# US 2019/0314045 A1 · Targeting methods and devices for non-invasive therapy delivery

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- Number: US 2019/0314045 A1
- Document ID: US20190314045A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/383,386
- Filed: 2019-04-12
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12
- Inventors: Bryan Cunitz; Kennedy Hall; Mathew Sorenson; Michael R. Bailey; Adam D. Maxwell; Barbrina Dunmire; Oren Levy; Doug Corl; Paul Fasolo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314045A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/22004: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves (A61B17/225 takes precedence)}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 5/7405: {using sound}
- A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation}
- A61B 8/085: {for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules}
- A61B 8/462: {characterised by constructional features of the display}
- A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals}
- A61B 8/5246: {combining images from the same or different imaging techniques, e.g. color Doppler and B-mode}
- A61B 17/2256: {with means for locating or checking the concrement, e.g. X-ray apparatus, imaging means (A61B17/2255 takes precedence)}
- A61B 34/32: operating autonomously
- 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 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames}
- A61B 8/4263: {using sensors not mounted on the probe, e.g. mounted on an external reference frame}
- A61B 2017/00022: {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site}
- A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic}
- A61B 2017/00172: {Pulse trains, bursts, intermittent continuous operation}
- A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/22028: {arrays, e.g. phased arrays}
- A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means}
- A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound}
- A61B 2505/05: Surgical care
- A61N 2007/0052: {using the same transducer for therapy and imaging}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)

## Abstract

Targeting methods and devices for non-invasive therapy delivery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for targeting an object in a body using ultrasound includes: producing a therapy ultrasound waveform configured to fragment or comminute the object in the body using a therapy transducer of an ultrasound probe; and acquiring a sound waveform by a receiver. The sound waveform is at least in part caused by interactions of the therapy ultrasound with the object. The method also includes generating an indication of a targeting accuracy based on the acquired sound waveform.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for targeting an object in a body using ultrasound, comprising:
producing a therapy ultrasound waveform configured to fragment or comminute the object in the body using a therapy transducer of an ultrasound probe;
acquiring a sound waveform by a receiver, wherein the sound waveform is at least in part caused by interactions of the therapy ultrasound with the object; and
generating an indication of a targeting accuracy based on the acquired sound waveform.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a stone or a calcification.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a microphone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the microphone and the therapy transducer are carried by a common housing of the ultrasound probe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the microphone and the therapy transducer are separate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
converting a microphone signal into a digitized signal in a time domain;
processing the digitized signal into a frequency spectrum;
detecting at least one extremum in the frequency spectrum; and
determining the targeting accuracy based on the at least one extremum of the frequency spectrum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the indication of the targeting accuracy comprises generating an audible feedback or a light feedback.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the indication of the targeting accuracy comprises generating a haptic feedback.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the indication of the targeting accuracy comprises generating an image on a display unit, wherein a shape, a size or a color of the image indicates the targeting accuracy.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retargeting the therapy ultrasound waveform based on the indication of the targeting accuracy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the retargeting the therapy ultrasound waveform comprises robotically retargeting the therapy ultrasound waveform.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the therapy transducer is a phased array therapy transducer comprising a plurality of individually operable transducer elements, the method further comprising:
retargeting the therapy ultrasound waveform by controlling individual transducer elements of the phased array.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sound waveform comprises sound emissions from cavitation bubbles generated by the therapy ultrasound waveform.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the therapy ultrasound waveform is transmitted in bursts, wherein a frequency of the bursts is within an audible range of frequencies, and wherein a modulation frequency of the sound waveform coincides with the frequency of the bursts.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
generating a Doppler ultrasound audio waveform using an imaging transducer of the ultrasound probe; and
generating a display representative of the object motion based on the Doppler ultrasound audio waveform.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the imaging ultrasound waveform comprises a pulse wave Doppler (PWD) ultrasound.

### Claim 17

An apparatus for treating an object in a body using ultrasound, comprising:
an ultrasound probe comprising:
a therapy transducer configured to fragment or comminute the object in the body by a therapy ultrasound, and
an imaging probe configured to image the object by an imaging ultrasound;
a receiver configured to detect a sound waveform, wherein the sound waveform is at least in part caused by interactions of the therapy ultrasound with the object; and
an indicator configured to indicate a targeting accuracy based on the sound waveform detected by the receiver.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the object is a stone or a calcification.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiver is a microphone.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a controller configured to adjust a target therapy zone based on the targeting accuracy.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a robotic arm configured to adjust a position of the ultrasound probe.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the therapy transducer is a phased array therapy transducer comprising a plurality of individually operable transducer elements, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the target therapy zone by controlling individual transducer elements of the phased array.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the therapy transducer is a phased array therapy transducer comprising a plurality of individually operable transducer elements that are configured to generate the therapy ultrasound and to detect the sound waveform.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiver comprises a bed-side microphone.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiver comprises a microphone, and wherein the microphone and the therapy transducer are carried by a common housing of the ultrasound probe.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising at least one of a speaker or a source of light operationally coupled with the indicator configured to indicate the targeting accuracy.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a haptic element operationally coupled with the indicator configured to indicate the targeting accuracy.

### Claim 28 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display unit operationally coupled with the indicator configured to indicate the targeting accuracy, wherein a shape, a size or a color of the image indicates the targeting accuracy.