System, apparatus and method for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and/or ultrasound delivery while protecting critical structures

A method for delivering ultrasound, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning at least a focal zone of a transducer of an ultrasound probe proximate to targeted tissue of a patient;
• b) 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;
• c) 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;
• d) supplying power to the transducer to deliver ultrasound energy from the transducer to a second portion of the targeted tissue for a predetermined amount of time to create a second focal lesion in the targeted tissue;
• e) 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;
• and
• f) 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.

A system for treating a targeted area of tissue with High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), the system comprising:

• a probe having a probe tip and a housing formed to include an aperture therein, a transducer coupled to the probe, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasound energy through the aperture in the housing to deliver HIFU energy to a focal zone located within the targeted area, the probe tip being positionable to deliver HIFU energy to the targeted area,
• a controller configured to supply power to the transducer to deliver HIFU energy from the transducer to a first portion of the targeted tissue for a first predetermined amount of time to create a first focal lesion and ablate that portion of the targeted tissue, the first focal lesion acting as a barrier for subsequent HIFU ablation of tissue located beyond or behind the first focal lesion thereby protecting tissue beyond or behind the first focal lesion from unintended ablation, wherein the controller at least temporarily ceases power to the transducer at the conclusion of the first predetermined amount of time so as to at least temporarily cease delivery of HIFU energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue, wherein the controller supplies power to the transducer to deliver HIFU energy from the transducer to a second portion of the targeted tissue for a second predetermined amount of time to create a second focal lesion and ablate that portion of the targeted tissue, wherein the second focal lesion acts as a barrier for subsequent HIFU ablation of tissue located beyond or behind the second focal lesion thereby protecting tissue beyond or behind the second focal lesion from unintended ablation, wherein the controller at least temporarily ceases power to the transducer at the conclusion of the second predetermined amount of time so as to at least temporarily cease delivery of HIFU energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue, the controller providing power to the transducer to deliver HIFU energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue substantially continuously and along a predefined treatment path, and wherein the focal zone of the transducer is continuously moving at constant speed and at least substantially continuously applying ultrasound to at least a portion of the targeted tissue.