Histotripsy Therapy Transducer

• US 20130190623A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HistoSonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: HistoSonics, Inc
• Inventors: Bertolina, James A., Rakic, Aleksandra
• Application Number:
  US13/735,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• 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 Histotripsy therapy transducer is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the transducer is sized and configured to direct Histotripsy energy through the perineal window into the prostate. The Histotripsy therapy transducer can include a notch or opening near the periphery of the transducer to accommodate a transrectal imaging probe. The notch or opening in the therapy transducer allows for movement of the therapy with respect to the imaging probe without contact or interference from the imaging probe. In some embodiments, the transducer can be “heart-shaped” or round. Methods of use are also described.

Claims

1. An ultrasound therapy system for treatment of a prostate through a perineal window of a patient, comprising;

an ultrasound therapy transducer sized and configured to be positioned adjacent to a perineum of the patient and generate ultrasound pulses that are minimally blocked by bones of the perineal window when focused on the prostate, the ultrasound therapy transducer including an opening disposed along or near a perimeter of the ultrasound therapy transducer; and

a transrectal imaging transducer disposed in the opening of the ultrasound therapy transducer.

2. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the therapy transducer has a diameter ranging from 80 mm to 180 mm, a focal distance ranging from 70 mm to 150 mm, and an F-number below 1.2.

3. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the opening of the ultrasound therapy transducer has a shape selected from the group consisting of round, semi-circular, square, rectangular, triangular and flat.

4. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the opening of the ultrasound therapy transducer is configured to accommodate movement of the ultrasound therapy transducer to position a therapy focus of the ultrasound pulses in all regions of the prostate without interfering with the transrectal imaging transducer.

5. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound therapy transducer comprises a “

heart shaped”

transducer, the ultrasound therapy transducer having a wide end adapted to be placed on a posterior portion of the perineum and a narrow end adapted to be placed on an anterior portion of the perineum, the opening of the ultrasound therapy transducer being disposed on the wide end of the ultrasound therapy transducer.

6. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound therapy transducer comprises a single ultrasound transducer element.

7. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound therapy transducer comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.

8. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements are round.

9. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements are hexagonal.

10. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the transrectal imaging transducer comprises a distal section and an intermediate section proximate to the distal section, the distal section having a first diameter larger than a second diameter of the intermediate section.

11. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 10 wherein the transrectal imaging transducer further comprises a proximal section proximate to the intermediate section, the proximal section having a third diameter larger than the second diameter of the intermediate section.

12. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 10 wherein the first diameter is less than or equal to 20 mm.

13. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 10 wherein the second diameter is less than or equal to 12 mm.

14. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 10 wherein the first diameter ranges from 15 mm to 20 mm and the second diameter ranges from 6 mm to 12 mm.

15. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 11 wherein the first and third diameters range from 15 mm to 20 mm and the second diameter ranges from 6 mm to 12 mm.

16. The ultrasound therapy system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound therapy transducer is configured to deliver Histotripsy therapy pulses that form cavitational microbubbles within the prostate at a focal zone of the ultrasound therapy transducer to mechanically fragment prostate tissue without damaging surface tissue or intervening tissue.

17. A method of treating a prostate through a perineal window of a patient with Histotripsy therapy, comprising;

positioning an ultrasound therapy transducer adjacent to a perineum of the patient;

positioning a transrectal imaging probe in a rectum of the patient, the transrectal imaging probe being received by an opening in the ultrasound therapy transducer;

adjusting a linear, pan, or tilt position of the ultrasound therapy transducer relative to the imaging probe without interference from the imaging probe;

obtaining an ultrasound image of the prostate with the imaging probe; and

generating Histotripsy pulses that are minimally blocked by bones of the perineal window when focused on the prostate to treat the prostate.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein generating Histotripsy pulses comprises generating short (<

20 μ

sec), high pressure (peak negative pressure >

10 MPa) shockwave ultrasound pulses at a duty cycle <

5%.