An ultrasound therapy system and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound to localized regions of tissue within body joints, such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs, or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints. Various modes of operation provide for selective, controlled heating at different temperature ranges to provide different intended results in the target tissue, which ranges are significantly affected by pre-stressed tissues such as in-vivo intervertebral discs. In particular, treatments above 70 degrees C., and in particular 75 degrees C., are used for structural remodeling, whereas lower temperatures achieve other responses without appreciable remodeling.

Systems and methods can include wearable, non-invasive ultrasound modalities for treating a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to peripheral vascular disease. The modality could be therapeutic ultrasound (TUS), and be configured to promote angiogenesis within a patient via stimulation of cavitation and shear stress, among other mechanisms.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level. The end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position. The handle assembly includes a body, a trigger, and an activation element. The trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position. The activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level. The trigger is configured to either activate the activation element or determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level.

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to flex toward each other from a first position to a second position. The first coupling member and the second coupling member define a pivot axis in the first position. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is configured to couple or decouple with the shaft assembly when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the second position. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the first position.

Various approaches to focusing an ultrasound transducer includes causing the ultrasound transducer to transmit ultrasound waves to the target region; causing the detection system to indirectly measure the focusing properties; and based at least in part on the indirectly measured focusing properties, adjusting a parameter value associated with at least one of the transducer elements so as to achieve a target treatment power at the target region.

Methods of treating the skin and in particular removing pigment from a tattoo are provided. In preferred embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer is placed at a plurality of locations above the skin and focused acoustic waves at 7 MHz or more are transmitted into the skin. The focal point of the focused acoustic waves is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm below the surface of the skin. The design of the piezoelectric transducer along with the frequency of operation are carefully chosen to create points of treatment with a desired size and shape. The correct amount of energy is supplied to the points of treatment to produce a lesion of a desired size and shape. The lesions are spaced and located to effect the treatment of the skin.

An ultrasound energy delivery system is provided that includes a transducer and a housing.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level. The end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position. The handle assembly includes a body, a trigger, and an activation element. The trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position. The activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level. The trigger is configured to either activate the activation element or determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level.

A treatment method to reduce or eliminate a patient's symptoms caused by a medical condition or disease is disclosed. The treatment has the step of administering acoustic shock waves directed to one or more reflexology zones or to one or more reflexology zones and an area near a source of the pain if any is exhibited to treat the medical condition. The treatment further has the steps of activating acoustic shock waves of an acoustic shock wave generator to emit acoustic shock waves and subjecting the one or more reflexology zones or the one or more reflexology zones and the area near a source of the medical condition or pain, if any is exhibited, to acoustic shock waves to treat the medical condition.

A method for mid-intensity non-ablative acoustic treatment of injured tissue is disclosed. The method involves continuously moving an ultrasound probe across an extracorporeal skin surface while emitting non-ablative therapeutic ultrasound into the injured tissue in a non-ablative therapeutic ultrasound beam profile. The method terminates energy delivery if movement speed is below a speed threshold. The non-ablative therapeutic ultrasound beam profile provides substantially uniform heating throughout a treatment volume. The heating is non-ablative and triggers a healing response in the injured tissue.