ACOUSTIC PALPATION USING NON-INVASIVE ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY AND LOCALIZE TISSUE ELICITING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES AND TARGET TREATMENTS
First Claim
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1. A method for probing internal body structures and tissues of a subject comprising:
- providing an image of a generalized target area incorporating a subject'"'"'s internal body structures and tissue;
selecting a plurality of localized target sites within the generalized target area for targeted acoustic palpation;
applying intense focused ultrasound pulses having different acoustic doses to a first localized target site internally of the subject'"'"'s external body surface;
applying intense focused ultrasound pulses having different acoustic doses to additional localized target sites internally of the subject'"'"'s external body surface; and
spatially identifying any localized target site that produces a detectable biological response to an intense focused ultrasound pulse.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for identifying and spatially localizing tissues having certain physiological properties or producing certain biological responses, such as the sensation of pain, in response to the application of intense focused ultrasound (acoustic probing or palpation) are provided. In some embodiments, targeted acoustic probing may be guided or visualized using imaging techniques such as ultrasound imaging or other types of non-invasive imaging techniques.
51 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for probing internal body structures and tissues of a subject comprising:
- providing an image of a generalized target area incorporating a subject'"'"'s internal body structures and tissue;
selecting a plurality of localized target sites within the generalized target area for targeted acoustic palpation;
applying intense focused ultrasound pulses having different acoustic doses to a first localized target site internally of the subject'"'"'s external body surface;
applying intense focused ultrasound pulses having different acoustic doses to additional localized target sites internally of the subject'"'"'s external body surface; and
spatially identifying any localized target site that produces a detectable biological response to an intense focused ultrasound pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- providing an image of a generalized target area incorporating a subject'"'"'s internal body structures and tissue;
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9. A method for evaluating a subject'"'"'s pain sensitivity comprising:
- sequentially administering a plurality of intense focused ultrasound pulses having progressively increasing acoustic doses to a localized target site internally of a subject'"'"'s external body surface until a biological response is detected or a predetermined threshold acoustic dose is achieved; and
identifying the acoustic dose(s) of intense focused ultrasound pulse(s) sufficient to elicit a sensation at the localized target site. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- sequentially administering a plurality of intense focused ultrasound pulses having progressively increasing acoustic doses to a localized target site internally of a subject'"'"'s external body surface until a biological response is detected or a predetermined threshold acoustic dose is achieved; and
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13. A system for probing internal body structures and tissues from a position external to a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer assembly mounted in a probe head and capable of application of intense focused ultrasound pulses to a localized target site internally of the subject'"'"'s body from a position external of the subject'"'"'s body at an acoustic dose sufficient to induce a biological response at the localized target site; and
a controller in operable communication with the ultrasound transducer assembly providing operator selectable controls for changing the acoustic dose administered by the ultrasound transducer assembly during application of the intense focused ultrasound pulses. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- an ultrasound transducer assembly mounted in a probe head and capable of application of intense focused ultrasound pulses to a localized target site internally of the subject'"'"'s body from a position external of the subject'"'"'s body at an acoustic dose sufficient to induce a biological response at the localized target site; and
Specification