A61N2007/0091

Apparatus and Method for Directing Energy from a Multi-Element Source
20220096872 · 2022-03-31 ·

An apparatus for controlling the angular direction of energy emitted from a plurality of energy delivery devices. The apparatus includes a plurality of rods, each rod mechanically coupled to one of the energy delivery devices, to a stationary plate, and to a moveable plate. The stationary plate includes holes that are configured to receive a portion of a first rotatable joint that is mechanically coupled to each rod. The moveable plate includes holes that are configured to receive a portion of a second rotatable joint, the second rotatable joint slidingly engaging a portion of the respective rod. The angle of each rod changes when the moveable plate is moved in any direction with respect to the stationary plate. Changing the rod angle changes the angular direction of the energy emitted from the energy delivery devices such that the energy passes through an intended focal position.

Ultrasound focusing in dynamically changing media

Various approaches to generating and maintaining an ultrasound focus at a target region include configuring a controller to cause transmission of treatment ultrasound pulses from a transducer having multiple transducer elements; cause the transducer to transmit focusing ultrasound pulses to the target region and generate an acoustic reflector therein; measure reflections of the focusing ultrasound pulses from the acoustic reflector; based at least in part on the measured reflections, adjust a parameter value associated with one or more transducer elements so as to maintain and/or improve the ultrasound focus at the target region.

ULTRASONIC MEDICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING VARIABLE FOCUSING DEPTH OF ULTRASONIC WAVE GENERATING UNIT

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide an ultrasonic medical instrument moving horizontally by adjusting a depth wise location of an ultrasonic wave generating unit while not influencing an internal volume of a cartridge and variously setting focusing depths of ultrasonic waves in skin.

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MODULATING BRAIN ACTIVITY
20220062661 · 2022-03-03 ·

Devices and methods for brain modulation are provided herein. A device may comprise a body and components for activating the brain. Such components include ultrasound transducers. The devices are used to provide ultrasound waves to brain structures in a subject wearing a device for methods to treat traumatic brain injury, affect postural control, affect wakefulness, attention, and alertness, to provide memory control, to alter cerebrovascular hemodynamics, to minimize stress, and to reinforce behavioral actions.

Intravascular energy delivery
11154356 · 2021-10-26 · ·

A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.

LOW INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOR TREATING CANCER AND METASTASIS
20210268315 · 2021-09-02 ·

Systems and methods for treating cancer and for preventing metastasis using low intensity focused ultrasound in combination with an anti-cancer therapy are disclosed.

High-intensity focused ultrasound for heating a target zone larger than the electronic focusing zone

The invention provides for a medical instrument (200) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202) and a high-intensity focused ultrasound system (204) with an electronically controllable and a mechanically controllable focus. Execution of instructions by a processor (244) controlling the instrument cause the processor to: receive (100) a target zone (240, 264) descriptive of a zone within the subject; divide (102) the target zone into multiple sub-zones (416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434); determine (104) a sequence (272) for moving the transducer position to each of the multiple sub-zones; determine (106) a selected sub-zone selected from the multiple sub-zones using the sequence; repeatedly control (108) the mechanical positioning system to move the transducer to the transducer position of the selected sub-zone; repeatedly acquire (110) the magnetic resonance thermometry data; repeatedly determine (112) a temperature property map (274); repeatedly heat (114) the regions independently to the target temperature by controlling the electronically controlled focus with a temperature feedback algorithm (286); and repeatedly change (116) the selected sub-zone using the sequence.

ULTRASONIC THERAPY APPLICATOR AND METHOD OF DETERMINING POSITION OF ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS
20210252315 · 2021-08-19 ·

An apparatus is disclosed for thermal therapy in a male prostate patient. The apparatus includes a long tubular element that is to be inserted into a patient's urethra so that a first tip end of it reaches up into the patient's diseased prostate. The elongated portion includes a narrow cylindrical tube within which an ultrasonic array is disposed along the long axis of the cylinder. Fluid is pumped into and out of a treatment zone of said patient as needed to control a temperature of a region in said treatment zone. A motorized driver is used to controllably rotate said elongated portion and the ultrasound array therein about the long axis of the apparatus so as to deliver acoustic energy to said diseased tissue. Various control and monitoring components may be used in conjunction with the present apparatus to design, control, and terminate the therapy.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING VASCULAR THROMBOSIS BY ULTRASOUNDS

An apparatus for treating vascular thrombosis with ultrasound, includes a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer, suitable for generating focused ultrasonic waves that propagate along an emission axis; an imaging ultrasonic transducer associated with the therapeutic transducer; a means for moving the focal spot of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer along the emission axis with respect to the imaging transducer; a motorized mechanical system for translating the transducers along at least a first axis parallel to the emission axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first; and an electronic control system for driving the motorized mechanical system and the means for moving the focal spot of the therapeutic transducer.

CATHETER ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER CONTAINER
20210267673 · 2021-09-02 ·

A catheter US transducer container and method of manufacture thereof including a housing, one or more cooling channels oriented longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the container, a sealing cooling channel cover, one or more PE elements positioned on a floor of the cooling channel, the cooling channel having a trapezoid cross section at any point along the PE element.