Methods of using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions

• US 6,936,046 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dinger, Fred B., Hissong, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/464,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 28, 606/31, 601 2- 3
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method of thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of positioning an ultrasound emitting member, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member, focusing the ultrasound energy, ablating with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ultrasound emitting member.

Claims

1. A method of eliminating the need for at least one surgical incision for the treatment of a medical condition by creating a plurality of ablative lesions in an area of tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent the area of tissue;

emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the area of tissue;

focusing the ultrasound energy simultaneously at a plurality of spaced focusing zones contained in the area of tissue;

heating the area of tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to form the plurality of ablative lesions in the area of tissue; and

removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the area of tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes heating the area of tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to achieve a temperature in the range of 60 to 90 degrees Celsius.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes heating the area of tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy for a duration in the range of 2 to 60 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the area of tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions do not contact one another.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the area of tissue so that at least one of the plurality of ablative lesions contacts another of the plurality of ablative lesions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the area of tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions merge to form a single continuous lesion.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of heating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the area of tissue is in the patient and the step of positioning includes positioning the ultrasound member adjacent the area of tissue from a remote position.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the remote position is external to the patient.

10. A method of ablating tissue comprising:

positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent a surface of tissue;

emitting ultrasound energy simultaneously from a plurality of ultrasound emitting elements of the ultrasound emitting member;

focusing the ultrasound energy in the tissue below the surface of the tissue at a plurality of spaced focusing zones corresponding to the ultrasound emitting elements while the ultrasound emitting member is maintained in one place adjacent the surface of the tissue;

ablating the tissue with the focused ultrasound energy to form a plurality of ablative lesions at the focusing zones located below the surface of the tissue; and

removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the surface of tissue.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes heating the tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to achieve a temperature in the range of 60 to 90 degrees Celsius.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes heating the tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy for a duration in the range of 2 to 60 seconds.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions do not contact one another.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions merge to form a single continuous lesion.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that at least one of the plurality of ablative lesions contacts another of the plurality of ablative lesions.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions simultaneously.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the surface of tissue is in a patient and the step of positioning includes positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent the surface of tissue from a remote position.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the remote position is external to the patient.

19. A method of tissue ablation comprising:

positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent a surface of tissue of a patient;

selecting a plurality of ultrasound emitting elements of the ultrasound emitting member to emit ultrasound energy;

simultaneously emitting ultrasound energy from the selected plurality of ultrasound emitting elements into the tissue;

focusing the ultrasound energy in the tissue below the surface of the tissue simultaneously at a plurality of spaced focusing zones corresponding to the selected plurality of ultrasound emitting elements;

ablating the tissue with the focused ultrasound energy to form a plurality of ablative lesions at the focusing zones located below the surface of the tissue; and

removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the surface of the tissue.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of ablating includes heating the tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to achieve a temperature in the range of 60 to 90 degrees Celsius.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of ablating includes heating the tissue at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy for a duration in the range of 2 to 60 seconds.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions do not contact one another.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that the plurality of ablative lesions merge to form a single continuous lesion.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of ablating includes forming the plurality of ablative lesions in the tissue so that at least one of the plurality of ablative lesions contacts another of the plurality of ablative lesions.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the surface of tissue is in the patient and the step of positioning includes positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent the surface of tissue from a remote position.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the remote position is external to the patient.