Method and system for ultrasound treatment with a multi-directional transducer

• US 20060058707A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,393,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment utilizing a multi-directional transducer to facilitate treatment, such as therapy and/or imaging or other tissue parameter monitoring, in two or more directions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-directional transducer comprises a transduction element configured to provide for ultrasound energy, such as radiation, acoustical energy, heat energy, imaging, positional information and/or tissue parameter monitoring signals in two or more directions. The transduction element can comprise various materials for providing ultrasound energy or radiation, such as piezoelectric materials, with and without matching layers. In addition, the transduction element can be configured for substantially uniform, focused and/or defocused radiation patterns, as well as for single, multiple-element and/or multiple-element array configurations. In addition, an exemplary multi-directional transducer can comprise multiple elements, either side by side, stacked or in an array.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system for facilitating treatment, said ultrasound system comprising:

a control system configured to control operation of said ultrasound system; and

a multi-directional transducer configured for facilitating treatment in at least two regions of interest, said multi-directional transducer comprising a single transduction element, said single transduction element having both a first firing face and a second firing face and configured for radiating ultrasound energy to provide a first radiation pattern and a second radiation pattern.

3. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said transduction element comprises a single piezoelectrically active material.

4. An ultrasound system according to claim 3, wherein said piezoelectrically active material comprises at least one of lead zirconante titanate, lead titanate, barium titanate, lead metaniobate and lithium niobate.

5. An ultrasound system according to claim 4, wherein said transduction element further comprises a matching layer configured along said piezoelectrically active material.

6. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises:

an electrical coupling for enabling transfer of signals to and from said transduction element; and

a mechanical mounting mechanism configured to reduce interference from said electrical coupling.

7. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said second firing face is configured to provide damping effects to acoustical energy provided by said first firing face.

8. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said second firing face is configured without acoustic isolation.

9. An ultrasound system according to claim 8, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured with acoustical loading.

10. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are substantially opposed.

11. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured to generate ultrasound energy simultaneously in at least two directions.

12. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured to generate ultrasound energy in an alternating manner in at least two directions.

13. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound system further comprises a tubular member configured for covering said multidirectional transducer to facilitate invasive treatment.

14. An ultrasound system according to claim 13, wherein said multidirectional transducer is configured for at least one of rotational and translational movement.

15. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured for capturing two-directional information from said multi-directional transducer with respect to a patient, and to assess the information to facilitate multi-directional therapy.

16. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises a first transduction element having said first firing face for radiating ultrasound energy to provide a first radiation pattern, and a second transduction element having providing at least a third said second firing face and configured for radiating ultrasound energy to at least a third a second radiation pattern, said first transduction element and said second transduction element configured in a stacked arrangement.

17. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises a single transduction element having more than two firing faces configured for radiating ultrasound energy to provide more than two radiation patterns.

18. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises a combined ultrasonic imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring transducer.

19. An ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound system further comprises a coupling system configured for acoustic coupling between said multi-directional transducer and the at least two regions of interest.

20. An ultrasound system according to claim 19, wherein said coupling system is configured for controlled cooling of an interface surface proximate the at least two regions of interest to facilitate control of thermal energy effects of said ultrasound system.

2. (canceled)

21. A multidirectional transducer configured for facilitating treatment to at least two regions of interest, said multidirectional transducer comprising:

a single transduction element, said single transduction element having both a first firing face configured for radiating ultrasound energy in a first radiation pattern and a second firing face configured for radiating ultrasound energy in a second radiation pattern.

23. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said transduction element comprises a single piezoelectrically active material comprising at least one of lead zirconante titanate, lead titanate, barium titanate, lead metaniobate and lithium niobate.

24. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 23, wherein said transduction element further comprises a matching layer configured along said piezoelectrically active material.

25. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said transduction element comprises a mechanical mounting mechanism configured to reduce interference from electrical connections coupled to said transduction element.

26. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said second firing face is configured to provide damping effects to acoustical energy provided by said first firing face, and said first firing face and said second firing face are configured with acoustical loading.

27. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are substantially opposed.

28. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 25, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured to generate ultrasound energy simultaneously in at least two directions.

29. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 27, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured to generate ultrasound energy in an alternating manner in at least two directions.

30. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said multi-directional transducer further comprises a second transduction element providing at east a third firing face and configured for radiating ultrasound energy to at least a third radiation pattern, said first transduction element and said second transduction element configured in a stacked arrangement.

31. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 30, wherein said stacked arrangement is configured to provide increased power output while maintaining a resonance frequency for said first transduction element and said second transduction element.

32. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said single transduction element comprises more than two firing faces configured for radiating ultrasound energy to provide more than two radiation patterns.

33. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein each of said first firing face and said second firing face are configured with one of a flat, concave, and convex surface.

34. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 33, wherein said first firing face and said second firing face are configured with different surfaces.

35. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein each of said first firing face and said second firing face configured with a flat surface and respectively coupled to a first lens and a second lens.

36. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 35, wherein each of said first lens and said second lens are configured with one of a flat, concave, and convex surface.

37. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 36, wherein said first lens and said second lens are configured with different surfaces.

38. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises a phased array configured for electronic focusing.

39. A multidirectional transducer according to claim 21, wherein said multi-directional transducer comprises an array of transduction elements configured in one of a series and a parallel arrangement.

22. (canceled)

40. A method for multi-directional ultrasound treatment comprising:

generating radiation energy in a multi-directional transducer;

radiating acoustical energy from a first firing face of a single transduction element of said multi-directional transducer to provide treatment in a first direction; and

radiating acoustical energy from a second firing face of said single transduction element of said multi-directional transducer to provide treatment in a second direction.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein said radiating of acoustical energy occurs from at least one of a flat, concave, and convex surface of said first firing face and said second firing face.

43. The method according to claim 40, wherein said radiating of acoustical energy occurs simultaneously from said first firing face and said second firing face.

41. (canceled)