Various approaches for delivering ultrasound energy to a target region during a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure includes implementing an adjustment mechanism having a machine-learning model that has been trained, based on input vectors corresponding to a difference and/or a ratio of parameter values between multiple transducer elements, to generate, for each of the transducer elements, one or more parameter value to compensate for expected beam aberration resulting for an intervening tissue; and activating the transducer elements in accordance with the corresponding parameter values so as to generate an optimized focal zone at the target region during the therapeutic or diagnostic procedure.

An apparatus comprises a source of ultrasound energy comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers. Each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers is configured to direct ultrasound energy to a treatment region located at a depth below a skin surface associated with a patient. The apparatus further comprises a control system for controlling power to the plurality of ultrasound transducers and a water circulation system for controlling a temperature associated with the plurality of ultrasound transducers. The apparatus further comprises an imaging transducer for spatially registering the location of the treatment region.

Some embodiments relate to a method of reducing excess mucosa production and/or secretion in the respiratory tract, comprising: introducing into a respiratory tract lumen a device configured for damaging nerve tissue or blocking neural conduction in the surroundings of said lumen, the device comprising a plurality of energy emitters; positioning the energy emitters of the device inside the lumen at a distance from walls of the lumen; and activating the energy emitters to emit energy suitable to damage the nerve tissue enough to suppress parasympathetic nerve activity which causes excess mucosa production and/or secretion.

A universal ultrasound device having an ultrasound probe includes a semiconductor die; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers integrated on the semiconductor die, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to operate a first mode associated with a first frequency range and a second mode associated with a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range is at least partially non-overlapping with the second frequency range; and control circuitry configured to: control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the first frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the first mode; and control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the second frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the second mode.

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided procedure in which focused energy is applied to an area of interest of a subject. Disclosed herein are coupling baths comprising an aqueous solution comprising a plurality of paramagnetic particles dispersed in water, wherein, when magnetic resonance images are collected from the area of interest of the subject for MRI guidance: the coupling bath is located proximate to the area of interest, and the composition, the average particle size, the shape, the concentration, the presence or absence of the capping layer, the identity of the plurality of ligands when the capping layer is present, the average thickness of the capping layer when the capping layer is present, or a combination thereof is/are selected such that the coupling bath reduces or prevents imaging artifacts in the magnetic resonance images for the MRI guidance.

An ultrasound transducer assembly is connectable to an ultrasound system and comprises one or more ultrasound transducer elements supported by a cap. The ultrasound transducer elements are operable to direct ultrasound energy toward brain tissue of a subject and/or to receive echo ultrasound energy when the ultrasound transducer assembly is mounted on the head of the subject. Some embodiments include a fillable jacket coupled to the inner surface of the cap and in acoustic contact with the one or more transducer elements.

Method and system for localizing a region of interest in a medium in which cavitation occurs. Method for localizing a region of interest (R) in a medium (M) in which cavitation occurs, the method comprising the steps consisting in: producing cavitation in the region of interest (R), the cavitation generating an acoustic signal, at each of at least three separate positions, detecting a cavitation signal representative of the acoustic signal of the cavitation, for at least two pairs of cavitation signals, determining a delay between the cavitation signals of each pair of cavitation signals, calculating a localization of the region of interest (R) based on the delays and the positions.

An ultrasound treatment system operable to deliver ultrasound energy to a patient's brain, the system comprises a treatment ultrasound transducer comprising a plurality of treatment elements, the treatment ultrasound transducer locatable to deliver ultrasound into the head of the patient. The system further comprises a data store, one or more position sensors configured to detect relative movement between the head of the patient and the treatment ultrasound transducer, and a data processor.

A pliable cover adapted to cover an active area of an ultrasound probe is described. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements. The pliable cover includes a polymer layer that holds a coupling agent (4) that couples the ultrasound transducer elements to a body surface and a regular pattern of channels extending through the pliable cover. An ultrasound probe arrangement is also described and includes the pliable cover. An ultrasound system including the ultrasound probe arrangement, and a method of positioning the ultrasound probe in a region of a body are also described.

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.