METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ULTRASOUND TREATMENT

• US 20130012842A1
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0004 Applications of ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0017 Wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0039 using microbubbles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment are provided. Acoustic energy, including ultrasound, can serve as input energy to a mask with apertures, such apertures acting as secondary acoustic sources to create a modulated output acoustic energy in a treatment region and treatment effects. Under proper control output energy can be precisely placed and controlled in tissue. In some embodiments, methods and systems are configured for ultrasound treatment based on creating an output energy distribution in tissue. In some embodiments, methods and systems are configured based on creating an output temperature distribution in tissue.

Claims

1. A method for providing ultrasound treatment, the method comprising:

localizing a treatment region;

choosing a primary energy source,

delivering acoustic input energy from the primary energy source through a plurality of mask apertures to create an output energy;

delivering the output energy into the treatment region; and

controlling the output energy to produce at least one treatment effect in the treatment region.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprise monitoring of results of the at least one treatment effect in the treatment region during the delivering the output energy.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprise monitoring of results of the at least one treatment effect in the treatment region after the delivering the output energy.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output energy has a greater intensity that the input energy.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment effect is a cosmetic enhancement.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment effect is at least one of coagulation, increased perfusion, reduction of inflammation, generation of heat shock proteins, and initiation of healing cascade.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment effect is peaking inflammation in the injury location and initiating a coagulation cascade in at least a portion of the treatment region.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment effect is stimulating collagen growth in a portion of treatment region.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising imaging the treatment region.

10. An ultrasound treatment system comprising:

a primary energy source configured for delivery of primary ultrasound energy field;

a mask configured to receive and convert the ultrasound energy into a secondary source configured to provide a secondary ultrasound energy field; and

a control system for facilitating control of the primary energy source and the secondary energy source;

wherein an intensity of the secondary ultrasound energy field is greater than the intensity of the primary ultrasound energy field.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the mask comprises a plurality of apertures configured receive and convert the ultrasound energy into a secondary source configured to provide a secondary ultrasound energy field.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a temperature modulator coupled to the mask and operable to modulate a temperature of the mask.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a photon based energy source configured to deliver photon based energy in addition to the secondary energy source and into the treatment region.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a radio frequency based energy source configured to deliver radio frequency energy in addition to the secondary energy source and into the treatment region.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the output energy is configured to initiate a treatment effect in the treatment region.

16. A method for treating tissue with ultrasound energy, the method comprising;

emitting primary ultrasound energy field from primary energy source;

directing the primary ultrasound energy field into a plurality of apertures in a mask;

converting the primary ultrasound energy field into a plurality of secondary ultrasound energy fields having an increased intensity;

delivering the plurality of secondary ultrasound energy fields into a treatment region comprising the tissue; and

initiating a thermal effect in the treatment region.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the thermal effect is one of heating the tissue, or creating a conformal region of elevated temperature in the treatment region.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the thermal effect is one of lesion creation in the region of interest;

tissue necrosis in a portion of the treatment region;

coagulation tissue in the treatment region, or exceeding a thermal capacity of tissue in a portion of the treatment region, an combinations thereof.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising controlling at least one of the primary energy source and the secondary energy source.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising delivering a photon-based energy into the treatment region and imitating a second treatment effect in the treatment region.