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US 2007/0167798 A1Published application
Contrast agent augmented ultrasound therapy system with ultrasound imaging guidance for thrombus treatment
OwnerAnming Cai, Lewis Thomasinventors
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Abstract
Ultrasound diagnosis and therapy for disruption of a thrombus are provided with a same ultrasound system. A same transducer and system images contrast agents and ruptures the contrast agents to mechanically weaken or destroy a thrombus.
Claims23
A method for contrast agent ultrasound imaging and therapy, the method comprising:
- imaging a possible clot and contrast agents with an ultrasound transducer;
- and
- driving the contrast agents at or adjacent to the possible clot with ultrasound pulses from the same ultrasound transducer.
In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for contrast agent ultrasound imaging and therapy, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
- using one transducer to image a blood clot and contrast agents and to mechanically break or weaken the blood clot with disruption by at least some of the contrast agents.
A method for contrast agent ultrasound imaging and therapy, the method comprising:
- first transmitting acoustic energy with an ultrasound transducer to a thrombosis, the transmitting being about 0.5 MI or less;
- receiving, with the ultrasound transducer, acoustic energy in response to the first transmitting, the received acoustic energy responsive to contrast agents and the thrombosis;
- second transmitting acoustic energy, with the ultrasound transducer, the transmitting being about 1.0 MI or more and operable to alter the contrast agents associated with the thrombosis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.