Methods and apparatus for performing diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound simultaneously
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for simultaneous application of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasonic waves comprising:
- a plurality of therapeutic transducer elements for generating therapeutic ultrasonic waves;
a plurality of diagnostic transducer elements for generating and receiving diagnostic ultrasonic waves; and
a platform having a substantially planar upper surface on which said pluralities of therapeutic and diagnostic transducer elements are arranged, said plurality of therapeutic transducer elements being disposed on said planar surface centrally of said plurality of diagnostic transducer elements.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for performing diagnostic ultrasound simultaneously with the application of therapeutic ultrasonic waves are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are particularly advantageous in performing ultrasonic imaging of a region of a patient while simultaneously applying therapeutic ultrasonic waves to the region for the purpose of rupturing vesicles administered to that region for purposes such as enhanced cavitation or the targeted release of a bioactive agent into the region. An operator is able to monitor the rupture of vesicles in real time.
732 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for simultaneous application of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasonic waves comprising:
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a plurality of therapeutic transducer elements for generating therapeutic ultrasonic waves; a plurality of diagnostic transducer elements for generating and receiving diagnostic ultrasonic waves; and a platform having a substantially planar upper surface on which said pluralities of therapeutic and diagnostic transducer elements are arranged, said plurality of therapeutic transducer elements being disposed on said planar surface centrally of said plurality of diagnostic transducer elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating a patient comprising the steps of:
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(i) administering to the patient a quantity of vesicles; (ii) insonating the vesicles in a region of the patient with therapeutic ultrasonic waves at a frequency and energy to cause the vesicles to rupture; and (iii) simultaneously receiving ultrasonic emissions from the insonated vesicles at a harmonic of the frequency of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves and generating an image of said region from the received ultrasonic emissions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification