# US 2013/0158385 A1 · Therapeutic Ultrasound for Use with Magnetic Resonance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158385 A1 - Document ID: US20130158385A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/463,693 - Filed: 2012-05-03 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.; Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Stephen R. Barnes; Jerry Hopple; John Kook; Thomas R. Clary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158385A1 ## CPC - A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - G01R 33/4814: {MR combined with ultrasound} - A61B 2018/00023: {closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid} - A61B 2090/374: {NMR or MRI} - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61N 2007/0078: {with multiple treatment transducers} - A61N 2007/0086: {Beam steering} - A61N 2007/0091: {with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: a patient table in the bore; wherein the housing connects with the patient table. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the communications interface is configured to receive direct current power and communicate steering and operation information, the steering information indicating a location for therapy and being free of signals for the elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is free of a receive beamformer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the transmit beamformer comprises a controller and transmitters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the communications interface comprises a trigger input, the transmit beamformer configured to operate in response to a signal of the trigger input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the communications interface comprises a mode input, the transmit beamformer configured to operate based on a signal of the mode input. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the multi-dimensional array comprises at least 1,600 elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a matching layer adjacent to the transducer array, a thickness of the matching layer off-setting a capacitance of the elements such that a phase angle of electrical impedance is within about 10 degrees of zero, connections between the transmit beamformer and the elements being free of any matching inductors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the transmit beamformer is configured to cause the transducer array to generate acoustic power greater than 100 Watts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the transducer array comprises fluid channels within the transducer; further comprising: a pump operable to pump fluid through the fluid channels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 further comprising a fluid channel across an emitting face of the transducer, the fluid comprising an acoustic coupling fluid, the fluid channel across the emitting face in fluid connection with the fluid channels within the transducer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 further comprising a fluid reservoir with a heat capacity of 20 KJoules of thermal energy with less than 1 degree temperature rise. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the transducer array and transmit beamformer comprise modules with an metallic housing, a semiconductor chip of the transmit beamformer positioned against the metallic housing, a ground foil sealing an end of the metallic housing, a sub-array of the elements positioned against the ground foil, and the fluid channels being between the modules. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein positioning comprises placing a housing enclosing the acoustic array on a patient bed of the magnetic resonance system, the housing also enclosing the transmitters; further comprising: electromagnetically shielding the acoustic array and the transmitters with the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein applying comprises applying an acoustic power greater than 100 watts from the acoustic array, the acoustic array comprising at least 1,600 elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: providing power to the drivers with a direct current over a cable; and optically communicating trigger and steering control information to a controller housed with the transmitters; wherein driving comprises driving in response to the trigger control information; and wherein applying comprises applying at a steering direction responsive to the steering control information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: cooling the transmitters with a fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein cooling comprises transporting fluid between modules, each of the modules including elements and transmitters.