A lithotripsy assembly includes a target positioned inside a body that has an external surface. A lithotripsy dry head shock wave transducer is aimed at the target. A gel enclosure is defined at least partially by the body and the lithotripsy transducer. A volume of acoustic coupling fluid is positioned in the gel enclosure, which is fluidly connected to a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump draws air bubbles out of the gel enclosure to reduce attenuation of shock waves.

A method of diagnosis and treatment of tumors using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is provided. The method of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a patient comprises the steps of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to cause the tumor cells to release cellular material and evaluating the cellular material for a tumor marker. The method of treating a tumor in a patient can also comprise the step of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provoke an immune response.

Method for making a tough and compliant hydrogel. A precursor hydrogel is made of a first polymer selected to maintain high elasticity and a second polymer selected to dissipate mechanical energy. The precursor hydrogel is stretched to a multiple of its original length to form a pre-stretched hydrogel. The pre-stretched hydrogel is allowed to relax and is soaked in a biocompatible solvent to reach equilibrium swelling of the pre-stretched hydrogel whereby shear modulus of the hydrogel is reduced.

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.

An apparatus includes a catheter sized to fit within a wall of a blood vessel, wherein the catheter includes a balloon with a liquid inlet coupled to the catheter, a plurality of shock wave generators coupled to the catheter within the balloon, and wherein the shock wave generators upon electrical discharge produce shock waves that propagate away from the catheter toward the wall of the blood vessel, and one or more radiopaque markers coupled to the catheter to identify the location of the balloon.

A shock wave catheter apparatus fits within a blood vessel wall and includes multiple shock wave generators that produce non-focused shock waves within a balloon that inflates around the catheter and the catheter extends beyond a distal end of the balloon.

A catheter system fits within a blood vessel wall includes first and second shock wave generators that produce shock waves within a balloon between proximal and distal ends of a catheter.

Ultrasound surgical apparatus are disclosed, including: medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal guide members for control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal rolling members for manipulability and control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors providing a probe with a probe dilation region configured to have an average outside diameter that is equal to or greater than the average outside diameter of a probe tip and neck; as well as junctions to an ultrasonically inactive probe sheath; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors having positionable, ultrasonically inactive probe sheath ends slidably operable to both cover and expose at least a probe tip; and ultrasound transducer cores including a transducer structure affixed to a longitudinally elongated, generally planar, single crystal or polycrystalline material waveguide.

Ultrasound surgical apparatus are disclosed, including: medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal guide members for control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpieces with proximally mounted ultrasound radiators configured to create a distally-focused beam of ultrasound energy, in combination with distal rolling members for manipulability and control of focal point depth; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors providing a probe with a probe dilation region configured to have an average outside diameter that is equal to or greater than the average outside diameter of a probe tip and neck; as well as junctions to an ultrasonically inactive probe sheath; medical ultrasound handpiece assemblies with coupled end effectors having positionable, ultrasonically inactive probe sheath ends slidably operable to both cover and expose at least a probe tip; and ultrasound transducer cores including a transducer structure affixed to a longitudinally elongated, generally planar, single crystal or polycrystalline material waveguide.

Systems and methods for sonicating a body within an organ of a patient include supplying ultrasound energy to the body in order to produce a liquified material, which can then be aspirated from the body via a catheter. Image guidance is used during aspiration of the liquified material.