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Ultra sound hyperthermia device

  • US 4,646,756 A
  • Filed: 10/24/1983
  • Issued: 03/03/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An ultrasound hyperthermia unit for treatment of tumors comprising:

  • (a) ultrasound transducer means comprising an angled array of ultrasonic transducers, each transducer being individually movable, the ultrasound transducer means being angled for directing sonic energy toward an ultrasound acoustic focus, and the ultrasound acoustic focus being movable to substantially all locations within a tumor to be treated by moving the transducers individually;

    (b) drive means for moving the individually movable transducers;

    (c) temperature sensing means for sensing temperature within the tumor and for providing a signal indicative of temperature at a plurality of locations within the tumor; and

    (d) a control circuit for receiving the signal indicative of temperature and for controlling the ultrasound transducer means and drive means, the control circuit being operable in response to the signal indicative of temperature for;

    (1) controlling the power output of sonic energy by the ultrasound transducer means toward the ultrasound acoustic focus; and

    (2) controlling the drive means to treat such tumor by automatically moving the transducers individually, to move the ultrasound acoustic focus to substantially all locations throughout the tumor volume for localized heating of tumor tissues above viability by controlled application of sonic energy; and

    (e) the ultrasound acoustic focus and the sonic energy output being jointly controlled to raise the temperature of substantially all portions of the tumor to above the temperature of viability, each portion being heated substantially only long enough to kill such portion, tumor portions having nonuniform physical characteristics and blood supply being differentially treated to avoid substantial overheating.

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