Apparatus for examining and localizing tumors using ultra sounds, comprising a device for localized hyperthermia treatment

• US 5,150,712 A
• Filed: 01/09/1991
• Issued: 09/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technomed Medical Systems SA
• Original Assignee: Edap Intl, S.A.
• Inventors: Dory, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/638,961
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/662.03, 128/399, 128/24 AA, 128/24 EL, 310/344, 73/625, 73/628, 73/641
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2258 integrated in a central portion of the shock wave apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment

Abstract

A hyperthermia treatment apparatus combining a generator of a focused ultrasonic beam comprising a main high frequency electric wave emitter and a main piezoelectric transducer whose active surface is focusing, with an echography device comprising an auxiliary high frequency electric pulse generator associated with an auxiliary piezoelectric transducer and means for causing the zone to be treated to be swept by the ultrasonic examination beam generated by said auxiliary transducer; and with switching and adjustment means for causing, during a main treatment and checking operating mode, emission of said focused beam by said main transducer energized by said main emitter during periodic time intervals separated by shorter time intervals during which the emission of the examination beam and the formation of echographic images are effected.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

(a) a concave focusing treatment wave transducer assembly for treating a target and a plurality of mounted juxtaposed piezoelectric elements, and

(b) separate target locating and treatment aiming ultrasound transducer means adapted to be positioned between a focal point of said treatment wave transducer assembly and said target for scanning said target with echographic ultrasound and for generating a target image;

(c) means displaying said image of said target;

(d) means displaying a visible indication of said focal point of said treatment wave transducer assembly; and

(e) means bringing said image and said indication into coincidence.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elements are juxtaposed in a mosaic.

3. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locating and aiming transducer means is within the treatment transducer volume.

4. An article of manufacture comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric treatment wave transducer;

(b) concave treatment wave focusing means for focusing said transducer at a focal point; and

(c) separate target locating and treatment aiming means adapted to be positioned between said focal point and said treatment wave transducer for scanning a target and for generating an image of said target;

(d) means displaying said image;

(e) means displaying a visible indication of said focal point of said focusing means; and

(f) means bringing said image and said indication into coincidence.

5. An article as set forth in claim 4 wherein said treatment wave transducer includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements juxtaposed in a mosaic.

6. An article as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locating and treatment aiming means is positioned within the volume defined by said concave focusing means.

7. A concave focusing treatment wave article comprising:

(a) treatment wave focusing means for focusing treatment waves at a human body target;

(b) separate target locating and treatment wave aiming means for scanning and generating an image of said target, adapted to be positioned between said target and said focusing means; and

(c) means displaying a real time image of said target in coincidence with a visible indication of a focal point of said focusing means.

8. A concave focusing treatment wave article comprising:

(a) treatment wave focusing means for aiming said article at a focal point; and

(b) separate target locating and treatment wave aiming means adapted to be positioned between said focal point and said focusing means for scanning and generating an image of said target; and

(c) means for displaying said image of said target in coincidence with a visible indication of a focal point of said treatment wave focusing means.

9. An article of manufacture comprising:

(a) a concave component comprising means focusing treatment waves along a treatment wave path at a focal point and a treatment wave transducer having a plurality of piezoelectric elements mounted thereagainst, and

(b) locating and aiming device means comprising a separate target locating and treatment wave aiming ultrasound transducer adapted to be positioned between a focal point of said component and a target and a device for scanning and generating an image of a treatment target with echographic ultrasound and means for displaying an image of said target in coincidence with a visible indication of said focal point of said concave component.

10. An article as set forth in claim 9 wherein said elements are juxtaposed in a mosaic.

11. An article as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locating and aiming transducer is mounted in a support sleeve which extends within the concave component volume.

12. An article of manufacture comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric treatment wave transducer having juxtaposed piezoelectric elements and concave treatment wave focusing means for focusing treatment waves at a target; and

(b) separate human body target locating and treatment aiming means adapted to be positioned between a treatment target and said piezoelectric elements for scanning and generating an image of said target and means for displaying an image of said target in coincidence with a visible indication of a focal point of said focusing means.

13. An article as set forth in claim 12 wherein said treatment wave transducer includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements juxtaposed in a mosaic.

14. An article as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locating and treatment aiming means are positioned in a support sleeve which is at least partly within said concave focusing means.