Focused ultrasound apparatus and methods of use

US10350439B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization · US
• The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York · US

Inventors

• Adam D. Maxwell · Seattle, US
• Ryan Hsi · Nashville, US
• Thomas Lendvay · Seattle, US
• Pasquale Casale · New York, US
• Michael R. Bailey · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 28, 2014
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2019
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2007/0086
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods for diagnosing a pathologic tissue membrane, as well as a focused ultrasound apparatus and methods of treatment are disclosed to perform ureterocele puncture noninvasively using focused ultrasound-generated cavitation or boiling bubbles to controllably erode a hole through the tissue. An example ultrasound apparatus may include (a) a therapy transducer having a treatment surface, wherein the therapy transducer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated sections, (b) at least one concave acoustic lens defining a therapy aperture in the treatment surface of the therapy transducer, (c) an imaging aperture defined by either the treatment surface of the therapy transducer or by the at least one concave acoustic lens and (d) an ultrasound imaging probe axially aligned with a central axis of the therapy aperture.