Methods and systems for modulation and mapping of brain tissue in a subject using an ultrasound assembly are provided. An exemplary method for modulation uses an ultrasound assembly including a housing and an ultrasound transducer joined to the housing. The method includes securing the housing to the head of the subject with the ultrasound transducer aligned with a region of the brain tissue to target the region of the brain tissue for modulating, and providing focused ultrasound at an acoustic pressure to the targeted region using the ultrasound transducer to induce cavitation proximate the targeted region. The method further includes detecting a cavitation signal magnitude from the induced cavitation corresponding to the acoustic pressure and modulating the targeted region.

The present disclosure provides implants, sensor modules, networks, and methods configured to establish transcutaneous power and transcutaneous bidirectional data communication using ultrasound signals between two or more medical devices located on and within a body of a patient.

An ultrasound-emitting apparatus for applying selective treatments to hypodermic tissue (adipose tissue and connective tissue) in body rejuvenation/remodelling processes, by an electric-pulse generator, an ultrasound transducer (3), an electronic control device (6) provided with specific software that controls the frequency, voltage and work cycle of the pulse generator; and application means (4) for orienting and directing the acoustic field on the area of the patient/user to be treated, wherein, in each firing, the transducer emits an acoustic field with an energy density no greater than 0.7 W/cm.sup.2 and a minimum emission duration of 100 ms. Preferably, the transducer emits either at a single frequency or in a frequency sweep, in a frequency range of 185-333 kHz, and even more preferably at 244 kHz.

Systems and methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Lifting sagging tissue on a face, neck, and/or body are described. Treatment with heat is provided in several embodiments.

An apparatus and method for automatically lysing a clot to recanalize vessels using ultrasound, with or without nanoparticles, microbubbles, thrombolytic drugs or other agents, is described herein. At least one ultrasound transducer with a specified geometry, bandwidth and/or transmit pulse characteristics can generate a more uniform 3-dimensional volume of defocused acoustic energy into a target area of the body. When an agent (such as, but not limited to, microbubbles) is used to lyse a clot, a certain level of ultrasound energy may be desired in order to effect certain actions or states of the agent. Bone attenuation may present an issue inhibiting sufficient ultrasound energy from reaching the agent in order to attain the desired agent action. The relative patient dimensions and location of the clot may also present an issue.

A system and method for producing pressure waves accelerating a projectile membrane in response to a pulse of force produced by a power source. The accelerating membrane delivers kinetic energy to a target membrane upon collision. Following the collision, the power source may continue to deliver additional energy to the now-in-contact membranes. The kinetic energy of the impact and the additional energy following the impact contribute to producing pressure waves by the target membrane.

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.

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention there is provided an acoustic mirror (200, 600, 700, 800), including an ultrasound beam deflecting surface (306) and a base couplable to an ultrasound catheter (102) comprising an ultrasound beam emitting surface (104). When the acoustic mirror is mounted on the ultrasound catheter the deflecting surface is angled in relation to ultrasound beam emitting surface and configured to (i) at least partially interfere with a path of propagation of an ultrasound beam mitted from the emitting surface and (ii) deflect the ultrasound beam impinging on the deflecting surface. Other embodiments are also described.

Approaches for focusing an ultrasound transducer having multiple transducer elements include generating the first sonication to one or more target regions and measuring the first set of reflection signals resulting from the first sonication; based on the first set of reflection signals, determining whether a target number or a target occurrence rate of focusing events has been reached; if not, generating the second sonication at an adjusted acoustic power to the target region(s) and measuring the second set of reflection signals resulting from the second sonication; and based at least in part on the second set of reflection signals, adjusting a parameter value associated with one or more transducer elements so as to improve an ultrasound focus at the target region(s).

A medical device includes a treatment module configured to apply a treatment to a patient. The medical device includes an interface configured to operatively connect to a removable storage device storing authorization data that identifies a level of treatment authorization. The medical device includes a processing device configured to perform operations in response to receiving user input indicating a treatment should be initiated. The operations include determining whether the removable storage device is valid for use with the medical device. If the removable storage device is determined to be valid, the authorization data is accessed. The processing device determines whether the treatment is authorized based on the accessed authorization data. If the treatment is determined to be authorized, the treatment module is controlled to apply the treatment. If the treatment is determined to not be authorized, the treatment module is controlled such that the treatment is not applied.