Systems and methods for applying ultrasonic energy
First Claim
1. A system for applying ultrasound energy to a body region comprisingan ultrasound applicator including a housing, an ultrasound transducer carried by the housing, and a chamber sized to hold an acoustic coupling media subject to a pressure in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer, an acoustic coupling media handling module communicating with the chamber to selectively vary the pressure within the chamber, an electrical signal generating machine adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound transducer, and a controller coupled to the electrical signal generating machine to generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound transducer to output acoustic energy at a selected intensity level, the controller including a function to sense at least one system parameter and compare the sensed system parameter to a desired level, the controller also being coupled to the acoustic coupling media handling module to command variations in the pressure in the chamber based, at least in part, upon the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for applying ultrasound energy to a body region. The systems and methods provide an ultrasound applicator including a housing, an ultrasound transducer carried by the housing, and a chamber sized to hold an acoustic coupling media subject to a pressure in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer. The systems and methods generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound transducer to output acoustic energy at a selected intensity level. The systems and methods sense at least one system parameter and compare the sensed system parameter to a desired level. The systems and methods vary the pressure in the chamber based, at least in part, upon the comparison.
149 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for applying ultrasound energy to a body region comprising
an ultrasound applicator including a housing, an ultrasound transducer carried by the housing, and a chamber sized to hold an acoustic coupling media subject to a pressure in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer, an acoustic coupling media handling module communicating with the chamber to selectively vary the pressure within the chamber, an electrical signal generating machine adapted to be coupled to the ultrasound transducer, and a controller coupled to the electrical signal generating machine to generate electrical signals to operate the ultrasound transducer to output acoustic energy at a selected intensity level, the controller including a function to sense at least one system parameter and compare the sensed system parameter to a desired level, the controller also being coupled to the acoustic coupling media handling module to command variations in the pressure in the chamber based, at least in part, upon the comparison.
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9. A method for applying ultrasound energy to a body region comprising the steps of
providing an ultrasound applicator including a housing, an ultrasound transducer carried by the housing, and a chamber sized to hold an acoustic coupling media subject to a pressure in acoustic communication with the ultrasound transducer, generating electrical signals to operate the ultrasound transducer to output acoustic energy at a selected intensity level, sensing at least one system parameter and comparing the sensed system parameter to a desired level, and varying the pressure in the chamber based, at least in part, upon the comparison.
Specification