MOVING STANDING WAVES
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Abstract
A method of treating a region of tissue with ultrasound, the method comprising: generating a first ultrasound standing wave (USW) pattern at a first frequency in the region; and simultaneously generating a second USW pattern in the region spatially overlapping the first USW pattern at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1-36. -36. (canceled)
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37. An apparatus for treating a region of tissue underlying skin with ultrasound waves which enter the tissue through a skin surface, the tissue characterized by a tissue acoustic impedance, the apparatus comprising:
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a) at least one ultrasound transducer; b) a power supply configured to simultaneously excite the at least one ultrasound transducer to generate a first ultrasound standing wave (USW) pattern of nodes and antinodes at a first frequency f1 and a second USW pattern of nodes and antinodes at a second frequency f2 different from f1, wherein the first and second USW patterns fully overlap spatially in the tissue region; and c) a protective buffer layer interfacing between the at least one ultrasound transducer and the skin, the protective buffer layer having a thickness equal to a quarter wavelength of ultrasound generated by the at least one ultrasound transducer and an acoustic impedance substantially equal to the tissue acoustic impedance, the protective buffer layer used for positioning USW pressure nodes along the skin surface, thereby reducing damage to the skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for treating a region of tissue underlying skin with ultrasound waves which enter the tissue through a skin surface, the tissue characterized by a tissue acoustic impedance, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) simultaneously generating in the tissue region, using at least one ultrasound transducer, a first ultrasound standing wave (USW) pattern at a first frequency f1 and a second USW pattern at a second frequency f2 different from f1, wherein each of the USW patterns includes pressure nodes and antinodes and wherein the two USW patterns fully overlap spatially in the tissue region; and b) using a protective buffer layer having a thickness equal to a quarter wavelength of ultrasound generated by the at least one ultrasound transducer and an acoustic impedance substantially equal to the tissue acoustic impedance to position USW pressure nodes along the skin surface, thereby reducing damage to the skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for treating a region of tissue underlying skin with ultrasound waves which enter the tissue through a skin surface, the tissue characterized by a tissue acoustic impedance, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one ultrasound transducer; and b) exciting the at least one ultrasound transducer to simultaneously generate in the tissue region a first ultrasound standing wave (USW) pattern at a first frequency f1 and a second USW pattern at a second frequency f2 different from f1, wherein each of the USW patterns includes pressure nodes and antinodes, wherein the two USW patterns fully overlap spatially in the tissue region and wherein f1 and f2 are resonant frequencies determined by the speed of sound in the tissue region and by an internal transducer spacing or diameter D, the two resonant frequencies chosen such as to cause cyclical shifting of the spatially overlapped USW patterns over the tissue region at a frequency equal to about a difference between frequencies f1 and f2; whereby the cyclically shifting USW patterns provide homogeneous tissue treatment. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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Specification