Patent classifications
A61B2018/0075
Systems and methods for activating transducers
In some embodiments, a plurality of transducers of a transducer-based device may be selected for activation. A first pair of subsets of the selected transducers may be identified for initial activation, each subset of the first pair being activated with a different phase angle range than the other. No transducer in one subset is sufficiently close to a transducer in the other subset to cause a confluence of ablated tissue regions therebetween. The first pair of subsets may be activated simultaneously or concurrently. Upon activation or a conclusion thereof of the pair of subsets of the selected transducers, one or more subsequent pairs of subsets of the selected transducers may be activated iteratively on a pair-by-pair basis, until all of the selected transducers have achieved desired activation results, according to some embodiments. Each subsequent pair may include the same or similar characteristics as the first pair.
Catheters, catheter systems, and methods for puncturing through a tissue structure and ablating a tissue region
A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTIVATING TRANSDUCERS
In some embodiments, a plurality of transducers of a transducer-based device may be selected for activation. A first pair of subsets of the selected transducers may be identified for initial activation, each subset of the first pair being activated with a different phase angle range than the other. No transducer in one subset is sufficiently close to a transducer in the other subset to cause a confluence of ablated tissue regions therebetween. The first pair of subsets may be activated simultaneously or concurrently. Upon activation or a conclusion thereof of the pair of subsets of the selected transducers, one or more subsequent pairs of subsets of the selected transducers may be activated iteratively on a pair-by-pair basis, until all of the selected transducers have achieved desired activation results, according to some embodiments. Each subsequent pair may include the same or similar characteristics as the first pair.
Systems and methods for adaptive skin treatment
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of dynamically adapting a facial treatment based on a current facial skin profile, comprising: using at least one sensor for measuring at least one current value of at least one variable skin characteristic of facial skin of a patient; acquiring at least one personal skin characteristic of facial skin of the patient; calculating a current facial skin status of the patient according to the at least one personal skin characteristic and the at least one current value; determining instructions to operate a treatment applicator according to the current facial skin status; and instructing the treatment applicator according to the instructions.
MICROWAVE SEALER DEVICE AND GENERATOR
Devices, kits, and methods described herein are usable for medical treatments by generating local maxima using constructive interference of multiple oscillator outputs. Where constructive interference occurs between the oscillator waves, the output signal can have significant strength to cause heating and coagulation at a bleeding vessel, for instance, while at areas with little interaction (or with destructive interference) there is insufficient power dissipated by the output signal to cause heating sufficient to cause coagulating heating.
PHASED ARRAY RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION CATHETER AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE
A phased radiofrequency ablation catheter includes at least three radiofrequency electrodes arrayed on the catheter shaft. Each electrode is configured to emit radiofrequency energy. The energy emitted by more centrally-located electrodes within the array is phase-delayed relative to the energy emitted by more peripherally-located electrodes within the array. Thus, the radiofrequency energy emitted by the electrodes sums to a therapeutic maximum at a preset therapeutic distance from the catheter shaft, which in turn corresponds to a desired lesion depth in the tissue being ablated. The phrase-delay can be achieved through the use of electronic delay lines, including capacitors and/or coils. In embodiments of the disclosure, the capacitor is integrally formed with one or more of the electrodes, such as by interposing one or more dielectric layers between conductive layers of the electrode.
CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR
A controller for an electrosurgical generator includes an RF inverter, a signal processor, a software compensator, a hardware compensator, and an RF inverter controller. The RF inverter generates an electrosurgical waveform and the signal processor outputs a measured value of at least one of a voltage, a current, or power of the electrosurgical waveform. The software compensator generates a desired value for at least one of the voltage, the current, or the power of the electrosurgical waveform, and the hardware compensator generates a phase shift based on the measured value and the desired value. The RF inverter controller generates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal based on the phase shift to control the RF inverter.
Controlling Inter-Electrode Currents During Ablation
A medical apparatus includes a probe, which includes an insertion tube configured for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, and a distal assembly, which is connected distally to the insertion tube and includes a plurality of electrodes, which are configured to contact tissue within the body cavity. An electrical signal generator is configured to apply radio frequency (RF) signals simultaneously to the plurality of electrodes with energy sufficient to ablate the tissue contacted by the electrodes. A controller is coupled to measure time-varying voltage differences between the electrodes and to adjust the RF signals applied to the electrodes responsively to the measured time-varying voltage differences.
SINGLE FREQUENCY SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY GENERATOR WITH PHASE SHIFTER
A power generator is disclosed for use with a medical tool used to perform a medical ablation procedure. The power generator comprises a power supply configured to generate a DC voltage, a phase shifter configured to shift signal transmission phase angles, a plurality of switched-mode amplifiers each configured to convert the DC voltage received from the power supply to an AC voltage signal. The power generator also comprises a processor configured to control a phase shift of each AC voltage signal converted by the switched-mode amplifiers and an amplitude of each AC voltage signal converted by the switched-mode amplifiers. Each AC voltage signal is provided to one of a plurality of ablation electrodes of a medical tool.
Head photic stimulation device, head photic stimulation method, and program
Provided is a head photic stimulation device including: a brain wave amplifier which subjects the subject brain waves acquired using a brain wave sensor to A/D conversion and amplification; a control signal generation circuit which, based on an output signal from the brain wave amplifier, generates a control signal for controlling LED driving; and a light irradiation unit which is driven based on an output from the control signal generation circuit, and which includes an LED for irradiating a head. The control signal generation circuit includes a band-pass filter for filtering an input signal, a DSP (signal processing) unit for controlling a signal that has passed through the band-pass filter, and a light irradiation output unit using a near-infrared LED for irradiating the head. The DSP unit has a feedback function for matching a phase of a PWM output for controlling the light irradiation output unit, in synchronism with the subject brain waves.