Frequency adjustment in high intensity focused ultrasound treatment apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a biological target by emitting high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an ultrasound apparatus having a wideband ultrasound transducer for emitting the ultrasound;
exciting the ultrasound transducer with a narrow band input signal so that the ultrasound transducer emits focused ultrasound energy in a narrow frequency range, said excitation occurring for a predetermined shot duration;
measuring an attenuation factor of the ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the biological target;
calculating an optimum frequency of the input signal supplied to the ultrasound transducer based on the measured attenuation so as to maximize an amount of energy absorbed by the biological target; and
adjusting the input frequency of the signal supplied to the transducer based on the calculated optimum frequency.
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Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus for treating a biological sample by emitting focused high intensity ultrasounds towards a focal point, characterised in that it comprises means emitting wideband focused ultrasounds. The apparatus enables to adjust the focused ultrasound frequency according to the target attenuation, the thickness of the tissues traversed, the temperature evolution, or the lesion displacement during emission.
161 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for treating a biological target by emitting high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound apparatus having a wideband ultrasound transducer for emitting the ultrasound;
exciting the ultrasound transducer with a narrow band input signal so that the ultrasound transducer emits focused ultrasound energy in a narrow frequency range, said excitation occurring for a predetermined shot duration;
measuring an attenuation factor of the ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the biological target;
calculating an optimum frequency of the input signal supplied to the ultrasound transducer based on the measured attenuation so as to maximize an amount of energy absorbed by the biological target; and
adjusting the input frequency of the signal supplied to the transducer based on the calculated optimum frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the optimum frequency of the signals supplied to the ultrasound transducer is calculated before the shot duration.
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8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the optimum frequency of the signals supplied to the ultrasound transducer is calculated during the shot duration.
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9. A method for treating a biological target by emitting high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound transducer for emitting the ultrasound;
exciting the ultrasound transducer with an input signal so that the ultrasound transducer emits focused ultrasound energy in a narrow frequency range, said excitation occurring for a predetermined shot duration;
measuring an attenuation factor of the ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the biological target;
calculating an optimum frequency of an input signal supplied to the ultrasound transducer based on the measured attenuation so as to maximize an amount of energy absorbed by the biological target; and
adjusting the input frequency of signals supplied to the transducer based on the calculated optimum frequency.
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10. A method for treating a biological target by emitting high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound apparatus having a wideband ultrasound transducer for emitting the ultrasound;
exciting the ultrasound transducer with a narrow band input signal so that the ultrasound transducer emits focused ultrasound energy in a narrow frequency range, said excitation occurring for a predetermined shot duration;
measuring attenuation of the ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the biological target;
calculating an optimum frequency of an input signal supplied to the ultrasound transducer based on the measured attenuation so as to maximize an amount of energy absorbed by the biological target; and
modifying the input frequency of signals supplied to the transducer based on the calculated optimum frequency.
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11. An apparatus for treating a biological target within a human body, the apparatus comprising:
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an wideband ultrasound transducer configured to emit high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point;
a coupler disposed between the ultrasound transducer and the human body to facilitate efficient transmission of the ultrasound to the biological target;
the ultrasound transducer supplied with a narrow band input frequency signal to cause the ultrasound transducer to emit focused ultrasound energy in a narrow frequency range, said emission of ultrasound occurring for a predetermined shot duration;
means for measuring an attenuation of the ultrasound energy transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the biological target; and
wherein an optimum frequency of an input signal supplied to the ultrasound transducer is calculated based on the measured attenuation so as to maximize an amount of energy absorbed by the biological target, and wherein the input frequency of signal supplied to the transducer is adjusted based on the calculated optimum frequency.
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12. A method for treating a biological target by emitting high-intensity focused ultrasound toward a focal point, said high-intensity focused ultrasound creating a lesion, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound apparatus having a fixed focus ultrasound transducer for emitting the ultrasound;
exciting the ultrasound transducer with a narrow band input signal, said excitation occurring for a predetermined shot duration; and
increasing an input frequency the signal supplied to the transducer during the shot duration to effectively treat the biological target—
between.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification