Ultrasound method and system

• US 6,846,290 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Riverside Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Riverside Research Institute
• Inventors: Muratore, Robert, Ketterling, Jeffrey A., Lizzi, Frederic L.
• Primary Examiner(s): IMAM, ALI M
• Application Number:
  US10/439,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 600407-472, 610/2, 610/3, 128/898.916, 736/25, 736/26, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2255 Means for positioning patient, shock wave apparatus or locating means, e.g. mechanical aspects, patient beds, support arms, aiming means positioning of patients for radiation diagnosis A61B6/04; positioning of locating means inside shock wave apparatus A61B17/2256
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2256 with means for locating or checking the concrement, e.g. X-ray apparatus, imaging means A61B17/2255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient

Abstract

Diagnostic ultrasound is used to measure distance from a transducer to selected tissue structure. In one arrangement, the focal point of a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer is adjusted in accordance with measured distance to the selected tissue structure. In a second arrangement a transducer transport apparatus moves a transducer to maintain a selected distance from tissue structure.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasonic treatment of tissue, comprising:

providing a transducer assembly having a first diagnostic transducer and a second therapy transducer each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being arranged with adjustable focal position;

positioning said transducer assembly to insonify tissue to be treated in a region of tissue structure using said diagnostic transducer;

insonifying said tissue to be treated using said therapy transducer;

determining movement of said tissue with respect to said transducer assembly using said diagnostic transducer; and

adjusting said focal position of said therapy transducer to compensate for said tissue movement and further insonifying said tissue using said therapy transducer with adjusted focal position.

2. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said determining movement of said tissue comprises measuring distance to said tissue structure using said diagnostic transducer.

3. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said insonifying comprises providing pulses of ultrasonic radiation from said therapy transducer, and wherein said determining movement of said tissue comprises operating said diagnostic transducer in time periods between said pulses.

4. A method as specified in claim 1 further comprising using said therapy transducer to create a lesion in said tissue, and wherein said determining movement of said tissue comprises determining position of said lesion with respect to said transducer assembly using said diagnostic transducer.

5. A method for guiding motion and orientation of an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:

transporting said transducer in a first selected transducer path and operating said ultrasonic transducer to record data corresponding to at least one feature of tissue to be examined;

determining from said data a second transducer path having a selected distance from said tissue feature; and

transporting said transducer along said second transducer path while further operating said transducer.

6. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein said first selected transducer path is linear.

7. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein said transducer comprises a transducer assembly arranged for diagnostic and therapy ultrasonic operation, wherein said transducer is operated as a diagnostic transducer to record said data, and wherein said further operating comprises operating said transducer for therapy.

8. A method as specified in claim 5 further comprising determining from said data a desired orientation of said transducer and wherein orientation of said transducer is controlled to said desired orientation during transporting of said transducer along said second transducer path.

9. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein said transducer is transported along a plurality of said first selected transducer paths to record two dimensional data representing a contour of said tissue feature, and wherein said determining of said second transducer path comprises determining said path to have a selected distance from said contour.

10. A method as specified in claim 9 wherein said determining said second transducer path comprises determining a plurality of second transducer paths.

11. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein operating said transducer to record data comprises recording two-dimensional data corresponding to a contour of said feature.

12. A method as specified in claim 11 wherein said determining said second transducer path comprises determining a plurality of second transducer paths.

13. Apparatus for ultrasonic therapy, comprising:

a transducer assembly including a first diagnostic transducer and a second therapy transducer each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being responsive to at least two signals having the same frequency and variable phase with respect to each other, said therapy transducer being responsive to variation of phase of said signals to change focal position of radiation therefrom;

a diagnostic system coupled to said diagnostic transducer for determining distance to a selected reflecting portion of tissue; and

a phase controller responsive to signals from said diagnostic system for controlling phase of said at least two signals in response to a change in said distance to said selected portion of tissue.

14. Apparatus for ultrasonic insonification of tissue having a tissue contour, comprising:

a transducer for insonifying tissue;

a variable transport apparatus carrying said transducer and arranged to move said tissue in at least two directions, including a first direction toward and away from said transducer and a second direction generally transverse to said first direction;

a diagnostic system for determining distance of said tissue contour from transducer and said transport apparatus as said transducer is moved in said second direction to thereby determine said tissue contour; and

a transport controller for operating said transport apparatus to transport said transducer in said first and second directions to maintain a selected distance of said transducer from said tissue contour.

15. Apparatus as specified in claim 14 wherein said transport apparatus is further arranged to rotate said transducer about an axis perpendicular to said first and second directions, and wherein said transport controller is arranged to control said rotation to maintain a radiation axis of said transducer in a direction perpendicular to said tissue contour.

16. Apparatus for ultrasonic therapy, comprising:

a transducer assembly arranged to function as a diagnostic transducer and a therapy transducer for emitting diagnostic and therapy ultrasonic beams, each having a radiation axis with known orientation with respect to each other;

a signal generator for supplying therapy signals to said transducer, said signal generator being responsive to control signals to change focal position of therapy radiation from said transducer;

a diagnostic system coupled to said diagnostic transducer for determining position of a selected reflecting portion of tissue; and

a controller responsive to signals from said diagnostic system for providing control signals in response to a change in said position of said selected portion of tissue.