Ultrasound therapy head with movement control

• US 20050187495A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Desilets, Charles S., Quistgaard, Jens U., Darlington, Gregory Paul, Etchells, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0082 Scanning transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A therapy head for use in HIFU procedures is described. The therapy head has an enclosure with a window, an energy applicator and a means of moving the energy applicator within the enclosure. The therapy head uses motors and actuators to move the energy applicator, usually an ultrasound transducer, inside the enclosure. A controller is provided either internally or externally that allows the therapy head to identify and distinguish locations where the therapy head should be to radiate energy into a patient. The controller uses the motors and actuators to move the energy applicator into the desired locations.

Claims

1. An ultrasound head comprising:

an enclosure having a window;

at least one directional energy applicator suspended within said enclosure; and

a positioner within said enclosure for maneuvering the energy applicator such that said energy applicator radiates energy through said window.

2. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said window is a transmissible window for said energy applicator.

3. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said energy applicator is an ultrasound transducer.

4. The energy applicator of claim 3, wherein said ultrasound transducer is an imaging transducer.

5. The energy applicator of claim 3, wherein said ultrasound transducer is a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer.

6. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the energy applicator is a component ultrasound transducer.

7. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein the means for maneuvering said energy applicator includes a one or more position sensors.

8. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said window is a disposable transducer seal.

9. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said positioner comprises a plurality of actuators driven by one or more motors, wherein said energy applicator is movably attached to said actuators.

10. The means for maneuvering said energy applicator as described in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of encoders for measuring movement within said enclosure.

11. The means for maneuvering said energy applicator as described in claim 10, wherein said motors are electrical motors.

12. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said energy applicator is removable and interchangeable within the enclosure.

13. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said positioner further comprises a plurality of encoders.

14. The therapy head of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a horizontal water tight partition defining an upper enclosure and a lower enclosure, said upper enclosure containing said means for maneuvering and said lower enclosure containing said energy applicator, said window being in said lower enclosure.

15. The therapy head of claim 14, further comprising a fluid circulation system for circulating a coupling fluid through said lower enclosure.

16. A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a body surface, said method comprising:

engaging an enclosure against the body structure; and

positioning and activating an ultrasound transducer within the enclosure so that ultrasound energy is scanned over the body surface through a window in the enclosure which remains stationary relative to the body surface.