substantially at the first diameter. In an alternate embodiment, the focal zone and the reference zone are inflatable to their respective predetermined diameters at the inflation pressure, in the absence of constricting lesions or anatomical structures. Multiple lobed and drug delivery embodiments are also disclosed.

A focused ultrasound system includes a transducer array, a controller for providing drive signals to the transducer array, and a switch. The transducer array includes a plurality of “n” transducer elements, and the controller includes a plurality of “m” output channels providing sets of drive signals having respective phase shift values, “m” being less than “n.” The switch is coupled to the output channels of the controller and to the transducer elements, and is configured for connecting the output channels to respective transducer elements. The controller may assign the transducer elements to respective output channels based upon a size and / or shape of a desired focal zone within the target region, to steer or otherwise move a location of the focal zone, and / or to compensate for tissue aberrations caused by tissue between the transducer array and the focal zone, geometric tolerances and / or impedance variations of the transducer elements.

Apparatus is provided, which includes at least first and second focused ultrasonic transducers, which are arranged facing each other, and a controllable energy source. The energy source is configured to activate the focused ultrasonic transducers to simultaneously generate respective first and second focused ultrasound beams having respective first and second focal zones located in close proximity to each other. Other embodiments are also described.

Non-invasive apparatus and methods are disclosed for treatment of soft-tissues of a human or animal body, and, more particularly, non-invasive treatment apparatus and methods for destruction of adipose tissues of a patient using focused delivery of ultrasonic energy in a group focal zone.

An ultrasonic medical treatment device takes the form of an elongate probe having an elongate wave-generating concave surface with a longitudinal axis and ultrasonic electromechanical transducer elements for vibrating said concave surface to generate ultrasonic pressure waves focused along a linear locus extending parallel to said longitudinal axis. The probe may include a monolithic piezoelectric crystal element and electrode pairs provided along the unitary or monolithic element in a spaced array.

A focused ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer device forming an opening, and having a plurality of transducer elements positioned at least partially around the opening. A focused ultrasound system includes a structure having a first end for allowing an object to be inserted and a second end for allowing the object to exit, and a plurality of transducer elements coupled to the structure, the transducer elements located relative to each other in a formation that at least partially define an opening, wherein the transducer elements are configured to emit acoustic energy that converges at a focal zone.

A reconfigurable linear array of sensors (e.g., optical, thermal, pressure, ultrasonic). The reconfigurability allows the size and spacing of the sensor elements to be a function of the distance from the beam center. This feature improves performance for imaging systems having a limited channel count. The improved performance, for applications in which multiple transmit focal zones are employed, arises from the ability to adjust the aperture for a particular depth.

A method for treating body tissue using acoustic energy includes identifying a target focal zone of tissue to be treated, delivering a first pulse of acoustic energy from a transducer to generate bubbles in a tissue region located distally, relative to the transducer, of a focal center of the target focal zone, and delivering a second pulse of acoustic energy from the transducer in the presence of the bubbles generated by the first pulse, the second pulse focused at the focal center to generate thermal ablation energy. In a further embodiment, a method of treating body tissue using ultrasound energy includes identifying a target focal zone to be treated and delivering a plurality of pulses of acoustic ablation energy to locations distributed symmetrically in or proximate a focal plane about the focal center of the target focal zone.

Non-invasive apparatus and methods are disclosed for treatment of soft-tissues of a human or animal body, and, more particularly, non-invasive treatment apparatus and methods for destruction of adipose tissues of a patient using focused delivery of ultrasonic energy in a group of focal zones.

Method for ultrasound imaging comprising at least the following steps:a) a transmission step in which a plurality of ultrasonic waves are transmitted into an imaged region and a set of raw data is acquired by an array of transducers in response to each ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic waves having different spatial frequency content;b) a coherence enhancing step in which, for each of a plurality of virtual transmit focal zones in the imaged region, at least one set of coherent data is synthesized from the sets of raw data;c) a beamforming step in which, for each of a plurality of locations included in each of the virtual transmit focal zones, an image pixel is computed by beamforming, using the set of coherent data.

A multiple-angle switched high intensity focused ultrasound device having at least two focused ultrasound transducers mounted in a frame so that the focal zones of all transducers intersect. Each of the transducers is independently driven from a radiofrequency (RF) generator. The RF driving signal is switched so that no more than one transducer is operated at a time. This allows shaping the temperature distribution in the target area by overlapping thermal contributions of each transducer.

A focused ultrasound system includes a transducer array, a controller for providing drive signals to the transducer array, and a switch. The transducer array includes a plurality of “n” transducer elements, and the controller includes a plurality of “m” output channels providing sets of drive signals having respective phase shift values, “m” being less than “n.” The switch is coupled to the output channels of the controller and to the transducer elements, and is configured for connecting the output channels to respective transducer elements. The controller may assign the transducer elements to respective output channels based upon a size and / or shape of a desired focal zone within the target region, to steer or otherwise move a location of the focal zone, and / or to compensate for tissue aberrations caused by tissue between the transducer array and the focal zone, geometric tolerances and / or impedance variations of the transducer elements.

An ultrasonic medical treatment device takes the form of an elongate probe having an elongate wave-generating concave surface with a longitudinal axis and ultrasonic electromechanical transducer elements for vibrating said concave surface to generate ultrasonic pressure waves focused along a linear locus extending parallel to said longitudinal axis. The probe may include a monolithic piezoelectric crystal element and electrode pairs provided along the unitary or monolithic element in a spaced array.

Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into / out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window and / or a chamber wall which may comprise an acoustically reflective material or a gas / wall interface that serves to reflect acoustic energy to form one or more secondary focal zones. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided.

Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and / or imaging system and method adapted for dithering ultrasound beams from a transducer to alter placement and position of one or multiple cosmetic treatment zones in tissue, simultaneous multi-focus therapy using multi-channel signal mixing, and / or dithering ultrasound beams from a transducer to alter placement and position of one or multiple cosmetic treatment zones in tissue, configured for using imaging for improved ultrasound therapy efficacy, and / or adapted for imaging with multiple focal zone sequencing and triggering for mechanically translated and / or steered ultrasound transducers are provided herein. The system can include a hand wand, a removable transducer module, and a control module. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system may be used in various cosmetic procedures.

Devices, systems and methods for measuring and detecting properties of a variety of particles or cells in suspension. Properties, such as, for example, velocity of particles, concentration and / or size may be measured according to the methods of the invention. Acoustic energy may be introduced to a focal zone and narrow band interrogating signals may be used. The acoustic energy may cause movement or streaming of the fluid or suspension. The acoustic streaming may allow a Doppler effect measurement without any other source of velocity.

The invention relates to a method and device for restoring polluted soil and treating solid wastes. A cathode reaction tank and an anode reaction tank are respectively arranged at the two ends of soil / solid wastes, a water supply layer is arranged at the bottom of the soil / solid wastes and contains a chemical agent which can improve the solubility of organic pollutants and heavy metals in water, and a replaceable pollutant collecting layer covers the top of the soil / solid wastes which are internally provided with a replaceable artificial focal zone. The temperature value of the soil / solid wastes is increased to dozens of degrees even hundreds of degrees by applying a high voltage and large current; volatile organic pollutants volatile from the soil / solid wastes due to a high temperature, and nonvolatile organic pollutants and the heavy metals rise to the collecting layer along with water and are left in the collecting layer after the water is evaporated; and partial heavy metal ions are transferred to the electrode tank and the artificial focal zone along the electric field direction. Hydrogen and oxygen generated at a cathode and an anode are respectively collected for burning the volatile pollutants in the collecting layer and the focal zone; and the oxygen also can be made into ozone for oxygenizing pollutants in the soil / solid wastes or be cleared out.

The invention relates to a device suitable for measuring the sound field characteristics of an air-coupled ultrasonic detection transducer, which solves the problem of calibration of the sound field characteristics of the air-coupled ultrasonic transducer and realizes automatic measurement of the focal length, focal area length and focal area width of the transducer's sound field. and sound beam spread angle characteristics. The sound field measurement device of the present invention includes: a scanning mechanism, an ultrasonic transceiver and signal acquisition system, a motion control system, a sound axis alignment mechanism, and a micro-hole silencer. The ultrasonic transceiver mode of the measurement system is a transmit-receive mode, and is carried out in a closed transparent chamber. During measurement, the receiving transducer is installed on a fixed bracket, and the measured air-coupled transducer is installed through the acoustic axis alignment mechanism. The sound beam axis is adjusted to coincide with the Z-axis. The pulse sound field emitted by the air-coupled ultrasonic transducer is received by the receiving transducer with a micro-hole silencer attached. The peak value of the pulse echo signal is calculated by the computer through the data acquisition card, and this voltage peak is used as the sound pressure of the acoustic signal. amplitude. The computer drives the ultrasonic transducer to perform spatial scanning motion relative to the receiving aperture through the motion control system, and the spatial sound field sound pressure distribution of the air-coupled ultrasonic transducer can be measured.

A method of using ultrasound waves that are focused at a specific location in a medium is provided to cause localized production of bubbles at that location and to control the production, and the cavitational and heating effects that take place there. Production and control are accomplished 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 are very small. The method, and a system that performs the method, can be used to perform a variety of therapeutic procedures. Typical of such procedures is occlusion of varicose veins.