Method and apparatus for medical procedures using high-intensity focused ultrasound
First Claim
1. A method of performing surgery with minimized bleeding, comprising the steps of:
- a) determining each path of incision to be made in a tissue volume;
b) cauterizing each path using ultrasonic energy to form at least one surgical pathway in the tissue volume prior to incising; and
c) making surgical incisions only along a surgical pathway formed in accordance with step b).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enabling substantially bloodless surgery and for stemming hemorrhaging. High intensity focused ultrasound ("HIFU") is used to form cauterized tissue regions prior to surgical incision, for example, forming a cauterized tissue shell around a tumor to be removed. The procedure is referred to as "presurgical volume cauterization." In one embodiment, the method is particularly effective for use in surgical lesion removal or resection of tissue having a highly vascularized constitution, such as the liver or spleen, and thus a propensity for hemorrhaging. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus for hemostasis using HIFU is useful in both surgical, presurgical, and medical emergency situations. In an apparatus embodiment, a telescoping, acoustic coupler is provided such that depth of focus of the HIFU energy is controllable. In other embodiments, apparatus characterized by portability are demonstrated, useful for emergency medical situations.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of performing surgery with minimized bleeding, comprising the steps of:
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a) determining each path of incision to be made in a tissue volume; b) cauterizing each path using ultrasonic energy to form at least one surgical pathway in the tissue volume prior to incising; and c) making surgical incisions only along a surgical pathway formed in accordance with step b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for presurgical treatment of highly vascularized organic tissue to minimize bleeding during surgical procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining each path of incision to be made in the tissue; and exposing each path to high intensity focused ultrasound energy having a predetermined frequency for a time period sufficient to form at least one coagulative necrosed pathway in the tissue such that making subsequent surgical incisions only along a coagulative necrosed pathway is subject to minimized bleeding. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of using high intensity focused ultrasound for surgical procedures, comprising the steps of:
prior to incising tissue of a surgery patient, applying ultrasonic energy at a combination of frequency, time of exposure, and power intensity to cause controlled coagulation and necrotization of tissue in the patient such that a volume cauterized tissue region is formed in said tissue at predetermined locations within said tissue that are to be cut.
Specification