Apparatus and method for location and treatment using ultrasound

• US 6,676,601 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale (Inserm) (Allianz Global Investors GmbH), Technomed Medical Systems SA
• Original Assignee: Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale (Inserm) (Allianz Global Investors GmbH), Technomed Medical Systems SA
• Inventors: Lacoste, Francois, Cathignol, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik, Sang Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/744,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/437, 600/411, 600/427, 600/447, 600/453, 600/454, 600/455, 600/371, 601/2, 601/3, 601/4
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A method for treating myomas or tumors having a pedicle includes the steps of locating the pedicle of a myoma or a tumor using Doppler echography and delivering focused ultrasound to the pedicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for location and treatment using ultrasound comprising:

at least one therapy transducer;

at least one locating transducer,

a pulse generator exciting said therapy transducer, and exciting said locating transducer for Doppler echogaphy; and

wherein the locating transducer is in a fixed position at the center of the therapy transducer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generator excites the locating transducer for pulsed Doppler echography.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the therapy transducer is carried on a probe, preferably a vaginal probe.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the therapy transducer is arranged at an end of the probe, for allowing uterine tissue treatment.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the therapy transducer has a focal length suitable for uterine myoma treatment when the probe is introduced into the patient'"'"'s vagina.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the therapy transducer has a focal length suitable for uterine myoma treatment when the probe is introduced into the patient'"'"'s vagina.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locating transducer and therapy transducer are one and the same unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a portion of the unit is used for locating.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a first external probe on which said locating transducer is provided.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further including a second external probe in which said therapy transducer is provided, and wherein the apparatus comprises means for measuring a relative position of the second probe carrying said therapy transducer and said first probe carrying the locating transducer.

11. An apparatus for location and treatment using ultrasound, comprising:

at least one therapy transducer;

at least one imaging transducer in a fixed position at the center of the therapy transducer;

a pulse generator exciting the therapy transducer;

the imaging transducer being excited for Doppler echography; and

the apparatus adapted to treat a tumor having a pedicle or a myoma, further comprising maximising a Doppler signal from the imaging transducer.

12. A method for treating myomas or tumors having a pedicle, comprising the steps of:

locating the pedicle of a myoma or a tumor using Doppler echography; and

delivering focused ultrasound to the pedicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of locating comprises using pulsed Doppler echography.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of delivering comprised sweeping the myoma pedicle with a spot of the focused ultrasound in order to provoke necrosis or coagulate the blood vessels composing said pedicle.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said focused ultrasound has an energy density greater than 1000 W/cm².

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of delivering comprises raising said pedicle to a temperature above 45°

C.

17. A method for treating myomas or tumors having a pedicle, comprising the steps of:

locating a myoma or a tumor using Doppler echography for finding a pedicle of said myoma or tumor; and

delivering focused ultrasound to the myoma or tumor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of locating comprises using pulsed Doppler echography.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of delivering comprised sweeping the myoma or tumor with a spot of the focused ultrasound, in order to provoke necrosis of or coagulate the mass of the myoma or tumor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said focused ultrasound has an energy density greater than 1000 W/cm².

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of delivering comprises raising said myoma or tumor to a temperature above 45°

C.

22. A method for destroying blood vessels, comprising the steps of:

locating a vessel using Doppler echography; and

delivering focused ultrasound to the vessel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of locating comprises using pulsed Doppler echography.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of delivering comprised sweeping the blood vessel with a spot of the focused ultrasound, in order to provoke necrosis of or coagulate the mass of the myoma or tumor.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said focused ultrasound has an energy density greater than 1000 W/cm².

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of delivering comprises raising said myoma or tumor to a temperature above 45°

C.

27. An apparatus for location and treatment using ultrasound, comprising:

a therapy transducer and a probe configured to carry the therapy transducer;

an imaging transducer and a probe configured to carry the imaging transducer;

a pulse generator exciting said therapy transducer and exciting said imaging transducer for Doppler echography; and

means for measuring the relative position of the probes.

28. An apparatus for location and treatment using ultrasound, comprising:

at least one therapy transducer;

at least one imaging transducer in a fixed position at the center of the therapy transducer;

a pulse generator exciting the therapy transducer;

the imaging transducer being excited for Doppler echography and maximizing a Doppler signal from the imaging transducer; and

the apparatus adapted to destroy blood vessels.