Ultrasound system for cerebral blood flow imaging and microbubble-enhanced blood clot lysis

A stroke therapy system for treating cranial vascular obstructions comprising:

• a transducer array headset which maintains an ultrasonic transducer array in acoustic contact with the head of a subject;
• an image processor, coupled to the ultrasonic transducer array, which produces images of blood flow in the cranium of the subject;
• an image display, coupled to the image processor, which produces an image of the cranial vasculature;
• a transmitter, coupled to the transducer array, which acts to cause the ultrasonic transducer array to transmit a therapeutic beam,
• wherein imaging and delivery of the therapeutic beam are done by a common ultrasonic transducer array.

A method for treating stroke comprising:

• applying a headset containing first and second transducer arrays to the head of a subject with the transducer arrays in acoustic contact with opposite sides of the head;
• producing an ultrasound image of cranial flow from signals received from at least one of the transducer arrays;
• securing the headset to maintain the transducer arrays in acoustic contact with the head;
• infusing the blood stream of the subject with microbubbles;
• and
• producing an ultrasound image of cranial flow containing microbubbles.