Therapeutic ultrasound systems and methods
AssigneeShanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.
InventorsYujie CHEN, Kang SI
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Abstract
A therapeutic ultrasound system may be provided. The therapeutic ultrasound system may comprise a therapeutic ultrasound probe. The therapeutic ultrasound probe may comprise treatment blocks each of which includes one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays. Each of the one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays may include one or more ultrasonic transducers. The treatment blocks may be movable to rotate around a reference axis and/or adjust an angle with respect to the reference axis.
Claims20
A therapeutic ultrasound system, comprising a therapeutic ultrasound probe and at least one processing device, wherein
- the therapeutic ultrasound probe is assembled from at least a portion of treatment blocks each of which includes one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, each of the one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays including one or more ultrasonic transducers, the at least a portion of the treatment blocks at least including one or more first treatment blocks determined by the at least one processing device,
- each of at least one of the treatment blocks is movable to rotate around a reference axis and/or adjust an angle with respect to the reference axis,
- the therapeutic ultrasound probe is used in combination with a first count of ultrasound channels, and
- the at least one processing device is configured to:
- for each of the treatment blocks, determine a third count of ultrasound channels that are used to be connected to the treatment block;
- determine, from the treatment blocks, the one or more first treatment blocks such that a second count is equal to or smaller than the first count, wherein the one or more first treatment blocks are used for a treatment to be performed on a target region of a target subject, and the second count is a sum of the third counts corresponding the one or more first treatment blocks;
- and
- cause one or more ultrasonic transducers in the one or more first treatment blocks to emit ultrasonic signals toward the target region.
A method for treating a target subject, implemented by at least one processing device of a therapeutic ultrasound system, the therapeutic ultrasound system comprising a therapeutic ultrasound probe and the at least one processing device, wherein
- the therapeutic ultrasound probe is assembled from at least a portion of treatment blocks each of which includes one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, each of the one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays including one or more ultrasonic transducers, the at least a portion of the treatment blocks at least including one or more first treatment blocks determined by the at least one processing device,
- each of at least one of the treatment blocks is movable to rotate around a reference axis and/or adjust an angle with respect to the reference axis,
- the therapeutic ultrasound probe is used in combination with a first count of ultrasound channels, and
- the method comprises:
- for each of the treatment blocks, determine a third count of ultrasound channels that are used to be connected to the treatment block;
- determine, from the treatment blocks, the one or more first treatment blocks such that a second count is equal to or smaller than the first count, wherein the one or more first treatment blocks are used for a treatment to be performed on a target region of the target subject, and the second count is a sum of the third counts corresponding the one or more first treatment blocks;
- and
- cause one or more ultrasonic transducers in the one or more first treatment blocks to emit ultrasonic signals toward the target region.
A therapeutic ultrasound system, comprising a therapeutic ultrasound probe, wherein
- the therapeutic ultrasound probe is assembled from at least a portion of treatment blocks each of which includes one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, each of the one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays including one or more ultrasonic transducers,
- an inner surface of the therapeutic ultrasound probe is an axisymmetric surface or a portion of the axisymmetric surface,
- a symmetry axis of the axisymmetric surface is used as a reference axis,
- each of at least one of the treatment blocks is movable to rotate around the reference axis along a circumference of the inner surface, and
- each of at least one of the treatment blocks is movable to adjust an angle with respect to the reference axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.