Method and assembly for performing ultrasound surgery using cavitation

An ultrasound assembly for delivering substances to a selected treatment volume of a patient, the assembly comprising:

• means for providing a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume, wherein the microbubbles are associated with the substances to be delivered;
• means for expanding the treatment volume to fully admit the microbubbles therein;
• a therapeutic transducer for generating and directing an ultrasound beam of energy in the treatment volume;
• and
• a controller for controlling the transducer so that the transducer generates and directs the ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to deliver the substances in a controlled manner within the treatment volume.

A method for creating a surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, the method comprising:

• injecting a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume;
• expanding the treatment volume to fully admit the microbubbles therein;
• and
• cavitating the plurality of microbubbles with an ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to create the surgical lesion in a controlled manner within the treatment volume.

An ultrasound assembly for creating a surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, the assembly comprising:

• means for injecting a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume;
• means for expanding the treatment volume to fully admit the microbubbles therein;
• a therapeutic transducer for generating and directing an ultrasound beam of energy in the treatment volume;
• and
• a controller for controlling the transducer so that the transducer generates and directs the ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to create the surgical lesion in a controlled manner within the treatment volume.

A method for delivering substances to a selected treatment volume of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume and in a volume external to the treatment volume, wherein the microbubbles are associated with the substances to be delivered, the microbubbles having a threshold for cavitation;
• controlling the microbubbles in the external volume to create a differential threshold for cavitation between the external volume and the treatment volume;
• and
• cavitating the plurality of microbubbles in the treatment volume with an ultrasound beam of sufficient energy at an appropriate frequency to deliver the substances in a controlled manner within the treatment volume.