THERAPY HEAD FOR USE WITH AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM

• US 20090171252A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Bockenstedt, Craig Robert, Albright, Ethan, Little, Blake
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/352 by moving the transducer

Abstract

Therapy heads and related medical systems having an actuation assembly for controlling the position/orientation of a directional energy applicator in at least two planes are disclosed. A therapy head includes an enclosure, a partition separating a lower compartment from an upper compartment, an aperture in the partition, a control arm extending through the aperture, an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, and a directional energy applicator positioned in the lower compartment for transmitting energy through a window. The control arm includes an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment. The actuation assembly is coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes. The directional energy applicator is coupled with the lower end of the control arm.

Claims

1. A therapy head for application of directional energy to a patient, the therapy head comprising:

an enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand;

a partition separating a lower compartment of the enclosure from an upper compartment of the enclosure, the lower compartment including a window;

an aperture in the partition;

a control arm extending through the aperture, the control arm having an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment, the control arm being movable within the aperture while the aperture is sealed between the upper and lower compartments;

an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, the actuation assembly being coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes; and

a directional energy applicator for transmitting energy through the window, the energy applicator being coupled with the lower end of the control arm.

2. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the energy applicator comprises an ultrasound transducer.

3. The therapy head of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises an annular array or a phased array.

4. The therapy head of claim 2, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer.

5. The therapy head of claim 2, wherein the transducer has a fixed focal length and the window is shaped based upon the transducer'"'"'s treatment sweep area.

6. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the window comprises a lens.

7. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the control arm is coupled with the partition.

8. The therapy head of claim 7, wherein the control arm is coupled with the partition such that an instantaneous center of rotation of the control arm is restrained from translating relative to the partition and the control arm is rotatable about the instantaneous center around at least two axes of rotation.

9. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the coupling between the control arm and the partition includes mating spherical surfaces.

10. The therapy head of claim 9, wherein the coupling between the control arm and the partition includes a fluid seal.

11. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm;

a first motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the centerline; and

a second motor for rotating the control arm interface component about the centerline.

12. The therapy head of claim 11, wherein:

the first motor drives a first rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft controlling the position of the control arm interface component along the centerline; and

the second motor drives a second rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft controlling the rotation of the control arm interface component about the centerline.

13. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a first centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a bracket pivotally mounted about the first centerline;

a first motor for rotating the bracket about the first centerline;

a second centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the bracket;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm; and

a second motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the second centerline.

14. The therapy head of claim 13, wherein the second motor drives a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft controlling the position of the control arm interface component along the centerline.

15. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm; and

a motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the centerline and for rotating the control arm interface component about the centerline.

16. A therapy head comprising:

an enclosure having a window, the enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand;

a directional energy applicator for transmitting energy through the window, the energy applicator being disposed within the enclosure; and

a means for maneuvering the directional energy applicator within the enclosure so as to direct the energy applicator over a two-dimensional treatment area.

17. The therapy head of claim 16, wherein the energy applicator comprises an ultrasound transducer.

18. The therapy head of claim 17, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer.

19. A medical ultrasound system comprising:

a base unit movable to along side a patient; and

an ultrasound head coupled with the base unit, the ultrasound head including;

an enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand;

a partition separating a lower compartment of the enclosure from an upper compartment of the enclosure, the lower compartment including a window;

an aperture in the partition;

a control arm extending through the aperture, the control arm having an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment, the control arm being movable within the aperture while the aperture is sealed between the upper and lower compartments;

an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, the actuation assembly being coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes; and

an ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound energy through the window, the transducer being coupled with the lower end of the control arm.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises an annular array or a phased array.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the transducer has a fixed focal length and the window is shaped based upon the transducer'"'"'s treatment sweep area.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the window comprises a lens.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the control arm is coupled with the partition such that an instantaneous center of rotation of the control arm is restrained from translating relative to the partition and the control arm is rotatable about the instantaneous center around at least two axes of rotation.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm;

a first motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the centerline; and

a second motor for rotating the control arm interface component about the centerline.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the first motor drives a first rotating shaft, the first rotating shaft controlling the position of the control arm interface component along the centerline; and

the second motor drives a second rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft controlling the rotation of the control arm interface component about the centerline.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a first centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a bracket pivotally mounted about the first centerline;

a first motor for rotating the bracket about the first centerline;

a second centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the bracket;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm; and

a second motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the second centerline.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second motor drives a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft controlling the position of the control arm interface component along the centerline.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a centerline having a fixed position and orientation relative to the upper compartment;

a control arm interface component coupled with the control arm; and

a motor for positioning the control arm interface component along the centerline and for rotating the control arm interface component about the centerline.