SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING AN ULTRASOUND SOURCE TO TISSUE

• US 20130012838A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Jaeger, Paul, Barthe, Peter G., Slayton, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,504,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a system for providing a constant average output of power from an ultrasound source. In some embodiments, the system comprises an ultrasound transducer coupled to a power supply; a controller in communication with the power supply; a chirp function in communication with and operable to monitor the ultrasound transducer; a feedback loop from the chirp function to the controller. In some embodiments, the controller is operable to change a parameter on the transducer based on the feedback to provide a constant average output of power from the ultrasound transducer.

Claims

1. A method of sensing coupling of a ultrasound source to a target, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasound sound source comprising a transducer, an acoustically transparent standoff, an acoustic window at a bottom surface of the standoff, and a frequency sweep function coupled to the transducer;

emitting ultrasound energy from the transducer;

receiving reflected energy;

frequency sweeping the transducer;

determining the feedback from the frequency sweep is above a threshold level;

determining of the source is coupled to the target.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the feedback from the frequency is above the threshold level, then the source is not coupled to the target.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the feedback from the frequency is below the threshold level, then the source is coupled to the target.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the window is a half wavelength thick.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising providing constant average output power from the source.

6. The method according to claim 2, terminating power to the source.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sweep frequency has a period, which is calculated using a path length of the standoff and the speed of sound.

8. The method according to claim 3 further comprising providing ultrasound energy to a target.

9. A system for determining whether an ultrasound source is coupled to a target, the system comprising:

an ultrasound source comprising a transducer;

an acoustically transparent standoff coupled to the transducer;

an half wavelength acoustic window at a bottom surface of the standoff, and

a frequency sweep function coupled to the transducer.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the half wavelength acoustic window is a reflector when the ultrasound source is not coupled to the target.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the half wavelength acoustic window is transparent to ultrasound energy when the ultrasound source is coupled to the target.

12. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a power to transducer termination function in communication with the frequency sweep function.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the frequency sweep function provides a constant average output power from the ultrasound source when the ultrasound source is coupled to the target.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a lens coupled to the ultrasound source.

15. A system for providing a constant average output of power from an ultrasound source, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer coupled to a power supply;

a controller in communication with the power supply;

a chirp function in communication with and operable to monitor the ultrasound transducer;

a feedback loop from the chirp function to the controller;

wherein the controller is operable to change a parameter on the transducer based on the feedback to provide a constant average output of power from the ultrasound transducer.

16. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a coupling device in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a half wavelength acoustic window in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the coupling device contains a medium configured to be transparent to ultrasound energy.

19. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a contact sensor operable to determine if the ultrasound transducer is coupled to a target.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the controller operable to control the power supply to change an amount of power provided to the ultrasound transducer.