Ultrasound thermotherapy probe
AssigneeDornier Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsEverette C. Burdette, Richard diMonda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermotherapy method for treatment of prostate tissues. The thermotherapy method comprises the steps of locating a cylindrical ultrasound transducer substantially within an applicator housing, dimensioning the cylindrical ultrasound transducer to have a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the applicator housing, and providing a power source for the ultrasound transducer to produce a focused energy field.
Claims19
A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising:
- providing a substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer for producing an energy field focused along a line;
- locating said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer substantially within an applicator housing, said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer being dimensioned to have a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing;
- and
- providing a power source for said ultrasound transducer to produce the line focused energy field for providing said thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient.
A method of applying thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- inserting an applicator housing near said tissue region;
- placing a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature greater than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing and being capable of rotation in said applicator housing;
- supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer and producing a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line;
- and
- rotating said arcuate ultrasound transducer to position said converging energy line pattern upon tissue to be treated.
A method of producing a focused ultrasound energy pattern, comprising the steps of:
- determining a distance between a tissue region to be treated and an access path in said patient;
- selecting a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a first radius of curvature generally corresponding to said distance;
- inserting said arcuate ultrasound transducer into an applicator having a smaller radius of curvature than said first radius of curvature;
- and
- supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer to produce a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line.
A method for providing thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a primary lumen and a secondary cooling lumen;
- providing an energy source capable of radiating a focused energy field having its highest energy levels distributed substantially along a line;
- and
- inserting said energy source into one of said lumens, said energy source comprising a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of one of said lumens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.