Patents by Inventor Charles A. Cain
Charles A. Cain has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11819712Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for applying ultrasound pulses into tissue or a medium in which the peak negative pressure (P?) of one or more negative half cycle(s) of the ultrasound pulses exceed(s) an intrinsic threshold of the tissue or medium, to directly form a dense bubble cloud in the tissue or medium without shock-scattering. In one embodiment, a microtripsy method of Histotripsy therapy comprises delivering an ultrasound pulse from an ultrasound therapy transducer into tissue, the ultrasound pulse having at least a portion of a peak negative pressure half-cycle that exceeds an intrinsic threshold in the tissue to produce a bubble cloud of at least one bubble in the tissue, and generating a lesion in the tissue with the bubble cloud. The intrinsic threshold can vary depending on the type of tissue to be treated. In some embodiments, the intrinsic threshold in tissue can range from 15-30 MPa.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Charles A. Cain, Adam Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Kuang-Wei Lin
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Patent number: 11701134Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Hitinder S. Gurm, Charles A. Cain
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Publication number: 20220323088Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Adam D. MAXWELL, Zhen XU, Hitinder S. GURM, Charles A. CAIN
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Publication number: 20220219019Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Zhen XU, Jonathan SUKOVICH, Aditya S. PANDEY, Charles A. CAIN, Hitinder S. GURM
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Patent number: 11364042Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Adam D. Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Hitinder S. Gurm, Charles A. Cain
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Patent number: 11135454Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Zhen Xu, Jonathan Sukovich, Aditya S. Pandey, Charles A. Cain, Hitinder S. Gurm
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Patent number: 11058399Abstract: A Histotripsy therapy system is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the system includes a high voltage power supply, a pulse generator electrically coupled to at least one signal switching amplifier, at least one matching network electrically coupled to the signal switching amplifier(s), and an ultrasound transducer having at least one transducer element. The Histotripsy therapy system can further include an ultrasound Doppler imaging system. The Doppler imaging system and the Histotripsy therapy system can be synchronized to enable color Doppler acquisition of the fractionation of tissue during Histotripsy therapy. Methods of use are also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Zhen Xu, Ryan M. Miller, Adam D. Maxwell, Charles A. Cain
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Publication number: 20210008394Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for applying ultrasound pulses into tissue or a medium in which the peak negative pressure (P?) of one or more negative half cycle(s) of the ultrasound pulses exceed(s) an intrinsic threshold of the tissue or medium, to directly form a dense bubble cloud in the tissue or medium without shock-scattering. In one embodiment, a microtripsy method of Histotripsy therapy comprises delivering an ultrasound pulse from an ultrasound therapy transducer into tissue, the ultrasound pulse having at least a portion of a peak negative pressure half-cycle that exceeds an intrinsic threshold in the tissue to produce a bubble cloud of at least one bubble in the tissue, and generating a lesion in the tissue with the bubble cloud. The intrinsic threshold can vary depending on the type of tissue to be treated. In some embodiments, the intrinsic threshold in tissue can range from 15-30 MPa.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Charles A. CAIN, Adam MAXWELL, Zhen XU, Kuang-Wei LIN
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Patent number: 10780298Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for applying ultrasound pulses into tissue or a medium in which the peak negative pressure (P?) of one or more negative half cycle(s) of the ultrasound pulses exceed(s) an intrinsic threshold of the tissue or medium, to directly form a dense bubble cloud in the tissue or medium without shock-scattering. In one embodiment, a microtripsy method of Histotripsy therapy comprises delivering an ultrasound pulse from an ultrasound therapy transducer into tissue, the ultrasound pulse having at least a portion of a peak negative pressure half-cycle that exceeds an intrinsic threshold in the tissue to produce a bubble cloud of at least one bubble in the tissue, and generating a lesion in the tissue with the bubble cloud. The intrinsic threshold can vary depending on the type of tissue to be treated. In some embodiments, the intrinsic threshold in tissue can range from 15-30 MPa.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Charles A. Cain, Adam Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Kuang-Wei Lin
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Publication number: 20190389543Abstract: A device includes at least one float. The at least one float is configured to provide a buoyancy force away from a seabed when placed in water. The device also includes an enclosure configured to house the at least one float. The enclosure comprises at least one connection configured to couple the enclosure to a self-elevating unit used in offshore oil operations or offshore gas operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: James Charles Cain, Richard Robert Roper, Mason Corey Melkowits, Steve Brady
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Publication number: 20190216478Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Adam D. MAXWELL, Zhen XU, Hitinder S. GURM, Charles A. CAIN
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Patent number: 10219815Abstract: Methods for performing non-invasive thrombolysis with ultrasound using, in some embodiments, one or more ultrasound transducers to focus or place a high intensity ultrasound beam onto a blood clot (thrombus) or other vascular inclusion or occlusion (e.g., clot in the dialysis graft, deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis, arterial embolus, bypass graft thrombosis or embolization, pulmonary embolus) which would be ablated (eroded, mechanically fractionated, liquefied, or dissolved) by ultrasound energy. The process can employ one or more mechanisms, such as of cavitational, sonochemical, mechanical fractionation, or thermal processes depending on the acoustic parameters selected. This general process, including the examples of application set forth herein, is henceforth referred to as “Thrombolysis.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Adam Maxwell, Zhen Xu, Hitinder S. Gurm, Charles A. Cain
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Patent number: 10196249Abstract: A lifting device includes a chassis, a turret connected to the chassis so as to rotate around a vertical axis, and a lifting arm, extending between a first end connected to the turret, and a second end connected to a unit for carrying the load. It includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, each able to receive a respective fork, arranged on the chassis, on either side of the turret, parallel to one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: HAULOTTE GROUPInventors: Emmanuel Pithoud, Jean-Charles Cain, Slaheddine Beji
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Patent number: 10071266Abstract: A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. The device may include a Histotripsy transducer, a generator and controller configured to deliver Histotripsy energy from the transducer to target tissue, and an imaging system. In some embodiments, a method of treating tissue with Histotripsy energy comprises positioning a focus of a histotripsy transducer on a target tissue, delivering histotripsy energy from the histotripsy transducer through a bone aberrator, forming a histotripsy bubble cloud on the focus, and preventing the formation of secondary histotripsy bubble clouds without implementing an aberration correction algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventor: Charles A. Cain
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Publication number: 20180154186Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Zhen XU, Jonathan SUKOVICH, Aditya S. PANDEY, Charles A. CAIN, Hitinder S. GURM
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Patent number: 9943708Abstract: A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the device is that it can image a target tissue volume and apply ultrasound energy to the target tissue volume. In some embodiments, the medical imaging and therapy device is configured controllably apply ultrasound energy into the prostate by maintaining a cavitational bubble cloud generated by an ultrasound therapy system within an image of the prostate generated by an imaging system. The medical imaging and therapy device can be used in therapeutic applications such as Histotripsy, Lithotripsy, and HIFU, for example. Methods associated with use of the medical imaging and therapy device are also covered.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignees: HISTOSONICS, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: William W. Roberts, Timothy L. Hall, Charles A. Cain, J. Brian Fowlkes, Zhen Xu, Michael Thomas Kusner, Jr., Dejan Teofilovic
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Patent number: 9901753Abstract: A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the device is that it can deliver Lithotripsy therapy to a patient, so as to fractionate urinary stones. Another feature of the device is that it can deliver Histotripsy therapy to a patient, so as to erode urinary stones. In some embodiments, the medical imaging and therapy device is configured to target and track urinary stones in the patient during therapy. Methods associated with use of the medical imaging and therapy device are also covered.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, HISTOSONICS, INC.Inventors: Charles A. Cain, Timothy L. Hall, William W. Roberts, Zhen Xu, J. Brian Fowlkes, Thomas W. Davison
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Publication number: 20180049719Abstract: A Histotripsy therapy system is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the system includes a high voltage power supply, a pulse generator electrically coupled to at least one signal switching amplifier, at least one matching network electrically coupled to the signal switching amplifier(s), and an ultrasound transducer having at least one transducer element. The Histotripsy therapy system can further include an ultrasound Doppler imaging system. The Doppler imaging system and the Histotripsy therapy system can be synchronized to enable color Doppler acquisition of the fractionation of tissue during Histotripsy therapy. Methods of use are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Zhen XU, Ryan M. MILLER, Adam D. MAXWELL, Charles A. CAIN
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Publication number: 20170349420Abstract: A lifting device includes a chassis, a turret connected to the chassis so as to rotate around a vertical axis, and a lifting arm, extending between a first end connected to the turret, and a second end connected to a unit for carrying the load. It includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, each able to receive a respective fork, arranged on the chassis, on either side of the turret, parallel to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2015Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Emmanuel PITHOUD, Jean-Charles CAIN, Slaheddine BEJI
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Publication number: 20170232277Abstract: An ultrasound therapy system is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the custom transducer housings can be manufactured using a rapid-prototyping method to arrange a plurality of single-element, substantially flat transducers to share a common focal point. The rapid-prototyping method can include, for example, fused-deposition modeling, 3D printing, and stereolithography. In some embodiments, the therapy system can include a plurality of transducer modules insertable into the openings of the transducer housing. Methods of manufacture are also described, including designing a transducer housing shell to a desired geometry and a plurality of acoustic focusing lenses integral to the transducer housing shell in a 3D computer aided design software, and constructing the transducer housing shell and the plurality of acoustic focusing lenses integral to the transducer housing shell using a rapid-prototyping method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Timothy L. HALL, Adam MAXWELL, Charles A. CAIN, Yohan KIM, Zhen XU