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RF power controller for ultrasound therapy system

  • US 9,931,523 B2
  • Filed: 03/09/2011
  • Issued: 04/03/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for driving and controlling a plurality of ultrasonic elements in an array in a system for thermal therapy of diseased tissue operating through the application of the plurality of ultrasonic elements in the array, the apparatus comprising:

  • a computer-based host unit that determines a desired set of driving characteristics with which to drive said plurality of ultrasonic elements;

    a microprocessor-based controller that receives an output from said host and provides at least signals representing a frequency characteristic and an amplitude characteristic;

    a frequency control circuit in electrical communication with said controller, said frequency control circuit configured to receive said frequency characteristic signal from said controller and to provide a first output signal;

    an amplitude control circuit in electrical communication with said controller, said amplitude control circuit configured to receive said amplitude characteristic signal from said controller and to provide a second output signal;

    a radio frequency (RF) amplifier in electrical communication with said frequency and said amplitude control circuits, said RF amplifier configured to act on said first output signal and said second output signal and to provide an amplified output signal having both frequency and amplitude characteristics corresponding to said frequency characteristic and said amplitude characteristic;

    a coupling circuit in electrical communication with said RF amplifier and said plurality of ultrasonic elements, said coupling circuit configured to receive said amplified output signal and to couple the same to a corresponding plurality of said ultrasonic elements in said array;

    a first RF detector circuit in electrical communication with said coupling circuit, said first RF detector circuit configured to sense a forward RF power delivered to each of said ultrasonic elements;

    a second RF detector circuit in electrical communication with said coupling circuit, said second RF detector circuit configured to sense a reverse RF power from each of said ultrasonic elements;

    andan analog-to-digital converter that receives outputs of said first and second RF detector circuits and provides a corresponding converted output to said microprocessor-based controller, said converted output corresponding to said forward RF power and said reverse RF power sensed by said first and second RF detector circuits;

    wherein the microprocessor-based controller tunes at least one of said frequency characteristic and said amplitude characteristic according to said forward RF power and said reverse RF power.

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