IMAGE GUIDED HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT OF NERVES

• US 20120316426A1
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Foley, Jessica L., Vaezy, Shahram, Little, James W.
• Application Number:
  US13/590,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of imaging the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve is performed in real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of imaging the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of relating the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve to a three dimensional (3D) reference point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging ultrasound comprises three dimensional (3D) ultrasound.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging ultrasound comprises two dimensional (2D) ultrasound.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is disposed external to the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is disposed inside a body of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing therapy to the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing therapy to the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve comprises the step of administering a dose of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a HIFU transducer used to administer the dose of HIFU to the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve and the treatment site in the ultrasound image are related to a common 3D spatial coordinate.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of utilizing a magnetic sensor to relate the HIFU transducer and the ultrasound image to the common 3D spatial coordinate.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of relating a focal point of a HIFU transducer used to administer the dose of HIFU to the treatment site comprising the peripheral nerve to a 3D spatial coordinate in the ultrasound image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of relating the focal point of the HIFU transducer to the 3D spatial coordinate comprises the step of utilizing a magnetic sensor to track a position of the HIFU transducer and an ultrasound imaging transducer used to generate the ultrasound image.