Abstract:
In at least some examples, a method of treating an eye, includes (i) imaging a patient's vitreous using a probe, (ii) defining a window on a desired region of the vitreous, (iii) administering ultrasonic energy treatment to the desired region within the window, (iv) continually monitoring the treatment via the probe, (v) adjusting a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy treatment based on the monitoring, (vi) re-imaging the desired region of the vitreous after the treatment is administered, and (vii) evaluating or observing the desired region to determine whether a target percentage of a vitreous opacity has been resolved.
Abstract:
A system for delivering ultrasound includes an ultrasound source that directs ultrasonic radiation to a target region on the blood-organ barrier; and a controller for controlling the ultrasound source on the basis of acoustic emissions from the target region.
Abstract:
A method of diagnosing a subject by delivering ultrasound signals using shear waves includes applying a portion of an ultrasound mainbeam to a bone surface at an incident angle relative to the surface of the bone to induce shear waves in the bone, energy in the shear waves forming a substantial part of energy of first ultrasound waves at a desired region in the subject through the bone, detecting at least one of reflected and scattered energy of the applied ultrasound mainbeam, and analyzing the detected energy for a diagnostic purpose.
Abstract:
An apparatus (10) for providing ultrasonic energy for deposition in body tissue (24) including an array (17) of elements (18, 20) having at least two different sizes and at least one element being periodically spaced with respect to the other elements in the array. An amplifier system (12) includes amplifiers (15), and phase shifters (16) each individually controlling each of the elements producing a beam of ultrasonic energy having reduced grating lobes. Reduced grating lobe magnitude permits improved ultrasonic beam focusing and/or the use of larger element sizes.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging capable of achieving spatial resolutions that can resolve objects smaller than 300 μιη are described. Ultrasound is transmitted to and steered over a volume-of-interest that contains a microbubble contrast agent to individually excite microbubbles. Signal data is acquired in response to the transmitted ultrasound, and a plurality of images are reconstructed by beamforming the acquired signal data. The spatial resolution of the beamformed images can be further increased using techniques that determine the position of the microbubble within each image to a greater level of accuracy than the point spread function ("PSF") of the ultrasound system. The images can also be combined to produce a single high resolution image of the volume-of-interest using, for instance, a maximum pixel projection technique.
Abstract:
A focused ultrasound ("FUS"} system capable of use in a small bore imaging system, such as a small bore magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"} system is provided. The FUS system generally includes an ultrasound transducer whose position is adjusted by a positioning system. The positioning system is sized to fit within the bore of the small bore imaging system. For instance, the positioning system can fit within a diameter of 150 millimeters or less.
Abstract:
The present application provides a multilayer lateral mode coupling method for phased array construction and transducer devices built accordingly. This disclosure describes and demonstrates that the electrical impedance of a phased array can be substantially reduced and readily controlled to be close to the source impedance. The fabrication process is relatively simple and inexpensive. In addition, the elements are robust for use in 1.5, 2, 3 or other dimensional configurations, over an extended period of operation, without structural failure, and providing a high power output required for imaging and/or medical therapy applications.
Abstract:
A focused ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer configured to emit focused ultrasound energy toward a subject and a positioning system configured to position the ultrasound transducer to localize the focused ultrasound energy within a target location. The positioning system includes a drive apparatus to translate the ultrasound transducer along at least one axis of motion and a motor controller to control the drive apparatus. The focused ultrasound system also includes a control system connected to the motor controller that is programmed to receive imaging/location data from an imaging system, determine positional coordinates of the target location based on the imaging/location data, and register the positional coordinates of the target location with the positioning system. The positional coordinates are sent to the motor controller via an input signal to cause the motor controller to control the drive apparatus so as to translate the ultrasound transducer.
Abstract:
An ultrasound therapy transducer head (10) comprises an ultrasound source (14) emitting ultrasonic radiation, the ultrasound source comprising a plurality of transducer elements (20), integrated driving electronics (24) coupled to the transducer elements, the electronics generating at least one output ultrasound waveform and driving at least some of the transducer elements independently based on the at least one output ultrasound waveform and temperature control structure providing cooling for the electronics.
Abstract:
A system for delivering ultrasound includes an ultrasound source that directs ultrasonic radiation to a target region on the blood-organ barrier; and a controller for controlling the ultrasound source on the basis of acoustic emissions from the target region.