Device, system, and method for non-invasive sterilization of mammals and other animals

A system comprising:

• a handheld apparatus comprising:
• at least one first transducer configured to generate first ultrasonic signals and receive reflected first ultrasonic signals;
• at least one second transducer configured to generate second ultrasonic signals;
• a diagnostic ultrasound system configured to control generation of the first ultrasonic signals and to perform image processing using the reflected first ultrasonic signals in order to generate real-time images of tissue in an animal, wherein the diagnostic ultrasound system comprises:
• a transmit/receive (T/R) switch coupled to a pulser, the at least one first transducer, and an analog front end, the pulser comprising a level shifter and coupled to the T/R switch, the analog front end comprising one or more filters, one or more amplifiers, and one or more analog-to-digital converters,
• a transmit (TX) beamformer comprising one or more registers and a clock engine and coupled to the pulser, and
• a processing device comprising a microprocessor, microcontroller, field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the TX beamformer, the analog front end, and a second processing device configured to perform image processing and generate the real-time images;
• a therapeutic ultrasound system configured to control generation of the second ultrasonic signals in order to ablate targeted tissue in the animal and sterilize the animal, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound system comprises:
• a function generator configured to generate a therapeutic signal,
• an amplifier configured to amplify the therapeutic signal,
• a directional circuit configured to provide a first portion of the therapeutic signal to an electrical impedance matching circuit and a second portion of the therapeutic signal to a power meter, the electrical impedance matching circuit configured to provide the first portion of the therapeutic signal to the at least one second transducer for the second ultrasonic signals, the power meter configured to measure a current power of the amplified therapeutic signal;
• and
• a portable housing that contains the at least one first transducer, the at least one second transducer, the therapeutic ultrasound system, and the diagnostic ultrasound system including the T/R switch, the pulser, the analog front end, the TX beamformer, and the processing device;
• and
• a display configured to present the real-time images to a user in order to allow the user to aim the at least one second transducer at the targeted tissue.

A method comprising:

• generating real-time images of tissue in an animal using a diagnostic ultrasound system and at least one first transducer, wherein the diagnostic ultrasound system comprises:
• a transmit/receive (T/R) switch coupled to a pulser, the at least one first transducer, and an analog front end, the pulser comprising a level shifter and coupled to the T/R switch, the analog front end comprising one or more filters, one or more amplifiers, and one or more analog-to-digital converters,
• a transmit (TX) beamformer comprising one or more registers and a clock engine and coupled to the pulser, and
• a processing device comprising a microprocessor, microcontroller, field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the TX beamformer, the analog front end, and a second processing device configured to perform image processing and generate the real-time images;
• and
• ablating targeted tissue in the animal in order to sterilize the animal using a therapeutic ultrasound system and at least one second transducer, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound system comprises:
• a function generator configured to generate a therapeutic signal,
• an amplifier configured to amplify the therapeutic signal,
• a directional circuit configured to provide a first portion of the therapeutic signal to an electrical impedance matching circuit and a second portion of the therapeutic signal to a power meter, the electrical impedance matching circuit configured to provide the first portion of the therapeutic signal to the at least one second transducer for second ultrasonic signals, the power meter configured to measure a current power of the amplified therapeutic signal;
• wherein:
• the at least one first transducer is configured to generate first ultrasonic signals and receive reflected first ultrasonic signals, the real-time images generated using the reflected first ultrasonic signals;
• the at least one second transducer is configured to generate the second ultrasonic signals, the targeted tissue ablated using the second ultrasonic signals;
• and
• the at least one first transducer, the at least one second transducer, the therapeutic ultrasound system, and the diagnostic ultrasound system including the T/R switch, the pulser, the analog front end, the TX beamformer, and the processing device are located in a portable housing of a handheld apparatus.