Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling ultrasound power output and stability

• US 10,004,481 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Jaeger, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ROZANSKI, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US15/354,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00732 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy.

Claims

1. A system for providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer that emits ultrasound energy at a specific frequency and at a predetermined power level;

a power sensor that monitors a power level of the ultrasound energy over time;

a temperature sensor that monitors a temperature of the ultrasound transducer over time; and

an ultrasound controller in communication with the ultrasound transducer, the power sensor, and the temperature sensor,

the power sensor communicates the power level to the ultrasound controller,

the temperature sensor communicates the temperature of the ultrasound transducer to the ultrasound controller,

the ultrasound controller corrects a frequency of the ultrasound energy to the specific frequency upon the power level deviating from the predetermined power level,

the ultrasound controller corrects the frequency of the ultrasound energy to the specific frequency upon a change in the temperature of the ultrasound transducer, wherein the change of temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range, and

the ultrasound controller thereby maximizes efficiency of the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound energy.

2. A system for providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer that provides ultrasound energy at a center frequency at a predetermined voltage;

a voltage monitor that monitors a voltage level of power driving the ultrasound transducer over time;

a temperature sensor that monitors a temperature of the ultrasound transducer over time; and

an ultrasound controller in communication with the ultrasound transducer, the voltage monitor, and the temperature sensor,

the voltage monitor communicates the voltage level to the ultrasound controller,

the temperature communicates the temperature sensor to the controller,

the ultrasound controller corrects a frequency of the ultrasound energy to the center frequency upon a change in the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer, as compared to the predetermined voltage,

the ultrasound controller prevents a shift in the frequency of the ultrasound energy away from the center frequency upon a change in the temperature of the ultrasound transducer over time,

the ultrasound controller thereby maximizes efficiency of the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound energy.

3. A system for delivering ultrasound energy, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer that emits ultrasound energy, the ultrasound energy initially emitted at a predetermined frequency;

a power sensor that monitors a current power level of the ultrasound energy;

a temperature sensor that monitors a current temperature of the ultrasound transducer; and

an ultrasound controller in communication with the ultrasound transducer, the power sensor, and the temperature sensor,

the ultrasound controller determines if the current temperature of the ultrasound transducer has changed outside a predetermined temperature range, and in response to determining that the current temperature of the ultrasound transducer has changed outside the predetermined temperature range corrects a frequency of the ultrasound energy to the predetermined frequency,

the ultrasound controller determines if the current power level of the ultrasound energy has deviated from a predetermined power level, and in response to determining that the current power level of the ultrasound energy has deviated from the predetermined power level corrects the frequency of the ultrasound energy to the predetermined frequency.