A processor-controlled, energy-based therapy apparatus includes a device configured to provide therapeutic energy to a patient and a processor that controls the output of the device. The output of the device is based on output profiles programmed into the processor. The output profiles include a therapeutic energy output profile and a ramp-up energy profile. The therapeutic energy output profile includes a desired target energy level and a therapeutic duration for controlling the output of the device during a therapeutic period. The ramp-up energy output profile includes an initial treatment energy level and a ramp-up duration for controlling the output of the device during a ramp-up period. The energy output specified by the ramp-up energy output profile incrementally increases over the ramp-up duration as a function of the desired target energy level and the ramp-up duration.

Described herein are methods and apparatus for detecting stones by ultrasound, in which the ultrasound reflections from a stone are preferentially selected and accentuated relative to the ultrasound reflections from blood or tissue. Also described herein are methods and apparatus for applying pushing ultrasound to in vivo stones or other objects, to facilitate the removal of such in vivo objects.

This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Disclosed herein are the systems, devices and methods for treating cancer and metastasis using low energy immune priming. The low energy immune priming includes administering immunopriming energy. The low energy immune priming can be combined with an adjunct therapy.

A method can include placing a high intensity focused ultrasound probe proximate a designated treatment volume of a patient, ablating a first portion of the designated treatment volume with the probe using at least one pulse sequence and set of parameters designed to achieve such an ablation; and applying a nonablative dose of energy to a second portion of the designated treatment volume with the probe using at least one different pulse sequence than that used on the first portion and a set of parameters designed to achieve such a nonlethal dose.

Systems and methods for targeting specific cell types by selective application of ultrasonic harmonic excitation at their resonance frequency (oncotripsy) are presented. The systems and methods result in the lysis of targeted cell types by using ultrasonic harmonic excitations that have been specifically tuned to disrupt the nuclear membrane of the targeted cells types by inducing a destructive vibrational response therein while leaving non-targeted cell types intact, The target cells types may be cancerous cells.

A method for treating cartilage of a human being includes, bringing an excision unit into contact with a predetermined portion of the cartilage, heating the predetermined portion of the cartilage to a temperature of 120 C. or higher by the excision unit within 2.2 seconds and excising, by the excision unit, the predetermined portion of the cartilage that has been heated to the temperature of 120 C. or higher while pressing the predetermined portion.

A processor-controlled, energy-based therapy apparatus includes a device configured to provide therapeutic energy to a patient and a processor that controls the output of the device. The output of the device is based on output profiles programmed into the processor. The output profiles include a therapeutic energy output profile and a ramp-up energy profile. The therapeutic energy output profile includes a desired target energy level and a therapeutic duration for controlling the output of the device during a therapeutic period. The ramp-up energy output profile includes an initial treatment energy level and a ramp-up duration for controlling the output of the device during a ramp-up period. The energy output specified by the ramp-up energy output profile incrementally increases over the ramp-up duration as a function of the desired target energy level and the ramp-up duration.

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.

An apparatus for use in promoting motility of flagellar cells includes an acoustic energy emission module configured to generate ultrasound energy, the module being configured to generate ultrasound waves within a frequency range of about 2 MHz and about 120 MHz, and an applicator module configured to direct the generated ultrasound waves to a locus of the cells for a duration of between about 5 seconds and about 35 seconds.