Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound method configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion is described. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultrasound pulse. In some examples, the method may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

Abstract: A system configured to protect valuable, sensitive, or electro-mechanical equipment during cleaning of the equipment can include a cover having a single opening leading to an interior cavity. The cover can be waterproof. A plate can be permanently attached to the cable of the equipment. An outer periphery of the plate can be approximately the same size as an inner periphery of the opening. The plate can be configured to sealingly fit within the single opening. The system can include a latching mechanism configured to sealingly attach the plate to the cover.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound method configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion is described. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultrasound pulse. In some examples, the method may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound system transmits a staggered or interleaved pattern of therapy beams for use in sonothrombolysis and other Vascular Acoustic Resonators (VAR) mediated therapy. The inventive technique minimizes VAR, e.g. microbubble, destruction due to adjacent beams, ensures uniform sonication of the targeted region by filling in the spaces between the beams in subsequent passes, and further provides a means for bubble replenishment to maximize the clot lysis from ultrasound. The technique is also applicable to diagnostic ultrasound, VAR mediated drug delivery and blood brain barrier opening.

Abstract: A fluid management system for use with an ultrasound probe assembly can include first and second conduits each configured to extend from and be fluidly connected to the ultrasound probe assembly. A fluid directing system can include a circulation pump fluidly connected to both the first and second conduits. A fluid degassing system can be fluidly connected to the first and second conduits. The fluid degassing system can be configured to remove at least some gas from the fluid in the ultrasound probe assembly. A temperature control system can be fluidly connected to the first and second conduits. The temperature control system can be configured to control the temperature of the fluid in the ultrasound probe assembly. A volume adjustment system can be fluidly connected to the first and second conduits. The volume adjustment system can be configured to adjust the volume of the fluid in the ultrasound probe assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a therapeutic ultrasound system configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultra sound pulse. In some examples, the system may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

Abstract: There is presented a removable high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer and supporting system that allows for HIFU transducer assemblies and other therapeutic ultrasound assemblies to be attached to third party positioning, imaging, or guidance systems while maintaining the required focal-zone positioning ability and the required acoustic energy coupling to tissue, to mechanically or automatically ablate a target volume in unimpeded fashion. There is provided an acoustically transparent and pliable vessel that has an open top end and filled with acoustic coupling fluid, capable of holding the transducer assembly and distal end of the positioning system within it as it executes the HIFU treatment plan/process. The vessel is held in place using a transducer/positioning system and independent external fixturing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for patient-specific adjusting of ultrasound output pressure includes a controller (118) configured for adjusting, based on an estimate of thickness of a temporal bone (140) in a head of a medical treatment recipient, a pressure setting. It may also be based on treatment depth (134). Ultrasound at the adjusted pressure setting is applied. A user interface may be provided for user entry of the estimate, the user interface being further configured for user indication of the treatment depth. Both the entered estimate and the indicated treatment depth may be used in calculating ultrasound attenuation (148). The user indication can be interactive by virtue of designating, on a display, a location of a treatment target. The calculated attenuation may be a value, in decibels, that is in a range from 0.9×(2.70×0.1+16.60×T+0.87×(D?T?0.1)+3.02) to 1.1×(2.70×0.1+16.60×T+0.87×(D?T?0.1)+3.02), where T is the estimate in centimeters and D is the treatment depth in centimeters.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasound irradiation of a body part (208) includes a first ultrasound transducer (216), and a second ultrasound transducer (212) mounted oppositely, and is configured: a) such that at least two ultrasound receiving elements, for determining a relative orientation of the first to the second transducer, are attached to the first transducer; b) for a beam, from the first transducer, causing cavitation, and/or bubble destruction of systemically circulating microbubbles, within the body part; or c) both with the attached elements and for the causing. The apparatus registers, with said first transducer, the second transducer, by using as a reference respectively the features a) and/or b).

Abstract: Ultrasonic sonothrombolysis systems to produce two acoustic pressure levels of insonation during stroke therapy, mid/high acoustic pressure insonation directed to the site of a blood clot where microbubbles are present to induce microbubble-mediated blood clot lysis, and low acoustic insonation directed to the region surrounding the site of the blood clot where microbubbles are present to stimulate microvascular reperfusion of the surrounding tissue. The systems simultaneously produce blood clot lysis at the site of an occlusion and stimulate reperfusion of tissue affected by the occlusion.

Abstract: A method of performing a coronary bypass procedure is performed by a flexible apparatus controlled by at least one controller, the method may include acts of: percutaneously situating the flexible apparatus into a first artery coupled to connective tissue of a chest wall; transluminally detaching at least a portion of the first artery from the connective tissue by applying ultrasound signals of a first type emitted by at least one transducer of the flexible apparatus; steering at least a portion of the detached portion first artery from a current location to a bypass location at a target artery by applying a force transmitted through the flexible apparatus situated within the first artery; and coupling, by the flexible apparatus situated within the first artery, the first artery to the target artery at the bypass location to establish flow communication between the first artery and the target artery.

Abstract: An infusion system for sonothrombolysis treatment uses a syringe loaded with a microbubble solution and operated by a syringe pump to deliver the microbubble solution to a subject during sonothrombolysis treatment. To prevent the stratification of the microbubble solution in the barrel of the syringe during treatment, the barrel also contains a plurality of magnetic beads which are agitated into semi-random patterns of motion in the syringe chamber during the procedure. The magnetic beads are moved by magnetic attraction and repulsion from the moving magnets of a magnetic stirrer mounted in proximity to the syringe during treatment.

Abstract: An ultrasound system performs cranial therapy using a headset mounted to the head of a subject which contains a therapy transducer and a motion detecting transducer. At the outset of therapy, echo signals are acquired by the motion detecting transducer and stored. Thereafter, echo signals are acquired again by the motion detecting transducer and compared or correlated with the signals stored at the outset of therapy. When a difference is determined between the compared or correlated signals, an alert is issued by the system that transducer motion or acoustic decoupling may have occurred.

Abstract: An ultrasound sensing guidance system employing a medical tool (30) including an ultrasonic motor (40) for actuating the medical tool (30) relative to an anatomical region. The ultrasound sensing guidance system further employs an ultrasound transducer (50) and an ultrasound sensing guidance controller (70). In operation, the ultrasound transducer (50) generates acoustic sensing data indicative of a sensing by the ultrasound transducer (50) of an acoustic wave emitted by the ultrasonic motor (40) as the ultrasonic motor (40) actuates the medical tool (30) relative to the anatomical region, and the ultrasound sensing guidance controller (70) controls an actuation of the medical tool (30) by the ultrasonic motor (40) responsive to the generation of the acoustic sensing data by the ultrasound transducer (50).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a therapeutic ultrasound system configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultra sound pulse. In some examples, the system may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

Abstract: An ultrasound system utilizes an array transducer to perform sonothrombolysis treatment. The system also produces a vascular map of flow characteristics in the vicinity of the therapy site in a subject. The vascular map is used to formulate a treatment plan which includes the number, focusing, timing, and steering of beams of a pattern of therapy beams transmitted during a transmission interval. Formulation of the treatment plan considers factors such as the direction of microbubble flow toward a therapy site, the flow velocity, the spacing between successive therapy beam transmissions, the number of therapy beams needed to “paint” a therapy region, and grating lobe locations, many of which can be determined from the vascular map.

Abstract: A system to perform a bypass procedure performed by an apparatus (100, 400, 600) comprising a steerable body portion (102, 450, 452) and at least one transducer (114, 414) controlled by at least one controller (610). The system may include one or more acts of transluminally detaching at least a portion of a first artery from connective tissue (423) of a chest wall (425) that is attached to the first artery by applying ultrasound signals of a first type emitted by the at least one transducer (114, 414) situated within the first artery; steering the detached portion of the first artery from a current location to a bypass location by applying a force from the steerable body portion, which is located outside of the first artery, to at least a portion of the detached portion of the first artery; and coupling the first artery to a target artery at the bypass location to establish flow communication between the first artery and the target artery.

Abstract: An apparatus that performs a bypass procedure includes a steerable body portion and at least one transducer controlled by at least one controller. The system may include one or more acts of transluminally detaching at least a portion of a first artery from connective tissue of a chest wall that is attached to the first artery by applying ultrasound signals of a first type emitted by the at least one transducer situated within the first artery; steeling the detached portion of the first artery from a current location to a bypass location by applying a force from the steerable body portion, which is located outside of the first artery, to at least a portion of the detached portion of the first artery; and coupling the first artery to a target artery at the bypass location to establish flow communication between the first artery and the target artery.

Abstract: A method for delivering ultrasound can include positioning at least a focal zone of a transducer of an ultrasound probe proximate to targeted tissue of a patient. The method can include supplying power to the transducer to deliver ultrasound energy from the transducer to a first portion of the targeted tissue for a predetermined amount of time to create a first focal lesion in the targeted tissue. The method can include at least temporarily ceasing power to the transducer so as to at least temporarily cease delivery of ultrasound energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue. The method can include supplying power to the transducer to deliver ultrasound energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue at least substantially continuously and along a predefined treatment path.

Abstract: An ultrasonic intracranial sonothrombolysis pressure amplitude is pre-quantified by using an ultrasound-scanner control unit (110) having an increasing and/or decreasing mode and designed for: with respect to a current mode, interrogating a blockage site iteratively so as to progressively and respectively increase or decrease a pressure amplitude of ultrasound being emitted to the site at which bubbles (144) for oscillating that is caused by the emitted ultrasound are present; iteration to iteration, deriving, from echoes of the emitted ultrasound, a magnitude of an energy of a signal; and automatically identifying, for the quantifying, an iteration that, in comparison with a just-previous iteration, fails to increase the magnitude. The interrogating may span a region that contains or goes through: the obstruction; another part of the blood vessel; and bubble circulation within a neighboring vessel and a neighboring capillary (136).