Method and apparatus for varicose vein treatment using acoustic hemostasis
First Claim
1. A method for treating a perforator vein, said method comprising:
- applying ultrasound to said perforator vein; and
occluding said perforator vein with said ultrasound.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating a perforator vein comprises applying ultrasound to the perforator vein and occluding the perforator vein with the ultrasound. An apparatus for treating blood vessels comprises an ultrasound emitter, wherein the ultrasound emitter is configured to emit ultrasound at multiple therapeutic ultrasound frequencies during a treatment cycle. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic coupler in sonic communication with the emitter, wherein the acoustic coupler has an acoustic coupling surface configured to contact a patient and facilitate delivery of ultrasound to the patient and wherein the acoustic coupler provides a conduction path for ultrasound from the emitter to the acoustic coupling surface. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic coupler containing a displaceable acoustic coupling material. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic coupler configured to vary the length of the conduction path in accordance with variation in the thickness of the acoustic coupling material disposed between the emitter and the acoustic coupling surface.
178 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method for treating a perforator vein, said method comprising:
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applying ultrasound to said perforator vein; and
occluding said perforator vein with said ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of facilitating perforator vein treatment with an ultrasound-generating vein treatment apparatus, said method comprising:
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configuring said vein treatment apparatus to apply ultrasound to one or more perforator veins; and
configuring said vein treatment apparatus to occlude said one or more perforator veins with said ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of treating a vein, said method comprising:
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applying tumescent fluid to tissue near said vein;
applying ultrasound to said vein; and
occluding said vein with said ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for treating blood vessels, said apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasound emitter, said ultrasound emitter being configured to emit ultrasound at multiple therapeutic ultrasound frequencies during a treatment cycle; and
an acoustic coupler in sonic communication with said emitter, said acoustic coupler having an acoustic coupling surface configured to contact a patient and facilitate delivery of ultrasound to said patient, said acoustic coupler providing a conduction path for ultrasound from said emitter to said acoustic coupling surface;
said acoustic coupler containing a displaceable acoustic coupling material;
said acoustic coupler being configured to vary the length of said conduction path in accordance with variation in the thickness of the acoustic coupling material disposed between said emitter and said acoustic coupling surface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of treating a vein, said method comprising:
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emitting multiple ultrasound frequencies with an ultrasound probe;
applying said multiple ultrasound frequencies to a treatment region that includes a portion of said vein;
adjusting the distance between said ultrasound probe and said treatment region while applying said multiple ultrasound frequencies; and
occluding said vein with said multiple ultrasound frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method comprising:
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emitting a first ultrasound frequency with an ultrasound probe;
applying said first ultrasound frequency to a first target region near a vein;
adjusting the distance between said ultrasound probe and said first target region while applying said first ultrasound frequency;
after applying said first ultrasound frequency, emitting a second ultrasound frequency with said ultrasound probe;
applying said second ultrasound frequency to a second target region near said vein; and
adjusting the distance between said ultrasound probe and said treatment region while applying said second ultrasound frequency. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method comprising:
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emitting low-power ultrasound with an ultrasound probe;
applying said low-power ultrasound to a target region near a vein;
adjusting the distance between said ultrasound probe and said target region while applying said low-power ultrasound;
after applying said low-power ultrasound, applying high-power ultrasound to said target region to occlude said vein. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification