Component ultrasound transducer

• US 8,512,250 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Quistgaard, Jens U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAHRESTANI, NASIR
• Application Number:
  US12/111,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0039 using microbubbles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0625 Annular array
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0637 Spherical array

Abstract

An ultrasound transducer having multiple focal zones is described. In one embodiment there is an ultrasound transducer manufactured as a single piece but having two or more focal zones. In a second embodiment there is a transducer assembly combining a high frequency and low frequency transducer. In a third embodiment there is an interchangeable assembly allowing for different ultrasound transducers to be used based on procedural needs. Variations of each embodiment are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A medical ultrasound system comprising:

a transducer assembly including a first focused ultrasound transducer configured to operate at a first frequency above 1 MHz and a second ultrasound transducer configured to operate at a second frequency below 1 MHz;

a first signal generator coupled with the first focused ultrasound transducer, the first signal generator configured to cause the first focused ultrasound transducer to operate between 100-1000 watts with pulse durations less than 100 ms; and

a second signal generator coupled with the second ultrasound transducer, the second signal generator driving said second ultrasound transducer in pulse mode,

wherein the first focused ultrasound transducer and the second ultrasound transducer are configured to be simultaneously operated so the first focused ultrasound transducer creates bubbles by projecting ultrasound energy at the first frequency into adipose tissue and the second transducer causes the bubbles to collapse by projecting pulsed ultrasound energy at the second frequency into the adipose tissue.

2. The medical ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the second transducer is focused.

3. The medical ultrasound system of claim 2 wherein the first focused ultrasound transducer has a first focal region, and the second ultrasound transducer has a second focal region that is larger than the first focal region.

4. The medical ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the second transducer is unfocused.

5. The medical ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the first focused ultrasound transducer and the second ultrasound transducer comprise a split focus transducer.

6. The medical ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the first focused ultrasound transducer comprises a first section of a split focus transducer and the second ultrasound transducer comprises a second section of the split focus transducer.

7. The medical ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein the first section is a center transducer and the second section is an annular ring transducer arranged relative to the center transducer.

8. The medical ultrasound system of claim 6, wherein the first section is an annular ring transducer and the second section is a center transducer arranged relative to the annular transducer.