METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND TREATMENT WITH A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSDUCER

• US 20120059288A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Barthe, Peter G., Slayton, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment utilizing a multi-directional transducer to facilitate treatment, such as therapy and/or imaging or other tissue parameter monitoring, in two or more directions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-directional transducer comprises at least two transduction elements configured to provide for ultrasound energy, such as radiation, acoustical energy, heat energy, imaging, positional information and/or tissue parameter monitoring signals in two or more directions. The transduction elements can comprise various materials for providing ultrasound energy or radiation, such as piezoelectric materials, with and without matching layers. In addition, the transduction elements can be configured for substantially uniform, focused and/or defocused radiation patterns, as well as for single, multiple-element and/or multiple-element array configurations. In addition, an exemplary multi-directional transducer can comprise multiple elements, either side by side, stacked or in an array.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system for facilitating treatment to at least two regions of interest, the ultrasound system comprising:

a multi-directional transducer for facilitating treatment in the at least two regions of interest, comprising;

a first transduction element having a first firing face radiating ultrasound energy to provide a first radiation pattern and a second firing face radiating ultrasound energy to provide a second radiation pattern;

wherein the first transduction element does not substantially expand and contract in a direction that is not parallel to the first axis of electrical excitation; and

a second transduction element having a third firing face radiating ultrasound energy to provide a third radiation pattern and a fourth firing face radiating ultrasound energy to provide a fourth radiation pattern;

wherein the second transduction element does not substantially expand and contract in a direction that is not parallel to the second axis of electrical excitation.