Ultrasound guided high intensity focused ultrasound treatment of nerves
First Claim
1. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provide therapy to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining an appropriate treatment site to be treated to achieve a desired therapeutic effect;
(b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, the desired therapeutic effect comprising blocking nerve conduction for at least one of the following purposes;
(i) to alleviate pain;
(ii) to provide a palliative treatment for cancer;
(iii) to treat spasticity;
(iv) to provide an anesthetic effect; and
(v) to provide a cosmetic effect;
(c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site;
(d) energizing the HIFU therapy device to administer HIFU at a relatively low power level, while producing an ultrasound image of the treatment site, for verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site; and
(e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU to the treatment site that is required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat neurological structures to achieve a desired therapeutic affect. Depending on the dosage of HIFU applied, it can have a reversible or irreversible effect on neural structures. For example, a relatively high dose of HIFU can be used to permanently block nerve function, to provide a non-invasive alternative to severing a nerve to treat severe spasticity. Relatively lower doses of HIFU can be used to reversible a block nerve function, to alleviate pain, to achieve an anesthetic effect, or to achieve a cosmetic effect. Where sensory nerves are not necessary for voluntary function, but are involved in pain associated with tumors or bone cancer, HIFU can be used to non-invasively destroy such sensory nerves to alleviate pain without drugs. Preferably, ultrasound imaging synchronized to the HIFU therapy is used to provide real-time ultrasound image guided HIFU therapy of neural structures.
326 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provide therapy to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site to be treated to achieve a desired therapeutic effect; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, the desired therapeutic effect comprising blocking nerve conduction for at least one of the following purposes; (i) to alleviate pain; (ii) to provide a palliative treatment for cancer; (iii) to treat spasticity; (iv) to provide an anesthetic effect; and (v) to provide a cosmetic effect; (c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site; (d) energizing the HIFU therapy device to administer HIFU at a relatively low power level, while producing an ultrasound image of the treatment site, for verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site; and (e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU to the treatment site that is required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat spasticity by applying HIFU to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the nervous system of the patient to treat spasticity; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve a desired therapeutic effect; (c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site; (d) verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, wherein the step of verifying comprises the steps of; (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during administration of HIFU to treat spasticity; and (ii) synchronizing the HIFU therapy device and the ultrasound imaging such that noise in the ultrasound image arising from use of the HIFU therapy device does not prevent visualization of the focal point in the ultrasound image; and (e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
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13. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to alleviate pain by applying HIFU to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the nervous system of the patient to alleviate pain; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve a desired therapeutic effect; (c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site; (d) verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, wherein the step of verifying comprises the steps of; (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during administration of HIFU to alleviate pain; and (ii) synchronizing the HIFU therapy device and the ultrasound imaging such that noise in the ultrasound image arising from use of the HIFU therapy device does not prevent visualization of the focal point in the ultrasound image; and (e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provide an anesthetic effect by applying HIFU to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the nervous system of the patient to provide the anesthetic effect; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve a desired therapeutic effect; (c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site; (d) verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, wherein the step of verifying comprises the steps of; (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during administration of HIFU to provide the anesthetic effect; and (ii) synchronizing the HIFU therapy device and the ultrasound imaging such that noise in the ultrasound image arising from use of the HIFU therapy device does not prevent visualization of the focal point in the ultrasound image; and (e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
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16. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provide a cosmetic effect by applying HIFU to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the nervous system of the patient to provide the cosmetic effect; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve the cosmetic effect; (c) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site; (d) verifying that the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy device until the HIFU therapy device is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, wherein the step of verifying comprises the steps of; (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during administration of HIFU to provide the cosmetic effect; and (ii) synchronizing the HIFU therapy device and the ultrasound imaging such that noise in the ultrasound image arising from use of the HIFU therapy device does not prevent visualization of the focal point in the ultrasound image; and (e) energizing the HIFU therapy device to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the cosmetic effect. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provide therapy to a treatment site corresponding to a portion of a nervous system of a patient, the treatment site being spaced apart from a HIFU therapy device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site to be treated to achieve a desired therapeutic effect, the treatment site comprising a nerve; (b) positioning the HIFU therapy device such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy device is disposed adjacent to the treatment site, the HIFU therapy device being energized at a relatively low power level while producing an ultrasound image of the treatment site in which the focal point of the HIFU therapy device is visually evident, so as to enable the focal point of the HIFU therapy device to be properly positioned relative to the treatment site; and (c) energizing the HIFU therapy device to administer a dose of HIFU to the treatment site sufficient to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, the desired therapeutic effect comprising at least one type of nerve blockage selected from a group consisting of; (i) temporary and partial blockage of nerve function; (ii) temporary and complete blockage of nerve function; and (iii) permanent and partial blockage of nerve function. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification