Imaging, therapy, and temperature monitoring ultrasonic system
First Claim
1. A method for therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of:
- providing an ultrasonic therapy system including a single acoustic transducer, a display, and a control interface; and
operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring using at least two parameters, said at least two parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound, and provide therapeutic heating of a treatment region during the therapeutic treatment process, such that said three-dimensional real-time imaging, tissue parameter monitoring, and therapeutic heating are conducted through the use of said single transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic system useful for providing imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring generally comprises an acoustic transducer assembly configured to enable the ultrasound system to perform the imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring functions. The acoustic transducer assembly comprises a single transducer that is operatively connected to an imaging subsystem, a therapy subsystem and a temperature monitoring subsystem. The ultrasound system may also include a display for imaging and temperature monitoring functions. An exemplary single transducer is configured such that when connected to the subsystems, the imaging subsystem can generate an image of a treatment region on the display, the therapy subsystem can generate high power acoustic energy to heat the treatment region, and the temperature monitoring subsystem can map and monitor the temperature of the treatment region and display the temperature on the display, all through the use of the single transducer. Additionally, the acoustic transducer assembly can be configured to provide three-dimensional imaging, temperature monitoring or therapeutic heating through the use of adaptive algorithms and/or rotational or translational movement. Moreover, a plurality of the exemplary single transducers can be provided to facilitate enhanced treatment capabilities.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasonic therapy system including a single acoustic transducer, a display, and a control interface; and operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring using at least two parameters, said at least two parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound, and provide therapeutic heating of a treatment region during the therapeutic treatment process, such that said three-dimensional real-time imaging, tissue parameter monitoring, and therapeutic heating are conducted through the use of said single transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A combined imaging, therapy and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising:
a single acoustic transducer which enables three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display, measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound of said target tissue by creating a map of tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display, and substantially controlled heating of said target tissue to provide treatment. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An ultrasonic system for providing therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:
at least two acoustic transducers configured within a single probe, wherein at least one of said acoustic transducers provides imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region within a single transducer, said tissue parameter monitoring comprising measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasonic system for therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:
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a first transducer within an extracorporeal probe; a second transducer within an intracorporeal probe; wherein at least one of said first transducer and said second transducer provides imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region from a single transducer, and wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound.
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16. A combined imaging, therapy, and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising:
a single acoustic transducer comprising an array of sub-elements, said transducer configured for providing an ultrasonic signal for ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display;
said transducer also for producing an ultrasonic signal for tissue parameter monitoring for measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound of said target tissue by creating a map of a tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display and;
said transducer also for providing controlled heating of said target tissue.- View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A combined imaging, therapy, and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising a single acoustic transducer comprising an array of sub-elements, said transducer comprising:
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a means for producing an ultrasonic signal for ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display; a means for producing an ultrasonic signal for monitoring at least two tissue parameters by creating a map of a tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display, wherein said at least two tissue parameters comprise time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound; and a means for providing controlled heating of said target tissue based on a feedback signal corresponding to said tissue parameter monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasonic therapy system including a single acoustic transducer, a display, and a control interface; and operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring such that said three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring are conducted through the use of said single transducer, said single transducer being operated to provide at least one of rotational and translational movement around a perimeter of a treatment region wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises at least two parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An ultrasonic system for therapeutic treatment, said ultrasonic system comprising:
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a first transducer having a first operating frequency and a first operating position; a second transducer having a second operating frequency and a second operating position, said second operating frequency different than said first operating frequency; and wherein at least one of said first transducer and said second transducer provides each of imaging, therapy and tissue parameter monitoring for a treatment region from a single transduction element, and wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification