US 2017/0245874 A1 · BROADLY FOCUSED ULTRASONIC PROPULSION PROBES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

Abstract

Disclosed herein are ultrasonic probes and systems incorporating the probes. The probes are configured to produce an ultrasonic therapy exposure that, when applied to a kidney stone, will exert an acoustic radiation force sufficient to produce ultrasonic propulsion. Unlike previous probes configured to produce ultrasonic propulsion, however, the disclosed probes are engineered to produce a relatively large (both wide and long) therapy region effective to produce ultrasonic propulsion. This large therapy region allows the probe to move a plurality of kidney stones (or fragments from lithotripsy) in parallel, thereby providing the user the ability to clear several stones from an area simultaneously. This “broadly focused” probe is, in certain embodiments, combined in a single handheld unit with a typical ultrasound imaging probe to produce real-time imaging. Methods of using the probes and systems to move kidney stones are also provided.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An ultrasonic therapy system configured to apply a non-lithotriptic acoustic radiation force to a kidney stone, comprising:

(a) a therapy probe configured to generate ultrasonic exposure directed towards a therapy region;
and
(b) an imaging probe configured to ultrasonically image the therapy region;
wherein the therapy probe is configured to produce a therapy exposure comprising one or more therapy pulses over a therapy exposure time, wherein the therapy exposure has the following characteristics:
(i) a frequency of 100 kHz to 1 MHz;
(ii) therapy exposure time of at least 10 ms;
(iii) a peak negative pressure in the therapy region of 0.5 MPa to 5 MPa;
(iv) the therapy region of one pulse defining a volume subjected to a full-width half-maximum pressure or greater and the therapy region having a length of 2 cm or greater in an axial direction and 2 mm or more in width;
and
(v) the therapy region is sufficient to exert an acoustic radiation force on a kidney stone having a diameter of from 0.5 mm to 20 mm disposed within the therapy region, wherein the acoustic radiation force applied to the kidney stone is from 50 μN to 0.5 N, and wherein the acoustic radiation force is not sufficient to fragment the kidney stone.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Broadly focused ultrasonic propulsion probes, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Broadly focused ultrasonic propulsion probes, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27