System and methods for controlling distribution of acoustic energy around a focal point using a focused ultrasound system
First Claim
1. A system for performing a therapeutic procedure in a target tissue region of a patient using focused ultrasound, comprising:
- a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements disposed about a central axis, each transducer element having an angular position in a circumferential direction about the central axis;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer elements, the drive circuitry configured for providing respective drive signals to the transducer elements; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive circuitry to drive the transducer elements with respective drive signals that have phase shift values based upon the angular position of each respective transducer element, the phase shift values being based upon an oscillation function that oscillates between minimal and maximal phase shift values, and that repeats itself a predetermined number of times about the circumferential direction, the oscillation function having an amplitude defined by a difference between the minimal and maximal phase shift values that is other than an integer multiple of one hundred eighty (180) degrees.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A focused ultrasound system includes a plurality of transducer elements disposed about and having an angular position with a central axis. Drive signals drive respective transducer elements that include phase shift values based upon the angular position of each respective transducer element. The phase shift values are based upon an oscillation function that oscillates about the central axis between minimal and maximal phase shift values such that a first on-axis focal zone and a second off-axis focal zone are created. An amplitude and frequency of the oscillation function are controlled to adjust relative acoustic energy levels of the first and second focal zones, and to adjust a radius of the second focal zone, respectively. In addition, the drive signals include an additional predetermined phase shift based upon a radial position of each respective transducer element to adjust a focal distance of the focal zones.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for performing a therapeutic procedure in a target tissue region of a patient using focused ultrasound, comprising:
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a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements disposed about a central axis, each transducer element having an angular position in a circumferential direction about the central axis;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer elements, the drive circuitry configured for providing respective drive signals to the transducer elements; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive circuitry to drive the transducer elements with respective drive signals that have phase shift values based upon the angular position of each respective transducer element, the phase shift values being based upon an oscillation function that oscillates between minimal and maximal phase shift values, and that repeats itself a predetermined number of times about the circumferential direction, the oscillation function having an amplitude defined by a difference between the minimal and maximal phase shift values that is other than an integer multiple of one hundred eighty (180) degrees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for performing a therapeutic procedure in a target tissue region of a patient using focused ultrasound, comprising:
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a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements disposed about a central axis, each transducer element having an angular position in a circumferential direction about the central axis;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer elements and configured for providing respective drive signals to the transducer elements; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling phase shift values of the respective drive signals based upon a step function comprising minimal and maximal phase shift values that are applied to alternate transducer elements about the circumferential direction, the step function having an amplitude defined by a difference between the maximal and minimal phase shift values that is other than an integer multiple of one hundred eighty (180) degrees. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure in a target tissue region of a patient using focused ultrasound, the method comprising:
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providing a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements disposed about a central axis, each transducer element having an angular position in a circumferential direction about the central axis;
driving the plurality of transducer elements with respective drive signals, while substantially focusing ultrasonic energy produced by the plurality of transducer elements towards a focal plane; and
controlling phase shift values of the acoustic energy generated by each transducer element based upon an oscillation function wherein the phase shift values oscillate between minimal and maximal phase shift values based upon the angular position of the respective transducer element such that a first focal zone is generated that is located on the central axis, and a second off-axis focal zone is generated that is disposed around the first focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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24. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the transducer elements has a radial position with respect to the central axis, and wherein the minimal and maximal phase shift values are shifted by a predetermined phase shift based upon the radial position of the respective transducer element.
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25. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling phase shift values of the acoustic energy comprises driving the transducer elements with respective drive signals that include a phase shift value that oscillates between the minimal and maximal phase shift values based upon the angular position of the respective transducer element.
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26. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure in a target tissue region of a patient using focused ultrasound, the method comprising:
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providing a transducer including a central axis;
providing an acoustic lens between the transducer and a focal plane, the acoustic lens comprising a plurality of regions or segments disposed about the central axis of the transducer;
driving the transducer with drive signals, while substantially focusing ultrasonic energy produced by the transducer at the focal plane; and
allowing the acoustic lens to create phase shifts in the acoustic energy emitted by the transducer and passing through respective regions or segments of the acoustic lens based upon an oscillation function that oscillates between the minimal and maximal phase shift values based upon an angular position of respective regions or segments of the acoustic lens such that a first focal zone is generated that is located on the central axis, and a second off-axis focal zone is generated that is disposed around the first focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification