Methods and systems for non-invasive treatment of tissue using high intensity focused ultrasound therapy

US8876740B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Washington · US

Inventors

• Michael S. Canney · Menomonee Falls, US
• Michael R. Bailey · Seattle, US
• Lawrence A. Crum · Bellevue, US
• Vera A. Khokhlova · Seattle, US
• Tatiana D. Khokhlova · Seattle, US
• Wayne Kreider · Seattle, US
• Joo Ha Hwang · Bellevue, US
• Oleg A. Sapozhnikov · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 12, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 15, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/378
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and systems for non-invasive treatment of tissue using high intensity focused ultrasound (“HIFU”) therapy. A method of non-invasively treating tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include positioning a focal plane of an ultrasound source at a target site in tissue. The ultrasound source can be configured to emit HIFU waves. The method can further include pulsing ultrasound energy from the ultrasound source toward the target site, and generating shock waves in the tissue to induce boiling of the tissue at the target site within milliseconds. The boiling of the tissue at least substantially emulsifies the tissue.