Endo-cavity focused ultrasound transducer
First Claim
1. A method for delivering acoustic energy into a target tissue region adjacent a body passage, the method comprising:
- introducing a first member into the body passage until a first transducer carried by the first member is disposed adjacent the target tissue region;
introducing a second member into the body passage until a second transducer carried by the second member is disposed adjacent the first transducer;
detachably coupling the first and the second transducers to each other to at least partially form a transducer array; and
delivering acoustic energy from the first and second transducers towards the target tissue region to treat tissue therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering acoustic energy to a target site adjacent a body passage includes first and second elongate members, each carrying one or more transducer elements on their distal ends. The first and/or second elongate members include connectors for securing the first and second elongate members together such that the transducer elements together define a transducer array. The first and second elongate members are introduced sequentially into a body passage until the transducer elements are disposed adjacent a target site. Acoustic energy is delivered from the transducer elements to the target site to treat tissue therein. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a tubular member and an expandable structure carrying a plurality of transducer elements. The structure is expanded between a contracted configuration during delivery and an enlarged configuration when deployed for delivering acoustic energy to a target site adjacent the body passage.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for delivering acoustic energy into a target tissue region adjacent a body passage, the method comprising:
- introducing a first member into the body passage until a first transducer carried by the first member is disposed adjacent the target tissue region;
introducing a second member into the body passage until a second transducer carried by the second member is disposed adjacent the first transducer;
detachably coupling the first and the second transducers to each other to at least partially form a transducer array; and
delivering acoustic energy from the first and second transducers towards the target tissue region to treat tissue therein.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- introducing a first member into the body passage until a first transducer carried by the first member is disposed adjacent the target tissue region;
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9. Apparatus for treating internal body tissue, comprising:
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a first elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a body passage, and including a first transducer carried on a distal end of the first member distal end; a second elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a body passage, and including a second transducer carried on a distal end of the second member; and a controller operatively connected to the first and second transducers, wherein the first and second members are configured for separate insertion into a same or differing body passage, whereby the first and second transducers may form respective active transducer elements of an array coordinated by the controller to deliver focused acoustic energy to treat tissue in a target tissue region located adjacent the respective same or differing body passages. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for treating internal body tissue, comprising:
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introducing a first elongate member into a body passage, the first elongate member carrying one at more transducer elements operatively connected to a controller; introducing a second elongate member into a same or different body passage, the second elongate member carrying one or more additional transducer elements operatively connected to the controller; and simultaneously delivering acoustic energy, coordinated by the controller, from at least one transducer element carried on the first elongate member and from at least one transducer element carried an the second elongate member towards a target tissue region to treat tissue therein. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification