Patent classifications
A61N2007/0021
Implants using ultrasonic backscatter for sensing physiological conditions
Described herein is an implantable device having a sensor configured to detect an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, strain, or a pressure; and an ultrasonic transducer with a length of about 5 mm or less in the longest dimension, configured to receive current modulated based on the analyte amount, the pH, the temperature, or the pressure detected by the sensor, and emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the received current. The implantable device can be implanted in a subject, such as an animal or a plant. Also described herein are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also described are methods of detecting an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, a strain, or a pressure.
Methods and devices for modulating cellular activity using ultrasound
The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.
IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR IMAGING AND/OR TREATMENT OF BRAIN TISSUE
The present invention relates to an implantable device (1) comprising: an ultrasonic unit (11) which includes an electric connection terminal, a support plate (12) which includes a through-opening for the connection terminal to pass through, and an attachment piece (13) which can cooperate with the connection terminal, the attachment piece (13) including a collar for pressing the support plate (12) against the ultrasonic unit (11) when the ultrasonic unit (11), the support plate (12) and the attachment piece (13) are joined.
Conscious animal ultrasonic neural regulation device
Provided is a conscious animal ultrasonic neural regulation device, including a pulse signal generation module, a transducer module and a fixing module. The pulse signal generation module is configured to generate a pulse signal with high energy. The ultrasonic transducer module is configured to convert the pulse signal into an ultrasound. The fixing module includes an upper fixing module and a lower fixing module. The upper fixing module is configured to fix the ultrasonic transducer module, and the lower fixing module is configured to be fixed on an animal neural regulation target point. The upper fixing module and the lower fixing module are connected by a connecting component. The conscious animal neural regulation device of the present disclosure can perform accurate ultrasonic stimulation on a cerebral cortex and subcortex of the animal, thereby exploring and verifying the stimulation effect of the ultrasound on the animal, which is easy in operation and convenient in use.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING BODY LUMEN SIZE
A tissue treatment system and method of using the tissue treatment system determines a size of a body lumen, or a neuromodulation parameter corresponding to the size of the body lumen. The tissue treatment system fills a balloon with a fluid when the balloon is within a body lumen. A fluid parameter of the fluid is detected over a period of time. A parameter curve of the fluid parameter is determined. The parameter curve includes the fluid parameter versus an independent variable over the period of time. The system compares the parameter curve of the fluid parameter to a reference curve and, based on the comparison, determine the body lumen size or the neuromodulation parameter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH MRI-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND
Systems and methods for sonicating a body within an organ of a patient include supplying ultrasound energy to the body in order to produce a liquified material, which can then be aspirated from the body via a catheter. Image guidance is used during aspiration of the liquified material.
ULTRASOUND SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR TRANSCRANIAL TREATMENT
The present disclosure relates to transcranial ultrasound systems, devices, and methods which are used for treatment rather than for imaging or medical diagnosis. In accordance with one aspect, a system for applying ultrasound energy includes at least three ultrasound applicators configured to be secured against a head of a person and configured to apply ultrasound energy to the head of the person when activated, and a controller configured to control activation and deactivation of the at least three ultrasound applicators based on a predetermined treatment sequence.
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPARSE PHASED ARRAYS FOR GUIDING FOCUSED ULTRASOUND THERAPIES
Multifunctional ultrasound systems and methods for body section registration and mapping of microbubble dynamics. A system is provided that includes one or more micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays (MUTAs) configured to capture a high-resolution image of at least a portion of a body section using ultrasound and monitor microbubble activity during ultrasound treatment. The system includes an image registration module configured to spatially register the high-resolution image with a reference image. The system includes electronics configured to control one or more of drive signal amplitude, frequency filtering, multiplexing, and DC bias voltage. The system can be configured to control ultrasound treatment based on the monitoring of the microbubble activity during treatment.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODULATION OF DEEP BRAIN CIRCUITS
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.
Ultrasound guided opening of blood-brain barrier
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.