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: 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: A device degasses fluid in a circulation loop. The device includes a degassing chamber coupled inline with the circulation loop, where a vacuum within the degassing chamber draws out dissolved gas and water vapor from the fluid. The degassing chamber has an opening enabling gas and water vapor drawn out from the fluid, and condensation formed from the water vapor, to flow out as a result of gravitational pull. The device further includes a cooler coupled to the opening in the degassing chamber and a water trap coupled to the cooler. The cooler includes a heat exchanger configured to condense a remaining portion of the water vapor into liquid, where the condensation and liquid accumulate in the water trap. The degassing chamber, water trap and cooler are maintained under vacuum, where the degassing chamber is maintained under vacuum through the opening via the cooler and the water trap.

Abstract: A head frame is configured for the head of a medical patient (108) and includes support for a probe and a neck support. The frame wraps around said head, and can be used in the supine position. The support may include a probe holder (116) slidable under the head and to contact or engage the neck support. In some embodiments, conformal shaping to the head and/or neck, the frame's rigid construction, the alignment of the optionally separable holder to the neck support (110), and weight of the head all serve to keep the distal tip of the ultrasound probe in place against the temporal region of the head, without need for attaching the frame to the head as by straps, providing an arrangement robust against patient/vehicle movement in an emergency medical services setting. Head immobilizing walls may be folded away (316) in some versions, retaining probe alignment.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis and treatment of tumors using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is provided. The method of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a patient comprises the steps of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to cause the tumor cells to release cellular material and evaluating the cellular material for a tumor marker. The method of treating a tumor in a patient can also comprise the step of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provoke an immune response.

Abstract: Bubble presence within a region is monitored to determine if a predetermined condition is met such as whether the presence is of sufficient magnitude, the bubbles being subject to energizing (240). In some embodiments, the energizing only occurs when time- wise preceded by the determination (S508, S510). The determining can include measuring a grayscale value (104), or assessing the energy carried by a frequency component of the echo signal, in the region in real time. The energizing may occur region-by-region, automatically and without need for user intervention, in a treatment pass (S428) over the regions. The regions (232) in the pass might be subject to respective instances of the energizing without intervening monitoring, or, in another embodiment, to both the determining and the responsive energizing. The determining can be subject to, automatically and without need for user intervention, interruption (S408) and concurrent switching to a next region.

Abstract: Ultrasound mediated delivery (USMD), real-time quantitative feedback derived (S264) therefrom, and proceeding by the system based on the feedback all are, in some embodiments, operable automatically and without need for user intervention. USMD may occur in a clinical setting accompanied by assays (S276) or real-time feedback, or by means of a wearable device that, based on feedback, regulates USMD in real time. Optionally, the user is provided an indication (S281) as to progress or success, of a treatment. Electrodes (128) may be attached across tissue in which transient pores are produced via sonoporation in the USMD procedure, and in vivo measurement is taken of an electrical parameter responsive to permeability. Therapeutic agent (S202) may be administered after particles activated for sonoporation are cleared from the circulation, to avoid, when it might exist, adverse interaction between the particles and agent.

Abstract: A device for delivery of a substance (144) using energy to protect, at a site of activation, against a side effect of another substance (156) that was delivered, is being delivered, and/or will be delivered, at another site. The activation may be non-invasive, remote and the energy beam (140) may be an ultrasound beam. A first of the substances can be activated at a particular energy level, and the second is then activated at a lower level so that a population of particles bearing the first substance is not inadvertently activated during activation of the second substance. The device may comprise a system to control the levels of energy applied.

Abstract: In one variation, a temperature-maintenance device includes a heater (1016) and is placeable in a circulation loop of an ultrasound transducer coupling bolus (1076), for degassing circulating liquid of the loop and for operating the heater for performing temperature control of the liquid. A temperature setpoint, such as a normal body temperature, for the liquid at the bolus may be entered. A device, either open- or closed-looped with respect to fluid flow, may include, in some variations, a degassing chamber, a water trap (1012), and an intervening cooler, all vacuumized by a vacuum pump (1024). The chamber may be configured and aligned for letting condensation automatically drain out. The water trap may be emptied, automatically and without the need for user intervention, by a motorized trap emptier and/or be emptiable by the user.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis and treatment of tumors using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is provided. The method of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a patient comprises the steps of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to cause the tumor cells to release cellular material and evaluating the cellular material for a tumor marker. The method of treating a tumor in a patient can also comprise the step of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provoke an immune response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the presence of tissue change due to exposure to HIFU Therapy.

Abstract: A HIFU System (100) is disclosed which may automatically generate a proposed treatment plan for treating a tissue treatment area (10) with HIFU Therapy. In one example, the proposed treatment plan includes a plurality of treatment sites selected based on a three-dimensional model generated from ultrasound data. In another example, the proposed treatment plan excludes portions of the tissue treatment area (10) corresponding to blood flow, such as the neuro-vascular bundles (20) when treating the prostate (11).

Abstract: A high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue using minimally invasive medical procedures is provided.

Abstract: A high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue using minimally invasive medical procedures is provided.

Abstract: A high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue using minimally invasive medical procedures is provided.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis and treatment of tumors using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is provided. The method of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a patient comprises the steps of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to cause the tumor cells to release cellular material and evaluating the cellular material for a tumor marker. The method of treating a tumor in a patient can also comprise the step of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provoke an immune response.

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers are disclosed which focus acoustic energy at various focal locations while minimizing focal spot degradation and the generation of unwanted on-axis or off-axis energy concentrations through using a generally constant f-number at the various focal locations.

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers are disclosed which focus acoustic energy at various focal locations while minimizing focal spot degradation and the generation of unwanted on-axis or off-axis energy concentrations through using a generally constant f-number at the various focal locations.

Abstract: A HIFU system is disclosed including a fluid circulation system including a degasser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the presence of tissue change due to exposure to HIFU Therapy.