Steerable acoustic waveguide for targeted focused ultrasound delivery

Abstract

A waveguide assembly for delivering focused acoustic energy includes a housing comprising a chamber filled with a medium for propagating acoustic waves. An acoustic transducer is supported the housing and has a surface facing into the chamber. The surface is configured to transmit acoustic waves into the chamber through the medium toward a focus zone. The waveguide assembly also includes structure configured to focus the acoustic waves transmitted from the surface of the acoustic transducer. The waveguide assembly further includes a flexible elongated waveguide having a first end positioned in the chamber opposite the curved surface, and a second end outside the chamber. The waveguide has a tubular configuration with an inner lumen in fluid communication with the chamber via the first end and being filled with the medium. The first end of the waveguide is configured to be positioned in the focus zone so that the focused acoustic waves are propagated through the medium in the inner lumen of the waveguide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.