Systems and methods for coupling an ultrasound source to tissue

• US 10,245,449 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G., Jaeger, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffa, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US15/293,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for sensing coupling of an ultrasound source to a target and for providing a constant average output of power from an ultrasound source. The systems and methods can include a frequency sweep function. The systems and methods can also include receiving reflected energy from an acoustic window and determining a feedback using the reflected energy. The systems and methods can also include comparing the feedback with a threshold level and using the comparison to determine if the ultrasound source is coupled with a target.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an ultrasound source comprising a transducer;

an acoustically transparent standoff acoustically coupled to the transducer;

an acoustic window at a surface of the standoff, the acoustic window having a thickness of an integer multiple of half wavelength of ultrasound energy emitted by the ultrasound source; and

an ultrasound controller coupled to the transducer, the ultrasound controller configured to cause the transducer to emit the ultrasound energy, the ultrasound energy being frequency swept over time, the ultrasound controller monitoring a coupling status of the ultrasound source by measuring at least a portion of the ultrasound energy that is reflected by the acoustic window.