In one aspect, in accordance with one embodiment, a method includes acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data corresponding to bone tissue in an area of interest of a subject that is heated from the application of localized energy. The acquiring includes applying a three-dimensional (3D) ultra-short echo time (UTE) spiral acquisition sequence. The method also includes detecting, from the acquired magnetic resonance data, a change in MR response signal due to a change in at least one of relaxation rate and magnetization density caused by heating of the bone tissue; and determining, based at least in part on the change in the MR response signal, that the temperature of the bone tissue has changed.

A method of a soft tissue treatment comprises placing an applicator adjacent to a surface of a body part, the applicator including at least one electrode, providing a fastening mechanism fixing the applicator in contact with the body part, providing a radiofrequency energy by the at least one electrode causing a heating of the soft tissue, providing an electric current to the soft tissue by the at least one electrode causing a muscle contraction, and controlling heating of the soft tissue by the radiofrequency energy and parameters of the electric current provided by the at least one electrode via a control unit, wherein an energy flux density of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.01 mW.Math.mm.sup.−2 to 10 W.Math.mm.sup.−2 and a frequency of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.1 MHz to 25 GHz, and wherein the body part comprises a face or a chin.

The present discussion relates to the delivery of ultrasonic therapy energy to a target region in conjunction with a clear path determination that may assess one or more of: (1) presence of non-soft tissue regions within the therapy beam path (e.g., bone or bone-like structures, gas-filled cavities, and so forth), (2) partial “lift-off” of the probe head; or (3) sufficiency of acoustic coupling. Upon determination or confirmation of at least a partial clear path with respect to some or all of these factors, the therapy beam may be delivered to the target region.

Arrangements described herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for managing gel on a subject to provide gel on a first area of the subject, including controlling a transducer to move to a second area of the subject and controlling the transducer to move the gel to the first area from the second area.

A focused ultrasound device and method for dermatological treatment. The focused ultrasound device includes a focused ultrasound applicator, an automatic motion mechanism, a driver, a computer, a software operation interface. In addition, the focused ultrasound method for dermatological treatment utilizes the same focused ultrasound applicator, to achieve coaxial deep layer and shallow layer ablation treatment of the skin.

Provided is an ultrasonic generator with an adjustable ultrasonic focusing depth. The ultrasonic generator with an adjustable ultrasonic focusing depth includes a cartridge housing in which an ultrasound generation portion generating ultrasonic waves is provided, a hand piece in which the cartridge housing is detachably mounted, the hand piece having a first actuator thereinside, and a main shaft to which the ultrasound generation portion is coupled so as to reciprocate in a horizontal direction, parallel to the bottom of the cartridge housing and a vertical direction, perpendicular to the bottom of the cartridge housing. One end of the main shaft is coupled to one end of the first actuator of the hand piece, and an other end of the main shaft is located inside the cartridge housing. The hand piece includes an adjustment portion adjusting an ultrasonic focusing depth of the ultrasound generation portion.

Disclosed are methods of obtaining zero vergence ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy with ultrasound waves that do not converge and do not diverge. 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.

The present invention is directed to methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases and/or improving cognitive function, in particular those associated with protein oligomers, aggregates or deposits, using acoustic energy, such as ultrasound. An 5 example of such a neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease. The present invention provides a method of improving cognitive function and/or memory in an individual with impaired memory and/or executive function, the method including the steps of identifying a region of the brain of the individual to be treated with acoustic energy, applying a clinically safe level of acoustic energy to the region, thereby 10 saturating or substantially saturating the region with acoustic energy, thereby improving memory in the individual.

Various approaches for enhancing treatment of target tissue using a source of focused ultrasound while limiting damage to non-target tissue include selecting a frequency of ultrasound waves transmitted from the source of focused ultrasound for generating a focus in the target tissue; providing microbubbles having the first size distribution such that at least 50% of the microbubbles have a radius smaller than a critical radius corresponding to a resonance frequency matching the selected frequency of ultrasound waves; and applying the ultrasound waves at the selected frequency to treat the target tissue.

Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and/or imaging system and method can include use of transducer to create a linear thermal treatment zone at a focal depth to form a band shaped treatment area. The system can include one or more ultrasound transducers, a cylindrical transduction element, an imaging element, a hand wand, a removable transducer module, a control module, and/or graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a coated transducer may be used to provide more consistent treatment in cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, fat reduction, sweat reduction, and treatment of the décolletage. Skin tightening, lifting and amelioration of wrinkles and stretch marks are provided. Treatment may include heating of tissue for a duration to deactivate a percentage of cells in the treatment region.