Method for using high intensity focused ultrasound and associated systems and devices

A probe for administering ultrasound therapy to a treatment site within a patient's body, wherein a tissue mass is disposed between the probe and the treatment site, comprising:

• (a) an elongate supporting structure having a distal end and a proximal end, said elongate supporting structure including a section at its proximal end that is adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a clinician to at least initially position the distal end of the elongate supporting structure at a desired location generally adjacent to the tissue mass;
• and
• (b) a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer disposed at the distal end of the elongate supporting structure, said HIFU transducer having an aperture through which HIFU waves are transmitted, said aperture being of a sufficient size to transmit therapeutic HIFU waves, so that the therapeutic HIFU waves have sufficient intensity remaining upon reaching the treatment site after being attenuated by their passage through the tissue mass, to achieve a desired therapeutic effect, without substantially damaging a portion of the tissue mass through which the therapeutic HIFU waves initially propagate toward the treatment site, the HIFU transducer comprising at least one of the following:
• (i) an air backed piezoceramic crystal coupled to an aluminum lens element;
• and
• (ii) a generally spooned-shaped transducer comprising a plurality of discrete emitter elements, each emitter element having a substantially equivalent area.

A system for image guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy comprising:

• (a) an ultrasound imaging probe;
• (b) a first display upon which a first image generated by the ultrasound imaging probe is to be displayed;
• (c) a therapy probe including a HIFU transducer;
• (d) a processor configured to:
• track a spatial relationship and orientation between the ultrasound imaging probe and the therapy probe;
• and
• (ii) provide a signal configured to produce a second image indicating the spatial relationship and orientation between the ultrasound imaging probe and the therapy probe;
• and
• (e) a second display on which the second image indicating the spatial relationship and orientation between the ultrasound imaging probe and the therapy probe is displayed, the second image providing feedback that a clinician can use to maintain a desired spatial relationship and orientation between the ultrasound imaging probe and the therapy probe.