US 5,984,881 A · Ultrasound therapeutic apparatus using a therapeutic ultrasonic wave source and an ultrasonic probe

Abstract

An ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus consisting of a therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source driven by a driver circuit to generate therapeutic ultrasonic waves, an in vivo imaging probe so as to obtain a tissue tomographic image in the vicinity of the focus of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves. The imaging probe is used to receive echoes of the ultrasonic pulses emitted from therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source. The driving conditions for the therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source is adjusted on the basis of a received echo signal. The received echo signal contains information about actual intensity of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves within a living body, thus improving the safety and reliability of therapy.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus comprising:

a source of therapeutic ultrasonic waves;
an ultrasonic probe;
driving means for driving said source to generate first ultrasonic waves;
adjust means for automatically adjusting drive conditions of said driving means on the basis of echoes of the first ultrasonic waves received through said ultrasonic probe;
and
means for measuring an intensity distribution at a focal point of said first ultrasonic waves;
wherein said adjust means adjust said driving means on a basis of a ratio of a target intensity to the measured intensity distribution at the focal point of said first ultrasonic waves, and a drive state of said driving means during measurement of said intensity distribution.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasound therapeutic apparatus using a therapeutic ultrasonic wave source and an ultrasonic probe

Life of this patent

Ultrasound therapeutic apparatus using a therapeutic ultrasonic wave source and an ultrasonic probe

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6