Localization and therapy system for treatment of spatially oriented focal disease

• US 5,036,855 A
• Filed: 06/22/1989
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laboratory Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Laboratory Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Sanghvi, Narendra T., Fry, Francis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Application Number:
  US07/370,269
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/660.09, 128/660.1, 128/24 A, 606/128
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2258 integrated in a central portion of the shock wave apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2253 using a coupling gel or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3788 transmitter only
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• 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 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/35 using mechanical steering of transducers or their beams

Abstract

A transducer assembly for visualization and treatment of transcutaneous and intraoperative sites includes in combination a visualization transducer and a treatment transducer, each of which are movable with both linear and rotary degrees of freedom. Movement of each transducer is by various motor and geared drive arrangements wherein certain degrees of freedom for one transducer are separate and independent from the degrees of freedom for the other transducer. At least one degree of freedom for each transducer is common and the transducers are moved concurrently.

One arrangement of the transducer combination is for prostate treatment and includes a specific shape and configuration for anatomical considerations and a control unit which is operable external to the patient to control both transducers and a reflective scanner which are inserted into the patient as part of the ultrasound probe.

Claims

1. A visualization and treatment transducer assembly comprising:

a transducer housing having a main section and a detachable enclosure;

movable visualization transducer means disposed within said enclosure;

movable treatment transducer means disposed within said enclosure;

first drive means providing rotary motion to said visualization transducer means in two degrees of freedom;

second drive means providing rotary motion to said treatment transducer means in two degrees of freedom;

said visualization transducer means and said treatment transducer means having generally coaxial focal axes; and

said first and second drive means being operable independently of each other.

2. A prostate visualization and treatment transducer assembly comprising:

a fluid-filled, flexible-walled enclosure;

movable visualization transducer means disposed within said enclosure;

movable treatment transducer means disposed within said enclosure;

reflective scanning means disposed within said enclosure and aligned with said treatment transducer means for changing the direction of the focused ultrasound beam from said treatment transducer means;

first drive means providing rotary motion to said treatment transducer means;

second drive means providing linear motion to said visualization transducer means;

said first and second drive means being operable independently of each other; and

third drive means providing rotary motion to said visualization transducer means and to said treatment transducer means concurrently.