Systems and methods for steering a focused ultrasound array
US6613005B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2007/0095
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A focused ultrasound system includes a transducer array including a plurality of sub-arrays, each sub-array defining an acoustic emission surface and including a plurality of transducer elements thereon. A mechanical controller is coupled to the sub-arrays that includes actuators for moving the sub-arrays to adjust an orientation of the acoustic emission surfaces of respective sub-arrays to facilitate steering of acoustic energy emitted by the transducer elements towards a target tissue region. Drive circuitry provides drive signals to the transducer elements, whereby the transducer elements emit acoustic energy from their respective acoustic emission surfaces to ablate the target region, such as a tumor within a patient's brain.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.