Closed-loop clot lysis

• US 8,425,424 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InSightec Ltd.
• Original Assignee: InSightec Ltd.
• Inventors: Zadicario, Eyal, Hananel, Arik, Schiff, Gilat, Grinfeld, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Selkin, Saurel J
• Application Number:
  US12/620,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/454
• US Class Current: 600/454
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0263 using NMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

The present invention provides procedures and systems that use a closed-loop approach for directing ultrasound energy at a clot while monitoring blood flow and/or liquification of the clot tissue so as to allow automated and/or manual adjustments to various treatment parameters.

Claims

1. A system for delivering acoustic energy to a clot, the system comprising:

a. a focused-ultrasound phased-array transducer;

b. means for monitoring liquid content of the clot as ultrasound energy is directed at the clot; and

c. a controller configured to automatically (i) operate the transducer, (ii) analyze the monitored liquid content, and (iii) adjust transducer operation based on the monitored liquid content.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring liquid content comprise a visual display.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor for generating correction factors based on the liquefaction information and wherein the controller is responsive to the processor, thereby implementing the correction factors and influencing the application of acoustic energy to the clot.

4. A method for treating a clot, the method comprising the steps of:

a. applying, focused ultrasound energy to the clot using a focused-ultrasound phased-array transducer;

b. monitoring liquid content of the clot as ultrasound energy is directed at the blood vessel;

c. automatically analyzing the monitored liquid content; and

d. operating the transducer including adjusting transducer operation based on the monitored liquid content.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising obtaining subsequent images of the clot during the application of the ultrasound energy.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising generating respective correction factors for each transducer element of the transducer array based on the images.