SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND TREATMENT

• US 20100241035A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• 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 8,460,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A non-invasive ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment method and system are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a high-frequency ultrasound transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient such that the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of the patient can be treated. An exemplary high-frequency ultrasound transducer system comprises a control system and a transducer configured to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. The high-frequency ultrasound transducer may be configured to operate at higher frequencies and controlled power levels to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. For example, higher frequencies within the range from approximately 20 MHz to 500 MHz or more may be utilized.

Claims

1. A method for providing treatment to a patient, the method comprising:

coupling at least one acoustical matching layer of an ultrasound transducer to an extracorporeal surface of a patient;

emitting energy from said ultrasound transducer into a region of interest below said extracorporeal surface of said patient, said region of interest consisting of a subcutaneous layer of skin;

ablating tissue in a portion of said region of interest;

creating a lesion in said tissue; and

sparing inventing tissue between said extracorporeal surface and said lesion.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sparing a region of tissue below said subcutaneous layer of skin.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising imaging at least a portion of said region of interest.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising displaying said at least a portion of said region of interest.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ablating additional tissue in an alternate portion of said region of interest;

creating an additional lesion in said additional tissue; and

sparing inventing tissue between said extracorporeal surface and said additional lesion.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said emitting energy from said ultrasound transducer is in a range from about 20 MHz to about 500 MHz.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said emitting energy from said ultrasound transducer is in a range from about 10 MHz to about 30 MHz.

8. A method for providing treatment to a patient, the method comprising:

coupling at least one acoustical matching layer of an ultrasound transducer to an extracorporeal surface of a patient;

emitting energy from said ultrasound transducer within a frequency range from about 20 MHz to about 500 MHz into a region of interest below said extracorporeal surface of said patient;

ablating tissue in a portion of said region of interest;

creating a lesion in said tissue; and

sparing intervening tissue between said extracorporeal surface and said lesion.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising sparing a region of tissue below said region of interest.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising imaging at least a portion of said region of interest.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising displaying said at least a portion of said region of interest.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

ablating additional tissue in an alternate portion of said region of interest;

creating an additional lesion in said additional tissue; and

sparing inventing tissue between said extracorporeal surface and said additional lesion.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein said region of interest comprises an organ.

14. A method for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient, the method comprising:

operating a transducer to emit acoustical energy within a frequency range from about 750 kHz to about 500 MHz;

coupling at least one acoustical matching layer of said transducer to an extracorporeal surface above a region of interest consisting of at least one of a superficial region and a subcutaneous region;

focusing a first acoustical energy to a first depth in said region of interest;

ablating a first portion of said region of interest;

creating a first lesion in said region of interest;

focusing a second acoustical energy to a second depth in said region of interest;

ablating a second portion of said region of interest; and

creating a second lesion in said region of interest.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising sparing tissue below said region of interest.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising imaging at least a portion of said region of interest.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying said at least a portion of said region of interest.

18. The method according to claim 14, further sparing inventing tissue between said extracorporeal surface and at least one of said first lesion and said second lesion.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said first acoustical energy and said second acoustical energy is within a frequency range from about 10 MHz to about 30 MHz

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

focusing a third acoustical energy to a third depth in said region of interest;

ablating a third portion of said region of interest; and

creating a third lesion in said region of interest.