System and Method for Acoustic Treatment Using Targeted Placement of Low Dissolved Gas Liquids

A method for treating a target biomineralization in a mammalian subject, comprising:

• placing a catheter in proximity to the target biomineralization, the catheter fluidly coupled to a source of a low-dissolved-gas liquid (LDGL) and to a source of microbubbles, the LDGL having a dissolved-gas concentration of less than or equal to about 20% of an oxygen saturation level of the LDGL;
• introducing the microbubbles through the catheter;
• flowing the microbubbles towards the target biomineralization such that at least some of the microbubbles accumulate on a surface of the target biomineralization, the at least some of the microbubbles in a focal zone of one or more ultrasound transducers and between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers, the focal zone aligned with the target biomineralization;
• introducing the LDGL through the catheter;
• flowing the LDGL towards the target biomineralization such that at least some of the LDGL is in the focal zone of the one or more ultrasound transducers and between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers;
• applying focused ultrasound energy to the target biomineralization with the one or more ultrasound transducers, the focused ultrasound energy passing through the LDGL;
• and
• forming cavitation bubbles with the accumulated microbubbles on the surface of the target biomineralization to fragment the target biomineralization, the cavitation bubbles formed with the focused ultrasound energy,
• wherein the LDGL reduces an acoustic shielding in the focal zone between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers compared to when the LDGL is not introduced.

A method for treating a target biomineralization in a mammalian subject, comprising:

• placing a first catheter in proximity to the target biomineralization, the first catheter fluidly coupled to a source of microbubbles;
• introducing the microbubbles through the first catheter;
• flowing the microbubbles towards the target biomineralization such that at least some of the microbubbles accumulate on a surface of the target biomineralization, the at least some of the microbubbles in a focal zone of one or more ultrasound transducers and between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers, the focal zone aligned with the target biomineralization;
• placing a second catheter in proximity to the target biomineralization, the second catheter fluidly coupled to a source of a low-dissolved-gas liquid (LDGL), the LDGL having a dissolved-gas concentration of less than or equal to about 20% of an oxygen saturation level of the LDGL;
• introducing the LDGL through the second catheter;
• flowing the LDGL towards the target biomineralization such that at least some of the LDGL is in the focal zone of the one or more ultrasound transducers and between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers;
• applying focused ultrasound energy to the target biomineralization with the one or more ultrasound transducers, the focused ultrasound energy passing through the LDGL;
• and
• forming cavitation bubbles with the accumulated microbubbles on the surface of the target biomineralization to fragment the target biomineralization, the cavitation bubbles formed with the focused ultrasound energy,
• wherein the LDGL reduces an acoustic shielding in the focal zone between the target biomineralization and the one or more ultrasound transducers compared to when the LDGL is not introduced.