Ultrasound guided high intensity focused ultrasound treatment of nerves
First Claim
1. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to achieve a desired therapeutic effect associated with selected spinal or peripheral nerves in a patient, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the selected spinal or peripheral nerves;
(b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect;
(c) positioning an HIFU therapy probe external to a body, such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy probe is disposed at or adjacent to the treatment site;
(d) verifying that the focal point of the externally positioned HIFU therapy probe is properly positioned relative to the treatment site by (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site and (ii) energizing the HIFU therapy probe at a power level that is insufficient to induce damage at the treatment site, but is sufficient to enable the focal point of the HIFU therapy probe to be visualized in the ultrasound image, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy probe until the focal point of the HIFU therapy probe is properly positioned relative to the treatment site,(e) energizing the HIFU therapy probe to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect; and
(f) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during therapy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat neurological structures to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. 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 reversibly 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.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to achieve a desired therapeutic effect associated with selected spinal or peripheral nerves in a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an appropriate treatment site associated with the selected spinal or peripheral nerves; (b) selecting a dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect; (c) positioning an HIFU therapy probe external to a body, such that a focal point of the HIFU therapy probe is disposed at or adjacent to the treatment site; (d) verifying that the focal point of the externally positioned HIFU therapy probe is properly positioned relative to the treatment site by (i) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site and (ii) energizing the HIFU therapy probe at a power level that is insufficient to induce damage at the treatment site, but is sufficient to enable the focal point of the HIFU therapy probe to be visualized in the ultrasound image, and if not, repositioning the HIFU therapy probe until the focal point of the HIFU therapy probe is properly positioned relative to the treatment site, (e) energizing the HIFU therapy probe to provide the dose of HIFU required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect; and (f) using ultrasound imaging to obtain an ultrasound image of the treatment site during therapy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification