Ultrasound transducers for imaging and therapy
First Claim
1. An ultrasound applicator that is capable of both ultrasound imaging and administering ultrasound therapy to a site, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements configured in an array and mounted in a housing;
(b) a plurality of conductors adapted to couple a control system to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, for conveying signals that energize the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in one of an imaging mode and a therapy mode; and
(c) a quality factor circuit adapted to couple to the control system and connected to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, said quality factor circuit including a switch that is selectively actuated to vary a quality factor associated with the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements based upon whether the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements are operated in the imaging mode or the therapy mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasound applicators able to both image a treatment site and administer ultrasound therapy include an array of transducer elements that can be focused. In several embodiments, an electronically phased array is used for controlling the focal point of an ultrasound beam. The ultrasound beam produced thereby can also be electronically steered. To reduce the quality factor or Q of the array when the array is used for imaging, an electronic switch is selectively closed, placing a resistance in parallel with each of the array elements. A flexible array is employed in several embodiments and is selectively bent or flexed to vary its radius of curvature and thus control the focal point and/or a direction of focus of the array. In another embodiment, each of the transducer elements comprising the array are individually mechanically pivotable to steer the ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer elements.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. An ultrasound applicator that is capable of both ultrasound imaging and administering ultrasound therapy to a site, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements configured in an array and mounted in a housing;
(b) a plurality of conductors adapted to couple a control system to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, for conveying signals that energize the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in one of an imaging mode and a therapy mode; and
(c) a quality factor circuit adapted to couple to the control system and connected to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, said quality factor circuit including a switch that is selectively actuated to vary a quality factor associated with the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements based upon whether the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements are operated in the imaging mode or the therapy mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for selectively employing an ultrasound transducer for ultrasound imaging and for administering ultrasound therapy, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selectively energizing the ultrasound transducer in one of an imaging mode and a therapy mode;
(b) while energizing the ultrasound transducer in the imaging mode, selectively reducing a quality factor associated with the ultrasound transducer; and
(c) while energizing the ultrasound transducer in the therapy mode, enabling a substantially greater quality factor to be associated with the ultrasound transducer, than when operating in the imaging mode. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A flexible ultrasound transducer comprising:
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(a) a thermally and electrically conductive layer;
(b) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements supported by the thermally and electrically conductive layer, in a spaced-apart array, adjacent ultrasound transducer elements in the array being separated by a kerf that is filled with a deformable material that readily expands and contracts without being damaged during bending of the array;
(c) an outer impedance matching layer disposed over an outer surface of the thermally and electrically conductive layer; and
(d) a plurality of electrodes disposed on an opposite end of each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements from that supported by the thermally and electrically conductive layer, said plurality of ultrasound transducer elements being energized by a signal applied between the plurality of electrodes and the thermally and electrically conductive layer, said flexible ultrasound transducer being bendable to a desired radius of curvature to achieve a desired focal point for the flexible transducer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for selectively controlling at least one of a direction in which an ultrasound beam is emitted by an ultrasound transducer and a focus point of the ultrasound transducer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a flexible transducer array that includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements supported on a flexible layer;
(b) energizing the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements so that they emit an ultrasound beam; and
(c) enabling a user to selectively cause the flexible transducer array to bend so that the flexible transducer array assumes a curvature that achieves at least one of a desired direction and a desired focal point for the ultrasound beam emitted by the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.
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44. An ultrasound transducer that emits an ultrasound beam in at least one of a desired direction and at a desired focal point, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements that are pivotally mounted in a spaced-apart array; and
(b) a plurality of actuators coupled to the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and adapted to selectively rotate the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements about an axis of each, thereby orienting each of the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer element so that it is directed in a desired direction, and so that when energized, the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements collectively emit an ultrasound beam in at least one of a desired direction and a desired focal point. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of mechanically controlling at least one of a desired direction and at a desired focal point of an ultrasound beam emitted by a plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements that are pivotally mounted to rotate when actuated by a linkage;
(b) actuating the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements so that each emit an ultrasound signal; and
(c) selectively rotating the plurality of separate ultrasound transducer elements about their respective axes so that the ultrasound signals they produce are combined in an ultrasound beam that is directed in at least one of a desired direction and at a desired focus.
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50. An ultrasound applicator that is capable of both ultrasound imaging and administering ultrasound therapy to a site, comprising:
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(a) a ultrasound transducer mounted in a housing;
(b) a plurality of conductors adapted to couple a control system to the ultrasound transducer, for conveying signals that energize the ultrasound transducer in one of an imaging mode and a therapy mode; and
(c) a quality factor circuit adapted to couple to the control system and connected to the ultrasound transducer, said quality factor circuit including a switch that is selectively actuated to vary a quality factor associated with the ultrasound transducer based upon whether the ultrasound transducer is operated in the imaging mode or the therapy mode. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification