# US 10,245,449 B2 · Systems and methods for coupling an ultrasound source to tissue

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- Number: US 10,245,449 B2
- Document ID: US10245449B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/293,361
- Filed: 2016-10-14
- Published: 2017-02-02
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-02
- Assignees: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC
- Applicants: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC
- Inventors: Michael H. Slayton; Peter G. Barthe; Paul Jaeger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245449B2

## CPC

- A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
- A61B 8/429: {characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue}
- A61B 8/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00898: {Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition}
- A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound}
- A61N 2007/0034: {Skin treatment}
- A61N 2007/006: {Lenses}
- A61N 2007/0091: {with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors}
- A61N 2007/0095: {by modifying an excitation signal}
- A61N 2007/027: {with multiple foci created simultaneously}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for sensing coupling of an ultrasound source to a target and for providing a constant average output of power from an ultrasound source. The systems and methods can include a frequency sweep function. The systems and methods can also include receiving reflected energy from an acoustic window and determining a feedback using the reflected energy. The systems and methods can also include comparing the feedback with a threshold level and using the comparison to determine if the ultrasound source is coupled with a target.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
an ultrasound source comprising a transducer;
an acoustically transparent standoff acoustically coupled to the transducer;
an acoustic window at a surface of the standoff, the acoustic window having a thickness of an integer multiple of half wavelength of ultrasound energy emitted by the ultrasound source; and
an ultrasound controller coupled to the transducer, the ultrasound controller configured to cause the transducer to emit the ultrasound energy, the ultrasound energy being frequency swept over time, the ultrasound controller monitoring a coupling status of the ultrasound source by measuring at least a portion of the ultrasound energy that is reflected by the acoustic window.