A shockwave transducer for a lithotripter includes a shockwave source and a body with an exit aperture. The transducer is configured to generate a shockwave propagating from the body and through the exit aperture. The body comprises at least one diffuser, which engages into the shockwave propagating from the body. This diffuser includes a material characterized by a propagation velocity of the shockwave that is different from the propagation velocity of the shockwave in the surrounding medium.

A catheter includes multiple shock wave generators in a balloon between proximal and distal ends of the catheter and electrically controlled by software of a controller to produce shock waves at different discharge point locations for intracorporeal treatment of a blood vessel.

A handheld ultrasound device and corresponding methods used for rejuvenating the vulvovaginal area of the user. In general, the handheld ultrasound devices include a device body coupled to an acoustic coupler and a handle. The device body further includes internal components including an ultrasound transducer, an energy delivery element, and circuitry for controlling the ultrasound output. The methods of using the handheld ultrasound device include engaging the tissue in and around the vulvovaginal area with the energy delivery element, applying ultrasound energy to the vulvovaginal tissue from the energy delivery element and through the acoustic coupler, and affecting a measurable parameter associated with vulvovaginal rejuvenation.

A focused ultrasound stimulation apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a transducer which outputs low intensity/high intensity ultrasound, an acoustic lens which is placed in close contact with a user's skin and is customized to focus the ultrasound onto a target focal point, and a fixture for fixing the transducer and the acoustic lens to each other. The acoustic lens is customized using a 3-dimensional (3D) printer based on the pre-captured user's cranial shape, to focus the ultrasound a desired focus target for each user, thereby improving accuracy compared to conventional ultrasound stimulation apparatus.

An ultrasound gel is provided for use with internal ultrasound imaging and/or therapy. The gel can have acoustic properties that can closely match a soft tissue to be imaged/treated and can be of a high viscosity that is maintained at body temperature. In some embodiments, the gel can act as a lubricant and, although water based, can be hydrophobic and not dissolve in bodily fluids. In some embodiments, the gel can be sterile, safe for ingestion, safe for application over mucous membranes, and include a preservative. In order to achieve sterility while maintaining a desired viscosity range, the gel can include a viscosity stabilising agent such as a viscosity protection agent for protection from radiation induced breakdown. In some embodiments, methods of altering or maintaining the viscosity of a gel is provided.

A catheter system fits within a blood vessel wall includes a shock wave generator aligned along a length of a catheter within a balloon proximal to the tip end of the catheter to produce shock waves that propagate outward through the balloon toward the blood vessel wall for treatment.

Methods, medical devices, and kits, and more particularly methods, devices, and kits for engaging and extracting or removing stones, calculi or other obstructions from the biliary or urinary tracts of a patient are described herein.

An acoustic system can include a liquid-filled coupling component comprising an acoustic coupling fluid and a housing encasing the coupling fluid, a fluid reservoir comprising an amount of the coupling fluid; a path in fluid communication between the coupling component and the fluid reservoir; and a bubble detector coupled to the path and configured to monitor the coupling fluid in the path.

A device to acoustically couple a patient to an MR-HIFU system includes a first membrane configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasound window of the MR-HIFU system, a second membrane configured to acoustically couple to the patient at an exposed region overlying an ultrasound focus of the MR-HIFU system, a continuous side wall that includes a first edge sealed to the first membrane and a second edge sealed to the second membrane, and an acoustic coupling fluid contained within a closed internal volume defined by the first membrane, the second membrane, and the continuous side wall. The device also includes a heat exchange device operatively coupled to the acoustic coupling fluid. The device is configured to form an impedance-matched ultrasound coupling between the ultrasound window and the exposed region of the patient and is further configured to regulate a temperature of the exposed region of the patient.

A multi-focal shockwave output handle unit for an extracorporeal shockwave therapy device using a multi-piezoelectric configuration includes a high-intensity focused ultrasound generator that is provided on a front end part of a handle that is provided to be gripped by a user, and generates high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on the basis of an applied electric signal; a cover unit that is connected to the front end part of the handle; a radiation-surface base unit that is connected to a front end part of the cover unit; a piezoelectric ceramic unit that includes a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic members arranged on the front inner curved surface of the cover unit or the rear outer curved surface of the radiation-surface base unit; and a gel pad unit that is connected to a front end part of the radiation-surface base unit.