Probe for medical imaging and therapy using ultrasound
First Claim
1. A probe for inspecting and treating an internal organ of a patient, the probe comprising:
- a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube having a flexible portion near the distal end;
a head coupled to the flexible portion at the distal end of the tube;
an ultrasonic image generation unit disposed within the head, the ultrasonic image generation unit being configured to generate a first set of ultrasonic waves for generating images of tissue in a first zone;
a HIFU generating unit disposed within the head, the HIFU generating unit being configured to generate a second set of ultrasonic waves for treating tissue in a second zone;
a positioning mechanism for causing the flexible portion to bend responsive to manipulation by a user; and
wherein at least one set of said first and second sets of ultrasonic waves are generated at an angle relative to said head to cause said first zone to intersect with said second zone.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A probe for inspecting and treating an internal organ of a patient. The probe includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end. The tube has a flexible portion near the distal end. A head is coupled to the flexible portion at the distal end of the tube. The head includes a HIFU transducer. The probe also includes a mechanism for positioning the probe responsive to manipulation by a user. The probe may optionally include a direct viewing mechanism for viewing the area adjacent to the head, a ultrasound system for generating ultrasound images of the area adjacent to the head, and a lighting mechanism for illuminating the area adjacent to the head. The probe may be employed as an endoscope for applying HIFU therapy to internal organs of a patient.
492 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A probe for inspecting and treating an internal organ of a patient, the probe comprising:
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a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube having a flexible portion near the distal end; a head coupled to the flexible portion at the distal end of the tube; an ultrasonic image generation unit disposed within the head, the ultrasonic image generation unit being configured to generate a first set of ultrasonic waves for generating images of tissue in a first zone; a HIFU generating unit disposed within the head, the HIFU generating unit being configured to generate a second set of ultrasonic waves for treating tissue in a second zone; a positioning mechanism for causing the flexible portion to bend responsive to manipulation by a user; and wherein at least one set of said first and second sets of ultrasonic waves are generated at an angle relative to said head to cause said first zone to intersect with said second zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for treating an internal organ, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a probe having a tube having a first end and a second end, a HIFU generation unit and an ultrasonic image generation unit being supported in a head connected to said first end; b) inserting the head of the probe into an orifice of a patient; c) inserting the tube of the probe into the orifice of the patient, thereby causing the head of the probe to project deeper into the patient; d) causing a portion of the tube adjacent to the head to bend; e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the head is adjacent to the internal organ; and f) energizing the HIFU generation unit to generate a first set of ultrasonic waves toward a first zone on the organ; g) energizing the ultrasonic image generation unit to generate a second set of ultrasonic waves toward said first zone on said organ while said HIFU generation unit is generating said first set of ultrasonic waves; h) generating an image of said first zone based on said second set of ultrasonic waves. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification