IMAGE GUIDED HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT OF NERVES
First Claim
1. A method for imaging a peripheral nerve, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning an ultrasound imaging device in the vicinity of a treatment site of a patient, wherein the treatment site comprises the peripheral nerve; and
(b) imaging the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve, thereby generating an ultrasound image in which the peripheral nerve is displayed.
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Abstract
A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat neurological structures to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Depending on the dosage of HIFU applied, it can have a reversible or irreversible effect on neural structures. For example, a relatively high dose of HIFU can be used to permanently block nerve function, to provide a non-invasive alternative to severing a nerve to treat severe spasticity. Relatively lower doses of HIFU can be used to reversibly block nerve function, to alleviate pain, to achieve an anesthetic effect, or to achieve a cosmetic effect. Where sensory nerves are not necessary for voluntary function, but are involved in pain associated with tumors or bone cancer, HIFU can be used to non-invasively destroy such sensory nerves to alleviate pain without drugs. Preferably, ultrasound imaging synchronized to the HIFU therapy is used to provide real-time ultrasound image guided HIFU therapy of neural structures.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for imaging a peripheral nerve, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning an ultrasound imaging device in the vicinity of a treatment site of a patient, wherein the treatment site comprises the peripheral nerve; and (b) imaging the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve, thereby generating an ultrasound image in which the peripheral nerve is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification