The invention pertains to a lipid-based microbubble stably binding a plurality of nucleic acids, and a method of delivering the microbubble and nucleic acids to a specific target site using ultrasound. The delivered nucleic acids create transgenic cells (i.e., for example, a transgenic tumor cell), wherein the transgenic cell expresses the proteins encoded by the delivered nucleic acids. This technology provides a significant improvement for microbubble-drug delivery platforms as known microbubble do not efficiently bind nucleic acids. The improvements described herein include but are not limited to identifying proper lipid proportionality ratios and/or cationic surfactant layers that provide an optimum mechanical index compatible with ultrasonics. Microbubble perfusion and/or nucleic acid delivery may be performed by a combination of imaging and ultrasound/microbubble targeted delivery to simultaneously perform low power two-dimensional imaging and high power microbubble destruction. Such systems are useful in therapeutics and/or diagnostics. For example, the data disclosed herein shows proof of principle in conjunction with the delivery of therapeutic siRNA molecules to slow tumor growth.

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.

One embodiment is directed to a minimally invasive system for treating a targeted tissue structure of a patient, comprising: an electromechanical support assembly having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a computing system operatively coupled to the electromechanical support assembly; and a HIFU treatment transducer array coupled to the distal portion of the electromechanical support assembly and operatively coupled to the computing system; wherein the computing system is configured to operate the electromechanical support assembly to control a position of the transducer assembly relative to the patient such that a treatment focus of the HIFU treatment transducer array is aligned to treat at least a portion of the targeted tissue structure of the patient, and to operate the HIFU treatment transducer array to controllably create a pulsatile wavefront of ultrasound radiation directed at the treatment focus, the pulsatile wavefront configured to produce one or more vapor bubbles within the targeted tissue structure and to controllably produce cavitation of the one of more vapor bubbles such that a controllably lysed portion of the targeted tissue structure is created.

An ultrasound device for facilitating waste clearance of the brain lymphatic system includes: a first frequency-generator generating a predetermined frequency; a first waveform modulator modulating a waveform of the frequency; a first linear amplifier amplifying the waveform; a first resonance circuit portion matching impedance of the amplified waveform; and a first ultrasound transducer coupled to the first resonance circuit portion and irradiating ultrasound toward the area of the brain of mammals, wherein the ultrasound facilitates clearance of lymphatic wastes of the brain.

The present subject matter relates to techniques for simultaneous blood-brain barrier opening and cavitation imaging. The disclosed system can include a transducer and a processor. The transducer can be configured to generate a plurality of focused transmits and simultaneously obtain a plurality of power cavitation images. The processor can be configured to control a parameter of the focused transmits, acquire the power cavitation images between each focused transmit, and generate a cavitation map based on the power cavitation images.

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound transducer and a control method thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to an ultrasound transducer for facilitating waste clearance of the brain lymphatic system and a control method thereof. A transducer according to the present disclosure includes: an oscillator including a plurality of Piezoelectric materials, and a polymer encompassing the plurality of Piezoelectric materials, and irradiating an ultrasound using at least one of the plurality of Piezoelectric materials and the polymer; a lens having a first space where at least a part of the oscillator is inserted, and focuses the applied ultrasound; and a housing supporting connection between the oscillator and the lens, wherein a height of the oscillator is longer than a height of the first space, a first height difference between the height of the oscillator and the height of the first space is inverse proportion to overall height of the lens, and a width of the oscillator is smaller than a width of the first space.

Estimation of vibration amplitude of intra-capillary micro-bubbles driven to vibrate with an incident ultrasound wave with amplitude and frequency to adjust the drive amplitude of the incident wave to obtain specified vibration amplitude of extra-capillary tissue. Estimation uses transmission of M groups of pulse complexes having low frequency pulse (LF) at bubble drive frequency, and high frequency (HF) pulse with angular frequency ω.sub.H>˜5ω.sub.L, and pulse duration shorter than π/4ω.sub.L along HF beam. The phase between HF and LF pulses is ω.sub.Lt.sub.m for each group, where t.sub.m varies between the groups. Within each group, LF pulse varies between pulse complexes in amplitude and/or, where the LF pulse can be zero for a pulse complex, and LF pulse is different from zero for pulse complex within each group. HF receive signals are processed to obtain a parameter relating to bubble vibration amplitude when the HF pulse hits bubble.

A method for applying ultrasound to activate a cavitation enhancing agent in the presence of a therapeutic compound and a microbial biofilm is provided. The ultrasound energy causes the cavitation enhancing agent to cavitate in the ultrasound field. The cavitation of the resultant bubble causes fluid streaming and shear forces at and near the biofilm, causing enhanced penetration of the therapeutic compound into the biofilm, and resulting in improved efficacy of the therapeutic compound against the biofilm. The method further includes cavitation enhancing agents which can be loaded with oxygen gas or combined with microbubbles which carry oxygen gas, which further potentiate antibiotic efficacy against the biofilm.

Device and methods for enhancing visual appearance by muscle contracts are provided herein. The device may include a capacitor, a first applicator with a first magnetic field generating coil, a second applicator with a second magnetic field generating coil, a first switch to discharge energy from the capacitor to the first magnetic field generating coil to generate a first time-varying magnetic field, and a second switch to discharge energy from the capacitor to the second magnetic field generating coil to generate a second time-varying magnetic field. The magnetic field generating coils may be spaced apart from the casings to allow cooling media to flow. The time-varying magnetic fields may have a plurality of pulses with biphasic impulses, and when applied to a muscle in a body region, the muscle is contracted. The body region may be a buttock, an abdomen, arms, or thighs.

The present disclosure describes a therapeutic ultrasound system configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultra sound pulse. In some examples, the system may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.