Ultrasound phased arrays
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating tissue with a HIFU System including a transducer, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing HIFU Therapy to a first portion of the tissue, the first portion being located at a first distance from the transducer;
providing HIFU Therapy to a second portion of the tissue, the second portion being located at a second distance from the transducer;
maintaining a generally constant f-number with the transducer when providing HIFU Therapy to both the first portion of the tissue and the second portion of the tissue.
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Abstract
Ultrasound transducers are disclosed which focus acoustic energy at various focal locations while minimizing focal spot degradation and the generation of unwanted on-axis or off-axis energy concentrations through using a generally constant f-number at the various focal locations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating tissue with a HIFU System including a transducer, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing HIFU Therapy to a first portion of the tissue, the first portion being located at a first distance from the transducer;
providing HIFU Therapy to a second portion of the tissue, the second portion being located at a second distance from the transducer;
maintaining a generally constant f-number with the transducer when providing HIFU Therapy to both the first portion of the tissue and the second portion of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of conducting a HIFU treatment to a target tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a transducer proximate to target tissue, the transducer having a variable aperture;
imaging the target tissue;
selecting a plurality of treatment sites within the target tissue to be treated with HIFU Therapy, a first treatment site being located a first distance from the transducer and a second treatment site being located a second distance from the transducer; and
providing HIFU Therapy to the plurality of treatment sites with the transducer, the transducer having a first aperture when providing therapy to the first treatment site and having a second aperture when providing therapy to the second treatment site, at least one of an active extent of the first aperture and an active extent of the second aperture being chosen so that a ratio of the second distance to the active extent of the second aperture is generally equal to a ratio of the first distance to the active extent of the first aperture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A transducer for use with a HIFU System, the transducer, comprising:
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an active surface having a plurality of transducer elements; and
a controller operably coupled to the transducer, the controller being configured to select which transducer elements emit acoustic energy and to control such emissions to focus the acoustic energy at various focal depths so that the active surface has a generally constant f-number at the various focal depths. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling the emission of acoustic energy from a plurality of transducer elements of a multi-element transducer such that the acoustic energy is focused at a desired location, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a phase and an amplitude required for each transducer element;
providing a reference continuous wave signal to each transducer element;
digitally generating from the reference signal a delayed and pulse-width modulated signal for each transducer element;
generating an amplitude modulated analog signal for each transducer element based on the delayed and pulse-width modulated signal for the respective transducer element; and
driving the transducer element with the amplitude modulated analog signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of imaging a targeted tissue and treating portions of the tissue with HIFU Therapy, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a transducer having a longitudinal extent at least equal to a longitudinal extent of the targeted tissue, the transducer including a plurality of individually controlled transducer elements;
electronically scanning a first sub-aperture of the transducer to generate at least one image of the targeted tissue while the transducer is held in place longitudinally;
identifying portions of the targeted tissue for treatment with HIFU Therapy;
treating each of the identified portions of the targeted tissue with HIFU Therapy. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification