High intensity focused ultrasound transducer with acoustic lens

US8102734B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John W. Sliwa · Los Altos Hills, US
• Peter G. Goetz · Springfield, US
• Zhenyi Ma · San Jose, US
• Jennifer Teng · Santa Clara, US
• Stephen A. Morse · Menlo Park, US
• Frank Callaghan · Miami, US
• Timothy E. Ciciarelli · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 8, 2007
• Grant date: Jan 24, 2012
• Expiry date: Nov 5, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B17/2251
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A high intensity focused ultrasound transducer includes an ultrasonic emitter having a surface that emits ultrasonic energy along a beam path, at least one low attenuation polymeric ultrasonic lens acoustically coupled to the surface in the beam path of the ultrasonic energy, such that the lens can direct the ultrasonic energy in at least one direction, and at least one stress mitigation feature, such as a kerf, a heat sink, or an acoustic matching layer, to mitigate thermal expansion mismatch stresses within the transducer. For manufacturing simplicity, the first surface is typically either flat or monotonically curvilinear. The lens may take a variety of shapes, including Fresnel features, and may focus, collimate, or defocus the ultrasonic energy. Any orientation and positioning of the at least one ultrasonic lens relative to the first ultrasonic emitter is contemplated. Manufacture is further simplified by molding, casting, or thermoforming the lens.