A high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system (100,400) for selectively sealing a vessel network (360) in a liver includes a generator (110,410,420) configured to generate and supply electric power, and an acoustic assembly (200,130,150) configured to receive the supplied electric power. The acoustic assembly (200,130,150) includes a first transducer (310,430) configured to generate vibrations having a first frequency, and a second transducer (320,440) configured to generate vibrations having a second frequency. When a first focal point of the generated vibrations having the first frequency and a second focal point of the generated vibrations having the second frequency are aligned within a focused region (350), a group of vessels (360) at the focused region (350) are selectively sealed.

An apparatus having an implantable ultrasound generating treating device to induce brain disorder treatment, suitable for implantation in or under the skull bone of a patient, includes several ultrasound generating transducers, which are connectable by a common electrical connection circuit to a generator, and wherein the ultrasound generating transducers each have one or several operating frequencies. The transducers include the group of transducers having several transducers driven by a same electrical drive signal, and connected to the generator system by a common electrical connection circuit, where the electric drive signal serves both as power signal and as a control signal for operating selectively, within said group, at least one or the other of a first transducer or sub-group of transducers, and of a second transducer or sub-group of transducers. The apparatus is also used to treat brain disorders.

One embodiment is directed to a non-contact, medical ultrasound therapy system for generating and controlling low frequency ultrasound. The ultrasound therapy system includes a treatment wand including an ultrasonic transducer, a generator unit, and a cable coupling the treatment wand to the generator unit. The generator unit generates electric power output to drive the ultrasonic transducer and includes a digital frequency generator, wherein the generator unit digitally controls energy output at resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

The present invention relates to methods of restoring cognitive function in aged individuals that do not exhibit a clinically detectable neurodegenerative disease. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of improving cognitive function in an aged individual that does not have a neurodegenerative disease characterized by aggregation of a pathological protein, the method comprising or consisting of: applying a clinically safe level of acoustic energy to sites within a region of the brain, thereby saturating or substantially saturating the region with acoustic energy, thereby improving cognitive function in the aged individual.

A wearable ultrasound device and method of using the device includes a power controller with a power source and at least one integrated circuit that delivers electrical power to an applicator. The applicator is electrically coupled to the power controller and a surface of the applicator transmits ultrasound to a wearer for a given duration. The applicator includes radio frequency (RF) drive electronics, an ultrasound transducer coupled to the drive electronics, a monitoring apparatus that includes a thermal cutoff coupled to the drive electronics, where the monitoring apparatus monitors a temperature of the applicator surface and the thermal cutoff turns off the applicator, if the temperature exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and a coupling bandage coupled to the applicator, where the bandage positions the surface of the applicator proximate to a wearer at a location on the body of a wearer.

Disclosed are methods of obtaining zero vergence ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy with ultrasound waves. The method includes coupling a sonodynamic therapy device with an array of flat piezoelectric transducers to a skin surface. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce a zero vergence ultrasound wave to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

Methods and systems for treating skin, such as stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis or a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for following a treatment protocol having one or more treatment parameters to cause a targeted physiological outcome at a distal site, assessing an expression level of a gene in a region of interest after completing the treatment protocol, and modifying the one or more treatment parameters based on the expression level of the gene. The treatment protocol may include one or more ultrasound energy treatments to the region of interest.

Methods of treating tumors by administering compounds to a patient are provided. Compounds such as pro drugs, e.g., 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), may be administered to the patient orally, by injection, intravenously, or topically, which then accumulate preferentially as compounds such as protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. After such accumulation, compounds such as PpIX are then activated in various aspects to treat tumors cells, thereby treating cancer. Cancers such as glioblastoma may be treated.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus, including eyewear and a contact lens, for delivering sound energy to an eye, comprising two or more sonic or ultrasonic transducers that emit sound energy, wherein each transducer is (i) operably linked to a power source and (b) capable of emitting sound energy at more than one frequency and for a variable time period; and a positioning mechanism to position the transducers at an exterior surface of an eye so as to deliver sound energy to an internal part of the eye, for example the Schlemm's canal or trabecular meshwork.