System and method for variable depth ultrasound treatment

• US 7,824,348 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roy; Baisakhi
• Application Number:
  US10/944,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 600/472, 600/438, 600/437, 600/439, 600/443, 600/447, 600/455, 600/457, 600/459, 600/461, 601 2- 4
• US Class Current: 601/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22024 with a part reflecting mechanical vibrations, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0069 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A non-invasive variable depth ultrasound treatment method and system comprises a variable depth transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient. An exemplary variable depth transducer system can comprise a transducer configured to provide treatment to more than one region of interest, such as between a deep treatment region of interest and a superficial region of interest, and/or a subcutaneous region of interest. The variable depth transducer can comprise a transduction element having a piezoelectrically active layer, matching layers and/or other materials for generating radiation or acoustical energy. The variable depth transducer may be configured to operate at moderate frequencies within the range from approximately 750 kHz to 20 MHz or more. In addition, the transduction element may be configured with a variable depth device comprising one or more materials configured to allow for control and focusing/defocusing of the acoustic energy to more than one region of interest.

Claims

1. An non-invasive ultrasound treatment system configured for treatment of regions of interest at variable depths within a patient, said ultrasound treatment system comprising:

a control system configured for control of said ultrasound treatment system;

a variable depth transducer system comprising a transducer and a variable depth device to provide treatment to a region of interest between a deep treatment region and an inner treatment region of the patient, said variable depth device comprises an inclined reflective surface surrounding said transducer, said inclined reflective surface having an inner edge above an emitting portion of said transducer and having an outer edge below said emitting portion of said transducer to direct acoustic energy provided by said transducer to said region of interest; and

a coupling system configured for acoustic coupling between said variable depth transducer system and the patient.

2. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said variable depth transducer system is configured to treat said inner region comprising at least one of a superficial region and a subcutaneous region of a said patient.

3. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is configured with temporal control to operate at a moderate frequency ranging from approximately 750 kHz to 20 MHz.

4. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, wherein said variable depth transducer system is configured to treat at least one of a superficial region and a subcutaneous region of a said patient.

5. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said variable depth transducer system is configured for providing at least two of therapy treatment, imaging and temperature monitoring.

6. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 5, wherein said at least two of a therapy treatment, imaging and temperature monitoring occurs between a superficial treatment layer and a subcutaneous layer, and said transducer is configured with temporal control to operate at a moderate frequency ranging from approximately 750 kHz to 20 MHz.

7. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is coupled to said variable depth device and configured to provide focusing of said acoustic energy to more than one region of interest.

8. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said inclined reflective surface comprises at least one mirror.

9. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 8, wherein said mirror is substantially flat in shape.

10. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 8, wherein said mirror is curved in shape.

11. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is configured with spatial control to change at least one of a distance from said transducer to inclined reflective surface, and an angle of said acoustic energy delivered to said region of interest.

12. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said variable depth device is coupled to said transducer to provide focusing of said acoustic energy to more than one region of interest.

13. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 12, wherein said transducer is configured in a curved manner.

14. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13, wherein said transducer comprises a plurality of sub-transduction elements.

15. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 12, wherein said transducer is configured for electronic focusing of said acoustic energy to said region of interest.

16. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 15, wherein said electronic focusing is configured for a phase delay of between approximately 0 and a full wave period.

17. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said variable depth device is configured as a frequency dependent lens configured for control of focal depth by changing a frequency of excitation of said variable depth transducer.

18. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said variable depth transducer system comprises a two-dimensional array configured for three-dimensional operation.

19. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer comprises an annular array comprising a plurality of rings mechanically and electrically isolated into a set of individual elements to create at least one of planar, focused, and defocused waves.

20. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer comprises at least one piezoelectrically active material configured to enable acoustic energy deposition at both a fundamental frequency and corresponding below fundamental frequencies and/or resonances of said piezoelectrically active material.

21. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a display unit for displaying at least one of imaging information, positional information, and temperature information of a treatment region.

22. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a robotic arm arrangement for controlling movement of said variable depth transducer system.

23. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling system is configured for temperature control of said transducer to facilitate adjustment of focal depth of said acoustical energy from said transducer.

24. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer operates at a frequency greater than 20 MHz.

25. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system for providing treatment to a patient, said non-invasive ultrasound treatment system comprising:

a variable depth transducer comprising a transduction element and a variable depth element comprising a non-rotating reflective surface, said transducer operable to provide treatment to at least two regions of interest between a deep treatment region and an inner treatment region of a patient, said transducer comprising spatial control operable to change a distance from said transduction element to said non-rotating reflective surface and to change an angle of said non-rotating reflective surface to direct acoustic energy emitted by said transduction element to said at least two regions of interest; and

a controller in communication with said variable depth transducer, said controller comprising a control of said spatial control and a control of a frequency range of said acoustic energy.

26. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said transduction element is coupled to said variable depth device.

27. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said non-rotating reflective surface comprises at least one mirror.

28. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 27, wherein said mirror is substantially flat in shape.

29. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 27, wherein said mirror is curved in shape.

30. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 29, wherein said variable depth transducer comprises an electronic focusing element operable for focusing of said acoustic energy to said region of interest.

31. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 30, wherein said electronic focusing element is configured for a phase delay of between approximately 0 ms and a full delay period.

32. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said variable depth device is configured within said variable depth transducer to provide focusing of said acoustic energy to said at least two regions of interest.

33. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 32, wherein said transduction element is configured in a curved manner.

34. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 32, wherein said transduction element comprises a plurality of sub-transduction elements.

35. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said transduction element comprises at least one piezoelectrically active material.

36. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 35, wherein said transduction element is configured to enable acoustic energy deposition at both a fundamental frequency and corresponding frequency below said fundamental frequency of said piezoelectrically active material.

37. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 35, wherein said transduction element is configured to enable acoustic energy deposition at both a fundamental frequency and corresponding frequency above said fundamental frequency of said piezoelectrically active material.

38. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said variable depth transducer comprises a two-dimensional array configured for three-dimensional operation.

39. A non-invasive ultrasound treatment system for providing treatment to a patient, said non-invasive ultrasound treatment system comprising:

a non-planar variable depth transducer comprising a transduction element and a variable depth element, said non-planar variable depth transducer operable to provide treatment to at least two regions of interest between a deep treatment region and an inner treatment region of a patient, said variable depth element surrounding said transducer element and comprising a non-planar reflective device configured for spatial control of emitted acoustic energy from said transduction element; and

a controller in communication with said non-planar variable depth transducer, said controller comprising a control of said spatial control of said emitted acoustic energy.