Method for delivering ultrasonic energy

• US 7,220,232 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TIMI 3 Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TIMI 3 Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Suorsa, Veijo T, Thompson, Todd A, Horzewski, Michael J
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US10/202,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 601 2- 4, 600/437, 600/439, 310/318, 310/319, 310/314, 604/22
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Ultrasound energy is delivered to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound energy is delivered at an output frequency that varies over time within a range of output frequencies, and a tuning function selects from within the range an operating output frequency for the ultrasound transducer based upon preprogrammed selection rules. The ultrasound energy is delivered to the ultrasound transducer at or near the operating output frequency selected, to perform a therapeutic or diagnostic function for a specified treatment time, after which operation of the ultrasound transducer is disabled.

Claims

1. A method comprising

(i) selecting a prescribed maximum treatment time having a start of treatment time and an end of treatment time for percutaneously applying ultrasound energy into a thoracic cavity,

(ii) placing an ultrasound transducer on a skin surface overlaying the thoracic cavity,

(iii) controlling delivery of ultrasound energy percutaneously through the ultrasound transducer at a set transducer output frequency including (a) executing at the start of treatment time, a tuning function that delivers ultrasound energy to the ultrasound transducer at an output frequency that varies over time within a range of output frequencies equal to or less than about 500 kHz and selects from within the range a tuned frequency for the ultrasound transducer based upon preprogrammed selection rules, (b) after the tuning function, registering the tuned frequency in a write-once memory field that cannot be written over, (c) setting the tuned frequency as the set transducer output frequency over the maximum treatment time, (d) over the maximum treatment time, delivering ultrasound energy percutaneously through the ultrasound transducer at only the set transducer output frequency, and (e) disabling operation of the ultrasound transducer at the end of treatment time.

2. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) includes delivery of ultrasound energy to the ultrasound transducer at or near a first output power condition,

wherein (iii)(d) includes delivery of ultrasound energy to the ultrasound transducer at an increasing output power condition that transitions, according to a ramping function at a rate of between about 0.01 W/s to about 10 W/s, from a condition at or near the first output power condition toward a second output power condition that is greater than the first output power condition, and maintaining the second output power condition until (iii)(e).

3. A method according to claim 2

wherein the first output power condition is at or near about 5 W of electrical energy, and

wherein the second output power level condition is at or near about 25 W of electrical energy.

4. A method according to claim 2

wherein the ramping function is linear.

5. A method according to claim 2

wherein the ramping function is non-linear.

6. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) varies the output frequency from lower to higher frequencies.

7. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) varies the output frequency from higher to lower frequencies.

8. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) varies the output frequency in a linear fashion.

9. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) varies the output frequency in a non-linear fashion.

10. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) includes selecting, as the operating output frequency, an output frequency at which sensed impedance of the ultrasound transducer is at a minimum.

11. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) includes selecting, as the operating output frequency, an output frequency at which real impedance for the ultrasound transducer is at a maximum.

12. A method according to claim 1

wherein (iii)(a) includes selecting, as the operating output frequency, an output frequency at which an output power level is at a maximum.