Dynamic acoustic focusing utilizing time reversal
First Claim
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1. A method of noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass within a substance to reduce or eliminate said mass, comprising the steps of:
- detecting the presence of said mass in said substance by applying acoustic energy to said substance, localizing said mass to determine its position within said substance, developing temporal signatures to drive said acoustical energy on said mass, and dynamic focusing said acoustical energy on said mass in said substance utilizing said temporal signatures to reduce or eliminate said mass.
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Abstract
Noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass such as a tumor within tissue to reduce or eliminate the mass. The presence of the mass in the tissue is detected by applying acoustic energy to the substance. The mass is localized to determine its position. Temporal signatures are developed to drive the acoustical energy on the mass. Dynamic focusing of the acoustical energy on the mass to reduce or eliminate it is accomplished utilizing the temporal signatures.
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Citations
94 Claims
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1. A method of noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass within a substance to reduce or eliminate said mass, comprising the steps of:
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detecting the presence of said mass in said substance by applying acoustic energy to said substance, localizing said mass to determine its position within said substance, developing temporal signatures to drive said acoustical energy on said mass, and dynamic focusing said acoustical energy on said mass in said substance utilizing said temporal signatures to reduce or eliminate said mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of treating tissue by noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass within said tissue to reduce or eliminate said mass, comprising the steps of:
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detecting the presence of said mass in said tissue by applying acoustic energy to said tissue, localizing said mass to determine its position within said tissue, developing temporal signatures to drive said acoustical energy on said mass, and dynamic focusing said acoustical energy on said mass in said tissue utilizing said temporal signatures to reduce or eliminate said mass. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass in a substance to reduce or eliminate said mass, comprising:
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means for applying acoustic energy to said substance for detecting said mass, means for localizing said mass, means for developing temporal signatures for driving said acoustical energy, and means for dynamic focusing said acoustical energy through said substance on said mass to reduce or eliminate said mass. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A system for treating tissue by treating tissue within said tissue to reduce or eliminate said mass, comprising:
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means for applying acoustic energy to said substance for detecting said mass, means for localizing said mass, means for developing temporal signatures for driving said acoustical energy, and means for dynamic focusing said acoustical energy through said substance on said mass to reduce or eliminate said mass. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A system for noninvasively focusing acoustical energy on a mass in a substance, comprising:
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a detector that transmits an initial acoustic signal into saidsubstance, detects said mass, and produces an initial acoustic signal, a processor that digitizes said initial acoustic signal, a time-reversal processor that converts said initial acoustic signal that has been digitized into a time-reversal signal, and an acoustic energy device that uses said time-reversal signal and focuses said acoustical energy on said mass in said substance.
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79. A method of treating a mass within tissue, comprising:
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receiving acoustic signals scattered from said tissue with a plurality of acoustic detectors disposed to at least partially surround at least a portion of said tissue;
applying treatment to said mass, wherein said step of applying treatment to said mass comprises directing acoustic radiation to said mass; and
evaluating the effect of said treatment on said mass by receiving acoustic signals scattered from said tissue with a plurality of acoustic detectors. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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Specification