Systems and methods for applying pulsed ultrasonic energy
First Claim
1. A system for applying ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity of an individual comprising an ultrasound applicator sized to be placed in acoustic contact with the individual to transcutaneously apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity, and an electrical signal generating machine adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound applicator, the electrical signal generating machine including a controller to generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound applicator during a treatment session to produce ultrasound energy in pulses at a prescribed pulse repetition frequency (PRF), a prescribed fundamental therapeutic frequency laying within a range of fundamental therapeutic frequencies not exceeding about 500 kHz, and at a duty cycle (DC) of about 50% or less, wherein DC=PD divided by 1/PRF, where PD is the amount of time for one pulse.
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Abstract
Systems and methods apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity of an individual. The systems and methods couple an electrical signal generating machine to an ultrasound applicator. The electrical signal generating machine includes a controller to generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound applicator during a treatment session to produce ultrasound energy in pulses at (i) a prescribed pulse repetition frequency (PRF), (ii) a prescribed fundamental therapeutic frequency laying within a range of fundamental therapeutic frequencies not exceeding about 500 kHz, and (iii) at a duty cycle (DC) of about 50% or less. According to this aspect of the invention, the duty cycle (DC) is expressed as DC=PD divided by 1/PRF, where PD is the amount of time for one pulse.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for applying ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity of an individual comprising
an ultrasound applicator sized to be placed in acoustic contact with the individual to transcutaneously apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity, and an electrical signal generating machine adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound applicator, the electrical signal generating machine including a controller to generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound applicator during a treatment session to produce ultrasound energy in pulses at a prescribed pulse repetition frequency (PRF), a prescribed fundamental therapeutic frequency laying within a range of fundamental therapeutic frequencies not exceeding about 500 kHz, and at a duty cycle (DC) of about 50% or less, wherein DC=PD divided by 1/PRF, where PD is the amount of time for one pulse.
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18. A method for applying ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity of an individual comprising the steps of
placing an ultrasound applicator in acoustic contact with the individual to transcutaneously apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity, and generating electrical signals to operate the ultrasound applicator during a treatment session to produce ultrasound energy in pulses at a prescribed pulse repetition frequency (PRF), a prescribed fundamental therapeutic frequency laying within a range of fundamental therapeutic frequencies not exceeding about 500 kHz, and at a duty cycle (DC) of about 50% or less, wherein DC=PD divided by 1/PRF, where PD is the amount of time for one pulse.
Specification