Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for determining a presence of arthritis in a patient, including obtaining a first image of a patient's joint, wherein the first image is a visible light image, obtaining a second image of the patient's joint, wherein the second image is a thermal light image, determining an outline of the patient's joint from the first image, determining an outline of a reference area from the first image, wherein the patient's joint is adjacent to the reference area, determining a first representative topological temperature within the outline of the patient's joint of the first image from the second image, determining a second representative topological temperature within the outline of the reference area of the first image from the second image, comparing the first representative topological temperature and the second representative topological temperature; and determining a likelihood of the presence of arthritis within the patient's joint.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.