Ultrasound drug delivery enhancement and imaging systems and methods

• US 6,716,168 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke University, Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Chilkoti, Ashutosh, Nightingale, Kathryn R., Nock, Levin, Trahey, Gregg E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ruby
• Application Number:
  US10/136,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/458, 600/466, 600/407, 601/1, 601/2, 601/3, 606/128, 604/22, 604/20, 604/458, 604/407, 604/96.01, 604/101-1-1, 604/890.1
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers

Abstract

A method and system for both enhancing drug uptake by application of therapeutic transmissions of acoustic energy and imaging a region for applied therapy with a same transducer and ultrasound system. An ultrasonic image of a field of view is generated while localized delivery of a drug is enhanced with ultrasound energy. Using the same transducer and ultrasound system reduces costs and increases system availability for a broader range of medical practitioners. For example, a single linear array of transducer elements is used for application of both imaging and therapeutic ultrasound. As another example, a transmitter is provided that transmits therapeutic transmissions having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at the face of the transducer and also is operable to transmit imaging acoustic energy. As yet another example, therapeutic pulses of acoustic energy are transmitted to have greater power for heating than imaging, but a mechanical index or pressure comparable to imaging transmissions. For example, a mechanical index of about 1.9 or lower is provided, such that cavitation of blood or other non-contrast agent is avoided.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system for drug delivery enhancement and imaging, the system comprising:

a transducer having only one linear array of elements;

a transmitter connected with the transducer, the transmitter operable to both generate an imaging transmission of acoustic energy from the linear array and to generate a therapy transmission of acoustic energy from the linear array; and

a display operable to display an image representative of the imaging transmission.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at a face of the transducer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission with a single frequency band.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission having a power greater than the imaging transmission and a pressure substantially similar to the imaging transmission.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission as a pulse of about 50 or more cycles.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the imaging transmission as a plurality of beams;

and further comprising;

a processor operable to determine a difference in response to the plurality of beams, the difference associated with tissue movement;

wherein the image is representative of the difference.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the imaging transmission over a field of view and the therapy transmission at a region of interest smaller than the field of view.

8. An ultrasound method for drug delivery enhancement and imaging, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) transmitting imaging pulses of acoustic energy from a transducer having only one linear array of elements;

(b) generating an image in response to (a); and

(c) transmitting a therapy pulse of acoustic energy from the transducer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein (c) comprises transmitting the therapy pulse having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at a face of the transducer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein (a) and (c) comprise transmitting the therapy transmission having a power greater than the imaging transmission and a pressure substantially similar to the imaging transmission.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein (c) comprises transmitting the therapy pulse with about 50 or more cycles.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein (a) comprises transmitting a plurality of beams along a same scan line;

and further comprising;

(d) determining a difference in response to the plurality of beams of (a), the difference associated with tissue movement;

wherein the image is representative of the difference.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein (a) comprises transmitting the imaging pulses over a field of view and (c) comprises transmitting the therapy pulses at a region of interest smaller than the field of view.

14. An ultrasound system for drug delivery enhancement and imaging, the system comprising:

a transducer;

a transmitter connected with the transducer, the transmitter operable to both generate an imaging transmission of acoustic energy and to generate a therapy transmission of acoustic energy, the therapy transmission having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at a face of the transducer; and

a display operable to display an image representative of the imaging transmission.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission having a power greater than the imaging transmission and a pressure substantially similar to the imaging transmission.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the therapy transmission as a pulse of about 50 or more cycles.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the imaging transmission as a plurality of beams;

and further comprising;

a processor operable to determine a difference in response to the plurality of beams, the difference associated with tissue movement;

wherein the image is representative of the difference.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate the imaging transmission over a field of view and the therapy transmission at a region of interest smaller than the field of view.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the transducer comprises a multi-dimensional array of elements.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein (a) comprises transmitting the imaging pulses over a field of view and (c) comprises transmitting the therapy pulses at a region of interest smaller than the field of view.

20. An ultrasound method for drug delivery enhancement and imaging, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) transmitting imaging pulses of acoustic energy from a transducer;

(b) generating an image in response to (a); and

(c) transmitting a therapy pulse of acoustic energy from the transducer, the therapy pulse having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at a face of the transducer.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein (a) and (c) comprise transmitting the therapy transmission having a power greater than the imaging transmission and a pressure substantially similar to the imaging transmission.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein (c) comprises transmitting the therapy pulse with about 50 or more cycles.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein (a) comprises transmitting a plurality of beams along a same scan line;

and further comprising;

(d) determining a difference in response to the plurality of beams of (a), the difference associated with tissue movement;

wherein the image is responsive to the difference.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein (a) comprises transmitting from a multi-dimensional array of elements.

26. An ultrasound method for drug delivery enhancement and imaging, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) transmitting imaging pulses of acoustic energy from a transducer;

(b) generating an image in response to (a); and

(c) transmitting a therapy pulse of acoustic energy from the transducer, the therapy pulses having a power greater than the imaging transmission and the therapy pulses having a pressure substantially similar to the imaging transmission.