Methods of using pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) therapy to treat pancreatic disorders such as type 1 diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are provided. The methods utilize pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) therapy either by itself or in combination with islet transplantation and/or stem cell therapy to promote regeneration of damaged pancreatic tissue, increase insulin secretion in response to glucose, or improve engraftment and revascularization of transplanted islets or beta cells. Additionally, methods of using pFUS are provided for modulating paracrine secretion in the pancreas, islets, beta cells, or stem cells, or at a transplantation site to therapeutically alter levels of various factors including, without limitation, cytokines, growth factors, angiogenic factors, and cell adhesion molecules.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound treatment device for HIFU and an ultrasound image, and to a control method therefor. The ultrasound treatment device comprises: a plurality of image converters disposed on one surface of a probe assembly to transmit ultrasound signals to a target and receive signals reflected by the target to create an ultrasound image; a plurality of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) converters disposed on the surface of the probe assembly so as to be located in different positions from the image converters, wherein the HIFU converters transmit ultrasound signals to a target to generate heat energy, thereby treating a tissue within a focusing area; and a control unit performing control such that the difference between apertures of converter arrays constituted by the image converters and the HIFU converters, respectively, is less than a predetermined value.

System for inducing sonoporation of a drug into cancer cells in a tumor and method thereof, the system comprising a generator configured to provide electrical energy at an ultrasound frequency; an ultrasound probe electrically connected to the generator and configured to convert the electrical energy into low intensity pulsed ultrasonic waves defined by operation parameters, said operation parameters comprising the frequency, the duty cycle, the operation time of the ultrasonic waves; an input device enabling an operator to enter configuration data comprising: type of tumor, type of drug, localization of secondary tumor, anthropometric measurements and grade of tumor, and a processor configured to determine the values of the operation parameters on the basis of the entered configuration data and control the generator and the ultrasound probe to operate according to said determined values, wherein the value of the frequency is determined on the basis of the type of tumor, the localization of the tumor, the grade of tumor and the anthropometric measurements, the value of the duty cycle is determined on the basis of the drug, the type of tumor and the grade of the tumor, and the value of said operation time being determined on the basis of at least the type of tumor and the type of drug.

The system and process of therapeutic and effective cavitation by using ultrasound to collapse gas vesicles as well as cavitate the bubbles produced from the collapsed gas vesicles. Therapeutic effect includes, but is not limited to lysing cells by cavitation. The cells expressing the gas vesicles can optionally be used as delivery cells to preform tasks such as transporting the gas vesicles into deep tissue areas, releasing compounds at the cavitation site, and more. The gas vesicles can optionally be modified to facilitate getting the bubbles near the cavitation targets by functionalizing the gas vesicles.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves extending along a bronchial branch of a mammalian subject to treat asthma and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (11) is inserted into the bronchus as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (10) bearing the transducer into the bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits focused ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout circular impact volume (13) as, for example, at least about 1 cm.sup.3 encompassing the bronchus to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual bronchial nerves.

Human and animal biofilms and pathogens are treated with extracorporeal acoustic pressure shock waves at a location of prosthesis or implant in a body.

An ultrasound treatment head and an ultrasound imaging and treatment method using the same are disclosed. The ultrasound treatment head according to an embodiment comprises: a structure including a treatment transducer and an imaging probe positioned at the center of the treatment transducer, the treatment transducer and the imaging probe being physically aligned; a first mechanism for steering the mechanical movement of the entire structure; and a second mechanism for steering the mechanical movement of either the imaging probe or the treatment transducer alone in the structure.

In at least some examples, a method of treating an eye, includes (i) imaging a patient's vitreous using a probe, (ii) defining a window on a desired region of the vitreous, (iii) administering ultrasonic energy treatment to the desired region within the window, (iv) continually monitoring the treatment via the probe, (v) adjusting a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy treatment based on the monitoring, (vi) re-imaging the desired region of the vitreous after the treatment is administered, and (vii) evaluating or observing the desired region to determine whether a target percentage of a vitreous opacity has been resolved.

A surgical method treats infections on a lead positioned at least partially within a patient's body. The surgical method includes uncoupling the lead from a pulse generator. The lead is then coupled to an ultrasound wave generator. Ultrasound waves are propagated from the ultrasound wave generator through the lead. Systems are disclosed.

Headache treatment methods are described and include providing, an energy delivery device; locating a secondary or higher-order branch of a postganglionic nerve that provides innervation for a patient's head, by identifying a target region of the patient's head that includes the nerve branch; positioning, within the target region, a portion of the energy delivery device; and applying, from the positioned portion of the energy delivery device to the target region, an amount of energy effective to result in a stimulation activity of the nerve branch; and, after observing the stimulated nerve branch activity, delivering, from the energy delivery device to the nerve branch, energy in an amount effective to reduce a headache severity in the patient.