Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling ultrasound power output and stability

• US 9,011,337 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Jaeger, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ROZANSKI, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US13/547,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20130018286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 600/438, 600/439, 601/2, 601/3, 606/1, 606/31, 606/41, 606/42, 606/128
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00732 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy.

Claims

1. A method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output, the method comprising:

emitting ultrasound energy from an ultrasound transducer at a specific frequency and at a predetermined power level;

monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over a time;

communicating the power level to a controller;

correcting a frequency of the ultrasound energy to the specific frequency upon the power level deviating for the predetermined, power level;

monitoring a temperature of the ultrasound transducer over the time of the emitting ultrasound energy;

communicating the temperature of the ultrasound transducer to the controller; and

correcting the frequency of the ultrasound energy to the specific frequency upon a change in the temperature of the ultrasound transducer, wherein the change of temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range;

thereby maximizing efficiency of the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound energy.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

monitoring a voltage of power driving the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the voltage to the controller; and

correcting the frequency to the specific frequency upon a change of voltage of the power driving the ultrasound transducer.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising terminating the emitting ultrasound energy when the temperature of the ultrasound transducer is above a predetermined temperature threshold.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising terminating the emitting ultrasound energy when the temperature of the ultrasound transducer is below a predetermined temperature threshold.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

monitoring the power driving the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the voltage to the controller; and

terminating the emitting ultrasound energy when the voltage of the power driving the ultrasound transducer is above a predetermined voltage threshold.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

monitoring a voltage of the power driving the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the voltage to the controller; and

terminating the emitting ultrasound energy when the voltage of the power driving the ultrasound transducer is below a predetermined voltage threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein correcting the ultrasound energy to the specific frequency lowers the temperature of the ultrasound transducer.

9. The method according to claim 1 farther comprising modifying the temperature of the ultrasound transducer to stay within the predetermined temperature range.

3. The method according to claim further comprising terminating the emitting ultrasound energy upon a change of the power level above a predetermined power level threshold.

10. A method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output, the method comprising:

providing ultrasound energy at a center frequency from an ultrasound transducer at a predetermined voltage;

monitoring a voltage level of power driving the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the voltage level to a Controller;

correcting the ultrasound energy to the center frequency upon a change in the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer, as compared to the predetermined voltage;

monitoring a temperature of the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the temperature to the controller; and

preventing a shift in the frequency of the ultrasound energy away from the center frequency upon a change in the temperature of the ultrasound transducer over time;

thereby maximizing efficiency of the ultrasound transducer emitting the ultrasound energy.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising;

monitoring a power level to the ultrasound transducer over time;

communicating the power level to the controller; and

correcting the ultrasound energy hack to the center frequency upon a change of the power level to the transducer.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising terminating the providing ultrasound energy upon a change of the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer is above a predetermined voltage level threshold.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising terminating the emitting ultrasound energy when the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer is below a predetermined voltage level threshold.

14. The method according to claim 10 further comprising terminating the providing ultrasound energy upon a change of the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer is below a predetermined voltage level threshold.

15. The method according to claim 10 further comprising terminating the providing ultrasound energy when the temperature of the ultrasound transducer is above a predetermined temperature threshold.

16. The method according to claim 10 further comprising terminating the providing the ultrasound energy when the temperature of the ultrasound transducer is below a predetermined temperature threshold.

17. The method according to claim 10 further comprising terminating the providing the ultrasound energy when the voltage level of the ultrasound transducer is above a predetermined voltage threshold.

18. The method according to claim 10 wherein correcting the ultrasound energy to the center frequency lowers the voltage level of the power driving the ultrasound transducer or lowers the temperature of the ultrasound transducer.

19. The method according to claim 10 further comprising preventing a change in impedance of the ultrasound transducer.