In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body configured for navigation through vasculature of a patient, the elongated body having an inner wall that defines a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion. The elongated body is configured to pass a fluid through the lumen and out a distal end of the elongated body. At the distal portion, the inner wall defines a convergent-divergent region such that a diameter of the lumen while moving distally within the elongated body converges from a first lumen diameter to a second lumen diameter and then diverges from the second lumen diameter to a third lumen diameter. The convergent-divergent region is configured to cause a fluid flowing through the lumen to cavitate as the fluid flows through the convergent-divergent region.

Device for the treatment of tissue calcification, in particular aortic valve leaflets, characterized by the fact that it comprises a first ultrasound emission source that is adapted to provide ultrasound waves with MHz frequencies and a second ultrasound emission source that is adapted to provide ultrasound waves with KHZ frequencies, both MHz and KHz waves being used for the said treatment. The invention also includes a method for the treatment of tissue calcification that is characterized by the simultaneous use of ultrasound waves with MHz frequencies and ultrasound waves with KHz frequencies.

A method for displaying a passive cavitation image that shows characteristic information of a passive cavitation includes: receiving an ultrasound signal caused by the passive cavitation; generating a plurality of first passive cavitation images for the passive cavitation at predetermined respective time frame using the received ultrasound signal by a DAS beam forming; generating a plurality of second passive cavitation images in which a maximum magnitude signal region is displayed by selecting a main lobe region having a magnitude greater than or equal to a predetermined value in the respective first passive cavitation image; generating a main lobe passive cavitation image in which a main region is displayed in the respective time frame by superimposing the plurality of the second passive cavitation images obtained for the respective time frame; and generating a passive cavitation image by displaying the main lobe passive cavitation image on a background image.

MRI interference with a co-existing treatment system may be reduced or avoided by carrying out RF-sensitive operations of the treatment system only when gradient field activity of the MRI system is suppressed.

This disclosure disclosed an ultrasonic needle and apparatus used for removal of the vitreous body and other tissues. An ultrasonic vitrectomy needle, comprising: a connector, a connected inner needle, and an outer sheath. The length of the outer sheath at the distal end is slightly longer than that of the inner needle; the sheath distal end is of blind with smooth surface, but there is an open cut at the side of the distal end used for aspirating the vitreous body. The benefits of this disclosure: due to the difficulty if not impossible in the prior arts making a slim long center bore needle for ultrasonic surgical system, this disclosure clears the way to make the ultrasonic vitrectomy a practical reality; the ultrasonic vibration inherent advantages of the quietness, minuscule displacement, liquid repulsion and viscosity reduction improve safety of the surgery; the possibility of integrating ultrasonic vitrectomy and ultrasonic phaco emulsification procedures simplifies the complexity from prior arts, thus brings ease to the ophthalmic surgeries and reduces the cost.

A method and system for secure ultrasound treatment of living tissues using an ultrasound probe comprising a reflective cavity in acoustic communication with living tissues, a transducer to emit an ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity and a transducer to acquire a backscattered signal in the reflective cavity. The method comprises the steps of a) emitting a first ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity that generates a backscattered ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity, b) acquiring a backscattered signal in the reflective cavity, c) determining whether an insonification can be safely performed by computing a similarity value between the backscattered signal and a predefined reference signal, and d) if an insonification can be safely performed, treating the living tissues with a second ultrasound wave emitted in the reflective cavity. The second ultrasound wave is focused a target point of the living tissues and generates a pressure pulse resulting in cavitation at this target point

The invention provides a system for treating an occlusion within a body lumen. The system may comprise an insulated outer sheath; an elongated conductive tube, wherein the insulated outer sheath is circumferentially mounted around the elongated conductive tube; and an insulated wire having a helically coiled portion at a distal end of the insulated wire. The coiled portion includes an exposed distal tip, and a distal portion of the elongated conductive tube is circumferentially mounted around the distal coiled portion of the insulated wire. When a voltage is applied across the insulated wire and the elongated conductive tube, a current is configured to flow from the exposed distal tip of the insulated wire to the elongated conductive tube to generate a plurality of cavitation bubbles. In an alternate embodiment, an elongated central electrode is used in place of the conductive tube.

A method of treating a mobile target tissue with a laser beam includes: providing a laser device for generating a laser beam and providing an optical fiber having a delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue; a controller causes the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along the same longitudinal axis. The controller causes the laser device to provide one or more laser pulses. The one or more pulses are selected to allow a vapor bubble formed by the one or more pulse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue. The one or more pulses are delivered to the target tissue through the vapor bubble after the vapor bubble has reached its maximum extent and has begun to collapse to reduce retropulsion of the mobile target tissue.

A kit comprising: a urinary catheter comprising a first and a second longitudinal lumens; an ultrasonic transducer disposed about said catheter; a balloon mounted on said catheter, and enclosing said transducer; and a reservoir containing an acoustic coupling medium, wherein: said catheter further comprises a first opening in said first longitudinal lumen, said first opening disposed inside said balloon and configured to inflate said balloon with at least some of said acoustic coupling medium, said catheter further comprises a second opening in said second longitudinal lumen, said second opening disposed outside said balloon and configured to deliver a therapeutic fluid into the urinary bladder, around said balloon, and activation of said transducer in said urinary bladder causes cavitation bubbles to form in said therapeutic fluid adjacent an internal surface of the urinary bladder, and little or no cavitation bubbles are formed in said acoustic coupling medium in said balloon.

A method of optimizing the irradiation of a target with laser radiation includes selecting and mounting on a laser radiation delivery device either a waveguide or optical fiber type to be used; also, selecting at least the following parameters: selecting the total energy of the at least one train of pulses to be delivered to the target, and selecting the distance from the distal delivery end to the target; then, initiating irradiation of the target for the at least one train of pulses by generating a first laser pulse with sufficient energy (E.sup.i) to form a vapor bubble in a liquid medium; allowing the vapor bubble formed to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end and the target; and, thereafter, after the selected time delay (T.sup.d) sufficient for the formed vapor bubble to reach its optimum extent, generating a second laser pulse (E.sup.p), the second laser pulse being delivered to the target through the formed vapor bubble.