Ultrasound method and system
First Claim
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1. A method for ultrasonic treatment of tissue, comprising:
- providing a transducer assembly having a first diagnostic transducer and a second therapy transducer each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being arranged with adjustable focal position;
positioning said transducer assembly to insonify tissue to be treated in a region of tissue structure using said diagnostic transducer;
insonifying said tissue to be treated using said therapy transducer;
determining movement of said tissue with respect to said transducer assembly using said diagnostic transducer; and
adjusting said focal position of said therapy transducer to compensate for said tissue movement and further insonifying said tissue using said therapy transducer with adjusted focal position.
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Abstract
Diagnostic ultrasound is used to measure distance from a transducer to selected tissue structure. In one arrangement, the focal point of a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer is adjusted in accordance with measured distance to the selected tissue structure. In a second arrangement a transducer transport apparatus moves a transducer to maintain a selected distance from tissue structure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for ultrasonic treatment of tissue, comprising:
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providing a transducer assembly having a first diagnostic transducer and a second therapy transducer each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being arranged with adjustable focal position;
positioning said transducer assembly to insonify tissue to be treated in a region of tissue structure using said diagnostic transducer;
insonifying said tissue to be treated using said therapy transducer;
determining movement of said tissue with respect to said transducer assembly using said diagnostic transducer; and
adjusting said focal position of said therapy transducer to compensate for said tissue movement and further insonifying said tissue using said therapy transducer with adjusted focal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for guiding motion and orientation of an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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transporting said transducer in a first selected transducer path and operating said ultrasonic transducer to record data corresponding to at least one feature of tissue to be examined;
determining from said data a second transducer path having a selected distance from said tissue feature; and
transporting said transducer along said second transducer path while further operating said transducer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for ultrasonic therapy, comprising:
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a transducer assembly including a first diagnostic transducer and a second therapy transducer each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being responsive to at least two signals having the same frequency and variable phase with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being responsive to variation of phase of said signals to change focal position of radiation therefrom;
a diagnostic system coupled to said diagnostic transducer for determining distance to a selected reflecting portion of tissue; and
a phase controller responsive to signals from said diagnostic system for controlling phase of said at least two signals in response to a change in said distance to said selected portion of tissue.
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14. Apparatus for ultrasonic insonification of tissue having a tissue contour, comprising:
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a transducer for insonifying tissue;
a variable transport apparatus carrying said transducer and arranged to move said tissue in at least two directions, including a first direction toward and away from said transducer and a second direction generally transverse to said first direction;
a diagnostic system for determining distance of said tissue contour from transducer and said transport apparatus as said transducer is moved in said second direction to thereby determine said tissue contour; and
a transport controller for operating said transport apparatus to transport said transducer in said first and second directions to maintain a selected distance of said transducer from said tissue contour. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. Apparatus for ultrasonic therapy, comprising:
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a transducer assembly arranged to function as a diagnostic transducer and a therapy transducer for emitting diagnostic and therapy ultrasonic beams, each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other;
a signal generator for supplying therapy signals to said transducer, said signal generator being responsive to control signals to change focal position of therapy radiation from said transducer;
a diagnostic system coupled to said diagnostic transducer for determining position of a selected reflecting portion of tissue; and
a controller responsive to signals from said diagnostic system for providing control signals in response to a change in said position of said selected portion of tissue.
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Specification