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US4889122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Divergent ultrasound arrays
Assignee: University of Aberdeen
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Filing: 1988-04-11
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound hyperthermia unit for the treatment of a target tissue, includes an ultrasound transducer array (1) angled to direct sonic energy toward a target (8), wherein the array (1) comprises a plurality of divergent transducers (2) arranged radially of a central axis to provide a coherent treatment field about a central axis. Temperature sensing means (10) may be operatively associated with the array and adapted to provide an output signal indicative of temperature values adjacent a target tumour, said signal being utilized to control the output of the transducers. A liquid bath (5) may be provided for being located between the array (1) and the skin (14) of a patient, said liquid bath being adapted to warm or induce local hyperthermia in the skin surface. The divergent array, when associated with a water bath, allows a particularly effective treatment of physiotherapeutic conditions or neoplastic tissues without causing collateral damage.
Inventors
- 👤 David Watmough
- 👤 Kwok K. Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N7/00; A61N7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including an ultrasound transducer assembly which directs ultrasonic energy toward a target disposed at a predetermined target location with respect to said assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape and arranged radially of a central axis, and thereby provide a treatment area which includes said target location about said central axis and adjacent said transducers in the near field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including an ultrasound transducer assembly which directs ultrasonic energy toward a target disposed at a predetermined target location with respect to said assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape and arranged radially of a central axis, and thereby provide a treatment area which includes said target location about said central axis and adjacent said transducers in the near field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A unit according to claim 1, further comprising means containing a liquid bath of an ultrasound-transmitting liquid adapted to be located between the assembly and the skin of a patient in said treatment area, said liquid bath being adapted to warm superficial tissues of such patient which are receiving said ultrasonic energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A unit according to claim 2, further comprising temperature sensing means for operative association with the assembly, and adapted to provide an output signal indicative of temperature values at and adjacent the target, an output signal being utilized to control the ultrasonic power output of the transducers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A unit according to claim 2, wherein said means containing said liquid bath comprises a flexible membrane enclosing said liquid bath, whereby the bath can change its shape to modify the distance between the assembly and said superficial tissues of such patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A unit according to claim 1, wherein the assembly has a further transducer coaxial with the central axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A unit according to claim 5, wherein said divergent transducers are interspersed with at least one imaging transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A unit according to claim 6, wherein said one or more imaging transducers are utilizable intermittently for imaging of said target area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit according to claim 6, wherein said at least one imaging transducer is a plane non-divergent transducer arranged centrally of said divergent transducers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A unit according to claim 8, wherein said divergent transducers are directed at an angle of substantially 66.4° with respect to the central axis of said transducer assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A unit according to claim 1, further comprising means for the control of an ultrasound frequency of each said transducer, whereby harmonic, sub-harmonic or higher-harmonic frequencies can be selected as a control function for such transducer to alter treatment depth characteristics of the unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid lens associated with each transducer to vary the focal volume of the treatment area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a method for physiotherapeutic treatment of tissue which comprises directing ultrasonic energy toward a target tissue, an improvement which comprises directing said ultrasonic energy from a transducer or transducers to treat the target tissue with ultrasonic energy which is divergent in the near field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a method for physiotherapeutic treatment of tissue which comprises directing ultrasonic energy toward a target tissue, an improvement which comprises directing said ultrasonic energy from a transducer or transducers to treat the target tissue with ultrasonic energy which is divergent in the near field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 which comprises inducing local hyperthermia at 40° C. to 45° C. in said target tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the transducers are radially arranged about a central axis and wherein one or more transducers are utilized in an imaging mode while the power to the other transducers which are not so utilized is switched off.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 12, wherein harmonic or sub-harmonic or higher harmonic frequencies of each said ultrasonic transducer are selected for each said transducer to alter the treatment depth in response to the temperature sensed in or around the neoplastic tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein each said transducer has an outwardly convex curvature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein each said transducer has a spherical surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein each said transducer is shaped like a polar cap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a method for the treatment of neoplastic tissue which comprises sensing the temperature within and about the neoplastic tissue and providing signals indicative of said temperature to a microprocessor, controlling an ultrasound transducer with said microprocessor to generate ultrasonic energy to induce local hyperthermia at about 40° C. to 45° C. at and adjacent said neoplastic tissue, by directing an array of ultrasonic energy toward the neoplastic tissue; the improvement which comprises directing said ultrasonic energy from a transducer or transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape to raise the temperature of the neoplastic tissue above viability in a treatment area adjacent each of said transducers in the near field.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a method for the treatment of neoplastic tissue which comprises sensing the temperature within and about the neoplastic tissue and providing signals indicative of said temperature to a microprocessor, controlling an ultrasound transducer with said microprocessor to generate ultrasonic energy to induce local hyperthermia at about 40° C. to 45° C. at and adjacent said neoplastic tissue, by directing an array of ultrasonic energy toward the neoplastic tissue; the improvement which comprises directing said ultrasonic energy from a transducer or transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape to raise the temperature of the neoplastic tissue above viability in a treatment area adjacent each of said transducers in the near field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein each said transducer has an outwardly convex curvature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein each said at least one transducer has a spherical surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein each said transducer is shaped like a polar cap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including an ultrasound transducer assembly which directs ultrasonic energy toward a target disposed at a predetermined target location with respect to said assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape and arranged radially of a central axis and thereby provide a treatment area which includes said target location about said central axis and adjacent said transducers in the near field; wherein each said transducer has an outwardly convex curvature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
86 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including an ultrasound transducer assembly which directs ultrasonic energy toward a target disposed at a predetermined target location with respect to said assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers which are divergent in the near field because of their shape and arranged radially of a central axis and thereby provide a treatment area which includes said target location about said central axis and adjacent said transducers in the near field; wherein each said transducer has an outwardly convex curvature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A unit according to claim 23, wherein each said transducer has a spherical surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A unit according to claim 23, wherein each said transducer is shaped like a polar cap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |