High intensity focused ultrasound treatment head and system

An ultrasound treatment system for the treatment of target tissue in a patient having skin using high intensity focused ultrasound comprising:

• a. a bed, the bed defining a hole in a top surface of the bed, the bed containing a chamber connected to the hole through a common passageway, the chamber being filled with a fluid;
• b. a combined head having:
• i. a therapeutic transducer having a focal point and a transmitting face, the therapeutic transducer capable of producing high intensity focused ultrasound, the transmitting face of the therapeutic transducer being exposed to the chamber,
• ii. an imaging transducer having an axis and a transmitting face, the axis passing through a point proximate to the focal point, and directed so that the focal point is within a scanning field of the imaging transducer, the imaging transducer being rotatable, independent of the therapeutic transducer, about the axis, wherein the transmitting face of the imaging transducer is exposed to the chamber,
• iii. a rotator for rotating the imaging transducer about the axis, and
• iv. a support structure coupled to the therapeutic transducer, the imaging transducer, and the rotator;
• c. a multidirectional motional apparatus coupled to the combined head, the multidirectional motional apparatus allowing motion of the head in at least three linear directions and in at least two rotational directions relative to the bed;
• d. a therapeutic power source connected to the therapeutic transducer for energizing the therapeutic transducer and generating high intensity focused ultrasound;
• e. an imaging power source connected to the imaging transducer for energizing the imaging transducer and producing a scanning field;
• f. a vacuum degasser connected to the chamber for degassing the fluid in the chamber;
• g. a controller connected to the multidirectional apparatus, the rotator, the therapeutic power source, the imaging power source, and the vacuum degasser, for controlling:
• i. movement of the combined head through the multidirectional motional apparatus,
• ii. movement of the imaging transducer relative to the therapeutic transducer through the rotator,
• iii. energization of the imaging transducer through the imaging power source,
• iv. energization of the therapeutic transducer through the therapeutic power source, and
• v. degassing of the fluid through the vacuum degasser;
• wherein the skin of the patient lying on the bed is in direct contact with the fluid in the chamber through the hole.

A method of applying high intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of target tissue within the body, using a combined head having:

• a therapeutic transducer having a focal point and a transmitting face, the therapeutic transducer capable of producing high intensity focused ultrasound, the transmitting face of the therapeutic transducer exposed to the chamber,
• an imaging transducer having an axis and a transmitting face, the axis passing through a point proximate to the focal point, and directed so that the focal point is within a scanning field of the imaging transducer, the imaging transducer being rotatable, independent of therapeutic transducer, about the axis, wherein the transmitting face of the imaging transducer is exposed to the chamber, and
• a rotator for rotating the imaging transducer about the axis;
• the method comprising the following steps:
• a. determining the size and location of the target tissue by:
• i. scanning the target tissue from a first aspect, and capturing the outline of the target tissue,
• ii. rotating the imaging transducer using the rotator, scanning the target tissue from a second aspect, and capturing the outline of the target tissue,
• iii. moving the combined head to another location, scanning the target tissue, and capturing the outline of the target tissue, generating at least three captures,
• iv. computing the size and location of the target tissue from the at least three captures;
• b. computing a treatment plan;
• and
• c. treating the target tissue in accordance with the treatment pattern by:
• i. moving the combined head to a position,
• ii. activating the therapeutic transducer to treat tissue at the focal point,
• iii. monitoring treatment progress in real time using the imaging transducer,
• iv. repeating steps i to iii in accordance with the treatment plan.