Therapeutic ultrasound generator with radiation dose control
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
- a connector adapted to be connected to the transducer connected to the connector for radiating ultrasonic power to a treatment site in response to electric power;
means, coupled to the connector, for supplying a controllable amount of electric power to the transducer connected to the connector;
means, coupled to the oonnector, for sensing an actual amount of power radiated by the transducer connected to the connector under conditions of varying coupling efficiency during use; and
means, coupled to the means for sensing and the means for supplying, for controlling the means for supplying in response to the amount of power radiated and a preset radiation power.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A therapeutic ultrasound generator controlling an ultrasonic transducer based on actually sensing the amount of power radiated by the transducer to the patient. A controllable ultrasound generator, supplies a controllable amount of electric power to a transducer. A sensing circuit, coupled to the transducer, senses an amount of power radiated by the transducer. A control loop, which is responsive to the amount of power radiated, and a preset radiation power, controls the controllable amount of electric power delivered to the transducer. The radiation power is sensed by detecting an instantaneous current through the transducer, and an instantaneous voltage across the transducer. The instantaneous current and voltage are then used to compute an impedance. The computed impedance, and known characteristics of the transducer, are used to determine the actual amount of power radiated by the transducer to the patient. The generator can also be programmed to provide a preset dosage of energy over coupling conditions varying beyond the range within which the power control loop can supply constant radiated power. The applicators each include an indicator of an applicator type. A circuit is provided for reading the indicator, and supplying characteristics of the transducer for use in determining the amount of power radiated. The control circuit automatically self calibrates by measuring the resonant frequency, and transducer loss resistance for each applicator coupled to the device.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a connector adapted to be connected to the transducer connected to the connector for radiating ultrasonic power to a treatment site in response to electric power; means, coupled to the connector, for supplying a controllable amount of electric power to the transducer connected to the connector; means, coupled to the oonnector, for sensing an actual amount of power radiated by the transducer connected to the connector under conditions of varying coupling efficiency during use; and means, coupled to the means for sensing and the means for supplying, for controlling the means for supplying in response to the amount of power radiated and a preset radiation power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for controlling an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a connector adapted to be connected to the transducer connected to the connector for radiating ultrasonic power to a treatment site in response to electric power; means, coupled to the connector, for supplying a controllable amount of ultrasonic energy to the transducer connected to the oonnector; means, coupled to the oonnector, for sensing an actual amount of power radiated by the transducer connected to the connector under conditions of varying coupling efficiency during; and means, coupled to the means for sensing and the means for supplying, for controlling the means for supplying in response to the amount of power radiated over time and a preset radiation dosage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for controlling an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a connector adapted to be connected to at least one type of ultrasonic transducer; means, coupled to the connector, for supplying a controllable amount of electric power to a transducer connected to the oonnector; means for storing characteristics of the at least one type of transducer; means, coupled to the connector and the means for storing, for determining an amount of power radiated by a transducer connected to the connector in response to stored characteristics of the transducer connected to the connector, and measured impedance of the transducer connected to the connector; and means, coupled to the means for determining and the means for supplying, for controlling the means for supplying in response to the amount of power radiated and a preset radiation power. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An ultrasonic therapy device, comprising:
- an applicator for applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site, comprising an ultrasonic transducer and means for indicating an applicator type;
means, programmable by an operator, for storing a preset radiation power for the transducer; means, responsive to the means for indicating an applicator type, for supplying characteristics of the applicator; and
a power control loop includinga controllable ultrasound generator, coupled to the applicator, for supplying a controllable amount of electric power to the transducer; means, coupled to the applicator and the means for supplying characteristics of the applicator, for sensing an actual amount of power radiated by the transducer under conditions of varying coupling efficiency during use; and means, coupled to the means for sensing, to the means for storing the preset radiation power and to the controllable ultrasound generator, for controlling the controllable ultrasound generator in response to the amount of power radiated and the preset radiation power. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- an applicator for applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site, comprising an ultrasonic transducer and means for indicating an applicator type;
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32. An ultrasonic therapy device, comprising:
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an applicator for applying ultrasonic energy to a treatment site, comprising an ultrasonic transducer, means for indicating a temperature of the applicator, and means for indicating an applicator type; means, programmable by an operator, for selecting a first mode with a preset radiation dosage, a second mode with a preset power, and a third mode for transducer detection and calibration, and a fourth mode for applicator warm up; means, responsive to the means for indicating an applicator type, for supplying characteristics of the applicator; and a power control loop including a controllable ultrasound generator, coupled to the applicator, for supplying a controllable amount of electric power to the transducer; means, coupled to the applicator and the means for supplying characteristics of the applicator, for sensing in the first mode an amount of power radiated by the transducer, and in the second mode an amount of power delivered to the transducer; and means, coupled to the means for sensing, to the means for selecting and to the controllable ultrasound generator, for controlling the controllable ultrasound generator in the first mode in response to the amount of power radiated and the preset radiation dosage, and in the second mode in response to the amount of power delivered and the preset power; and means, coupled to the applicator, for automatically determining a resonant frequency of the transducer in the third mode; and frequency control means, coupled to the means for supplying, for controlling the frequency of the controllable amount of electrical energy in response to the determined resonant frequency during the first and second modes; and means, coupled with the power control loop and the means for indicating a temperature of the applicator, for causing the controllable ultrasound generator to supply electrical power to the transducer in order to warm the transducer to a preset operating temperature in the fourth mode. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification