# US 10,369,386 B2 · Ultrasound transducer for selectively generating ultrasound waves and heat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,386 B2 - Document ID: US10369386B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/699,027 - Filed: 2011-05-24 - Published: 2013-03-14 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-27 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Christianus Martinus Van Heesch; Aleksey Kolesnychenko - Inventors: Christianus Martinus Van Heesch; Aleksey Kolesnychenko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369386B2 ## CPC - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - G01N 29/348: {with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals (measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00)} - G01N 29/2431: {using other means for acoustic excitation, e.g. heat, microwaves, electron beams (sound producing devices not otherwise provided for G10K15/04)} - A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - A61N 2007/0039: {using microbubbles} - A61N 2007/0073: {using multiple frequencies} - G01N 2291/02881: Temperature - G01N 2291/101: one transducer - 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) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An ultrasound transducer is configured to be driven at multiple frequencies including a main frequency for efficient production of ultrasound waves and at least one alternative frequency, at which little or no ultrasound is generated and rather heat is generated in the ultrasound transducer for heating a sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating an ultrasound transducer for analysis of a sample, comprising acts of: providing the ultrasound transducer capable of being operated using at least two frequencies including a main frequency and at least one alternative frequency; and controlling the ultrasound transducer to operate at the main frequency for generating ultrasound waves to primarily couple ultrasound waves into the sample; and at one alternative frequency of the at least one alternative frequency to primarily generate heat in the ultrasound transducer for heating the ultrasound transducer for heating the sample by thermal conduction of the heat from the heated ultrasound transducer to the sample, wherein an impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the one alternative frequency is greater than the impedance at the main frequency to generate the heat in the ultrasound transducer based on the increased impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the one alternative frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the main frequency and the one alternative frequency are resonance frequencies of the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when driving the ultrasound transducer with set parameters at at least one of the alternative frequencies, less ultrasound intensity is generated than when driving the ultrasound transducer with the set parameters at the main frequency. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein ultrasound intensity generated when driving the ultrasound transducer with set parameters at the one alternative frequency is not sufficient for generating cavitations in the sample. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound waves generated at the main frequency with set parameters are capable of creating the cavitations in the sample. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat in the ultrasound transducer is generated due to electric power absorption of the ultrasound transducer, when driving the ultrasound transducer at the one alternative frequency. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least one alternative frequency produces more of the heat in the ultrasound transducer than the main frequency. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the one alternative frequency is higher than the main frequency. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts of: monitoring a temperature of the sample to obtain a monitored temperature; and controlling the temperature of the sample based on monitored temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling act operates the ultrasound transducer simultaneously using the main frequency and the one alternative frequency. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling act operates the ultrasound transducer alternately using the main frequency and the one alternative frequency. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of: storing heating characteristics of the at least one alternative frequency; and providing the heating characteristics to a user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the main frequency is centered at 1.7 MHz, and the at least one alternative frequency centered at 2.17 MHz and 2.86 MHz. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of measuring a temperature of the sample using the ultrasound transducer by measuring a speed of sound in a fluid of the sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling act operates the ultrasound transducer simultaneously at the one alternative frequency and at a second alternative frequency of the at least one alternative frequency for regulating the heat in the ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 16 An ultrasound transducer comprising: a transducer element; and a controller configured to selectively drive the transducer element using a main frequency to primarily generate ultrasound waves for emission from the transducer element, and to selectively drive the transducer element using at least one alternative frequency different from the main frequency to primarily generate heat in the ultrasound transducer for heating the ultrasound transducer for transfer of the heat by thermal conduction from the heated ultrasound transducer to a sample, wherein an impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the at least one alternative frequency is greater than the impedance at the main frequency to generate the heat in the ultrasound transducer based on the increased impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the at least one alternative frequency. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The ultrasound transducer of claim 16, wherein the ultrasound waves are configured to induce cell lysis in the sample. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The ultrasound transducer of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to alternately drive the transducer element using the main frequency and the at least one alternative frequency. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The ultrasound transducer of claim 16, further comprising a further transducer element, wherein the controller is configured to simultaneously drive the transducer element using the main frequency and drive the further transducer element using the at least one alternative frequency. ### Claim 20 A system for sample analysis, comprising: at least one sample holder; and at least one ultrasound transducer having a transducer element and a controller configured to selectively drive the transducer element using a main frequency to primarily generate ultrasound waves for emission from the transducer element, and to selectively drive the transducer element using at least one alternative frequency different from the main frequency to primarily generate heat in the ultrasound transducer for heating the ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer is heat-conductively coupled to a sample inserted in the at least one sample holder for transfer of the heat by thermal conduction from the heated ultrasound transducer to the sample, wherein an impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the at least one alternative frequency is greater than the impedance at the main frequency to generate the heat in the ultrasound transducer based on the increased impedance of the ultrasound transducer at the at least one alternative frequency.