Systems and methods for imaging and ablating body tissue
First Claim
1. A transducer system comprising:
- a transducer element comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surface is a continuous surface;
a processor coupled to the transducer element, wherein the processor controls a voltage to operate the transducer element at a first power level and a second power level, wherein the transducer element is configured for both imaging and ablation of the tissue, wherein the transducer element is operated at the first power level to image the tissue, wherein the transducer element is operated at the second power level to ablate the tissue, wherein the first power level is different than the second power level, and wherein the transducer element is alternating between imaging and ablation;
a first bonding portion attached to the distal surface of the transducer element, wherein the first bonding portion serves as a first acoustic matching layer and as a distal heat sink;
a coating on the first bonding portion that serves as a second acoustic matching layer;
a proximal heat sink having a second bonding portion attached to the proximal surface of the transducer element, wherein the second bonding portion is bonded to the continuous proximal surface of the transducer element to conduct heat away from the transducer element; and
a base coupled to the proximal heat sink, wherein the base is configured to anchor the proximal heat sink and allow fluid flow past the transducer element for cooling the proximal surface and the distal surface of the transducer element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.
251 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A transducer system comprising:
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a transducer element comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surface is a continuous surface; a processor coupled to the transducer element, wherein the processor controls a voltage to operate the transducer element at a first power level and a second power level, wherein the transducer element is configured for both imaging and ablation of the tissue, wherein the transducer element is operated at the first power level to image the tissue, wherein the transducer element is operated at the second power level to ablate the tissue, wherein the first power level is different than the second power level, and wherein the transducer element is alternating between imaging and ablation; a first bonding portion attached to the distal surface of the transducer element, wherein the first bonding portion serves as a first acoustic matching layer and as a distal heat sink; a coating on the first bonding portion that serves as a second acoustic matching layer; a proximal heat sink having a second bonding portion attached to the proximal surface of the transducer element, wherein the second bonding portion is bonded to the continuous proximal surface of the transducer element to conduct heat away from the transducer element; and a base coupled to the proximal heat sink, wherein the base is configured to anchor the proximal heat sink and allow fluid flow past the transducer element for cooling the proximal surface and the distal surface of the transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of imaging and ablating tissue, said method comprising:
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introducing an ablation device into a patient, wherein the device comprises; a) a transducer element comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surface is a continuous surface; b) a first bonding portion attached to the distal surface of the transducer element, wherein the first bonding portion serves as a first acoustic matching layer and as a distal heat sink;
wherein a coating on the first bonding portion serves as a second acoustic matching layer;c) a proximal heat sink having a second bonding portion attached to the proximal surface of the transducer element, wherein the heat sink comprises a bent portion, wherein the second bonding portion is bonded to the proximal surface of the transducer element, and wherein the bent portion forms one or more legs that protrude proximally from the transducer element and is configured to allow fluid flow therethrough in a direction along the legs; and d) a base coupled to the proximal heat sink, wherein the base is configured to anchor the proximal heat sink, operating the transducer element at a first power level to image a portion of the tissue and identify a target tissue, and at a second power level to ablate the target tissue, wherein the first power level is different than the second power level, and wherein the transducer element is alternating between imaging and ablation; conducting heat away from the transducer element to the bent portion using the second bonding portion of the proximal heat sink; and flowing fluid through the bent portion and past the transducer element, wherein fluid flow is in a direction along the legs; wherein the steps of conducting heat away and flowing fluid provide cooling of the proximal surface and the distal surface of the transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A transducer system comprising:
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a transducer element comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface; a first bonding portion attached to the distal surface of the transducer element wherein the first bonding portion serves as a first acoustic matching layer and as a distal heat sink; a coating on the first bonding portion that serves as a second acoustic matching layer; a proximal heat sink having a second bonding portion attached to the proximal surface of the transducer element; and a base coupled to the proximal heat sink, wherein the base is configured to anchor the proximal heat sink; and wherein the proximal heat sink comprises a bent portion, and wherein the bent portion comprises a plurality of legs that protrude proximally from the transducer element and form a plurality of elongate channels configured to allow fluid flow therethrough in a direction along the legs to cool the transducer element.
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Specification