Therapeutic Ultrasound for Use with Magnetic Resonance
AssigneesSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsStephen R. Barnes, Jerry Hopple, John Kook, Thomas R. Clary
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Abstract
Therapeutic ultrasound applicator is provided for use with magnetic resonance system. An array of many elements, such as a multi-dimensional array, is used. To avoid cabling, the transmitters are positioned at the array. The array and transmitters are shielded to reduce interference. To avoid large inductors for the many elements, an acoustic matching layer may be sized to provide a desired phase angle or electrical impedance matching.
Claims20
A system for therapeutic ultrasound in use with magnetic resonance, the system comprising:
- a transducer array comprising a multi-dimensional array of elements;
- a transmit beamformer connected with the transducer array;
- a communications interface connected with the transmit beamformer;
- and
- a housing electromagnetically shielding and enclosing the transducer array, the transmit beamformer and the communications interface;
- wherein the transducer array, the transmit beamformer and communications interface are operable in a bore of a magnetic resonance imaging system.
A method for therapeutic ultrasound in use with magnetic resonance, the method comprising:
- positioning an acoustic array of elements distributed multi-dimensionally within a bore of a magnetic resonance system;
- driving the elements with transmitters within the bore;
- applying therapeutic ultrasound to a patient within the bore in response to the driving;
- and
- imaging the patient with the magnetic resonance system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.