A multi-frequency ultrasound therapy apparatus is configured to operate at its center frequency and at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. The center frequency can be for the entire apparatus or for each ultrasound source element. At least one source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency while, simultaneously, at least another source element can generate ultrasound energy at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. In addition, the same source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency and the higher harmonic of its center frequency, respectively, but at different times. A data storage unit that stores encrypted and encoded data is disposed on the apparatus. The encoded data includes a unique identification code of the apparatus, the condition of use of the apparatus, the center frequency of each source element, the ultrasound efficiency of each source element, and/or other parameters relating to the apparatus.

Systems and methods for applying therapeutic ultrasound to the brain while using ultrasound to compensate for the attenuation and dephasing of ultrasound by each individual's head. The compensation delivers into the target deterministic ultrasound intensity. The compensation is based on relative ultrasound through-transmit measurements, which are performed using a set of ultrasonic emitters over one side of the head and a set of receivers on the other side. The measurements are performed with the head absent and present. Based on the difference between these measurements, the set of ultrasound waves is adjusted to compensate for attenuations and dephasing caused by the ultrasound wave passing into the head through the skull and scalp. The adjusted set of ultrasound waves provides intended, deterministic ultrasound intensity at the target location. The deterministic delivery enables safe and effective ultrasonic neuromodulation, safe and effective local drug release from nanoparticle carriers, and safe and effective microbubble-based disruption of blood-brain barrier for the delivery of drugs, genes, and stem cells across the blood-brain barrier.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

This device (2) for generating ultrasonic waves in a target region of a soft solid, includes at least two ultrasound sources (32), light sources (40) distributed around a central axis (X2) of the device (2), for enlightening a zone of the soft solid via subsurface scattering, and a video camera (50), for capturing images of the zone enlightened by the lighting means. The ultrasound source (32), the light sources (40) and the video camera (50) are mounted on a body of the device (20) and oriented toward a common target zone which includes a focal point of the ultrasound sources (32). A boresight of the video camera is aligned on the central axis (X2).

Cancer treatment methods using thermotherapy and/or enhanced immunotherapy are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying controlled thermal energy at 40-43° C. for a first predetermined time period to damage and weaken tumor cells of a tumor in a patient; (ii) administering pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) in a first ultrasound mode to the tumor cells in the patient so as to damage the tumor cells without increasing the thermal energy; and (iii) administering low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in a second ultrasound mode to further damage the tumor cells at a temperature of 39-43° C. for a second predetermined time period while performing observation of the tumor cells by ultrasonic thermometry.

A medical apparatus for mitigating formation of kidney stones in a human patient can include or use a turbulence generator deployable into a renal pelvis of a human kidney, the generator comprising an element configured to produce an acoustic wave in a medium within the renal pelvis, and an actuator configured such as to manipulate the turbulence generator; wherein one of the turbulence generator or the actuator can be configured for coupling with a source of power.

A system for delivering drugs or other molecules to the brain comprises an ultrasound imaging transducer configured to image structures such as the circle of Willis within a patient's head by way of a low attenuation acoustic window. The system includes a processor configured to register the ultrasound images to previously obtained images which also include the structures. The system includes ultrasound transducer elements operable to deliver ultrasound energy to a target region to cause the blood brain barrier to open. The system may include a drug delivery system that may be operated to deliver a drug to the patient in coordination with opening the blood brain barrier. Coordinates of the target region relative to the ultrasound imaging transducer are determined using registration information.

When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Disclosed herein is a non-invasive treatment system using intermedium, and an exemplary treatment system is configured to output high-intensity focused ultrasound to remove bone tissue, inject an acoustically-transparent medium into a part where the bone tissue is removed to generate an intermedium, and output therapeutic ultrasound that passes through the intermedium. Accordingly, the bone tissue is removed in a non-invasive way using high-intensity focused ultrasound, and the intermedium is generated at the bone tissue removed site, to increase the penetration of therapeutic ultrasound or generate ultrasound itself, thereby improving an ultrasound treatment effect while minimizing the side effect (for example, infection of dura mater) of invasive surgery methods.

For intraluminal ultrasound probes, the transducer is divided into multiple segments. The segments are connected in a way that allows them to slide relative to each other. This sliding arrangement allows for the transducer to be used in two different apertures at different times while in the patient. One aperture is shaped for insertion of the probe through a limited space, and the other aperture forms an array with a larger elevation extent, allowing greater quality imaging along the elevation dimension.