Method and assembly for performing ultrasound surgery using cavitation
First Claim
1. A method for creating a surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume and in a volume external to the treatment volume, the microbubbles having a threshold for cavitation;
controlling the microbubbles in the external volume to create a differential threshold for cavitation between the external volume and the treatment volume; and
cavitating the plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume with an ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to create the surgical lesion in a controlled manner within the treatment volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and assembly are provided which use cavitation induced by an ultrasound beam for creating a controlled surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient. First, a plurality of microbubbles are provided in the treatment volume. Preferably, the threshold for cavitation of microbubbles in the treatment volume is lowered compared with the threshold for cavitation in surrounding tissues. The expected location of the surgical lesion within the treatment volume may be previewed, and then the microbubbles in the treatment volume are cavitated with the ultrasound beam to create the controlled surgical lesion. Preferably, the creation of the surgical lesion at the expected lesion location is then verified. Using the method and assembly of the present invention, the cavitation threshold within the treatment volume is made predictable, and a low frequency ultrasound beam may be used to cavitate the microbubbles within the treatment volume without causing damage to surrounding tissues.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for creating a surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume and in a volume external to the treatment volume, the microbubbles having a threshold for cavitation;
controlling the microbubbles in the external volume to create a differential threshold for cavitation between the external volume and the treatment volume; and
cavitating the plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume with an ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to create the surgical lesion in a controlled manner within the treatment volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for using cavitation induced by an ultrasound beam to create a controlled surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume and in a volume external to the treatment volume, the microbubbles having a threshold for cavitation;
detecting the presence of microbubbles in the treatment volume;
controlling the microbubbles in the external volume to create a differential threshold for cavitation between the external volume and the treatment volume;
previewing an expected location of the surgical lesion within the treatment volume;
cavitating the microbubbles in the treatment volume with the ultrasound beam to create the controlled surgical lesion; and
verifying the creation of the surgical lesion at the expected lesion location.
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Specification