MRI-guided therapeutic unit and methods

• US 6,773,408 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Transurgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Wagshul, Mark, Acker, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/611,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 601/3, 600/411
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22087 photodynamic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0472 against ultrasound energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A high intensity focused ultrasound applicator includes a frame, ultrasonic emitters mounted on the frame and a bag containing a substantially air-free fluid permanently connected to the frame. The frame, the bag, the fluid within the bag and the emitters constitute a permanently connected unit which can be releasably connected to an ultrasonic actuation apparatus.

Claims

1. A high intensity focused ultrasound applicator comprising a frame, a plurality of ultrasonic emitters mounted on said frame, and a bag containing a substantially air-free fluid permanently connected to said frame so that said frame, said bag, said fluid and said emitters constitute a permanently-connected unit, said bag projecting from said frame, said bag being flexible so that said bag is capable of conforming to and engaging a surface of a patient'"'"'s body, said emitters being coupled to said fluid for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations through said fluid, said unit being adapted for releasable connection to an ultrasonic actuation apparatus.

2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid includes water.

3. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic emitters are piezoelectric elements.

4. An applicator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said piezoelectric elements are provided in at least one section, each such section including a polymeric film and at least one pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the polymeric film.

5. An applicator as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said section includes a plurality of pairs of electrodes overlying different regions of the film included in that section.

6. A hight intensity focused ultrasound applicator comprising a frame, a plurality of ultrasonic emitters mounted on said frame, and a flexible bag containing a substantially air-free fluid permanently connected to said frame so that said frame, said bag, said fluid and said emitters constitute a permanently-connected unit, said emitters being coupled to said fluid for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations through said fluid, said unit being adapted for releasable connection to an ultrasonic actuation apparatus, the applicator further comprising a sealed air-impermeable package surrounding the frame and bag.

7. A high intensity focused ultrasound applicator comprising a frame, a plurality of ultrasonic emitters mounted on said frame, and a flexible bag containing a substantially air-free fluid permanently connected to said frame so that said frame, said bag, said fluid and said emitters constitute a permanently-connected unit, said emitters being coupled to said fluid for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations through said fluid, said unit being adapted for releasable connection to an ultrasonic actuation apparatus, the applicator further comprising an air-impermeable package surrounding the frame and bag, said frame and bag being vacuum-packed within said air-impermeable package.