# US 8,465,427 B1 · Combined diagnostic confocal scanning and low intensity ultrasound treatment

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- Number: US 8,465,427 B1
- Document ID: US8465427B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/727,996
- Filed: 2010-03-19
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-14
- Assignees: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
- Applicants: Yi-Xian Qin
- Inventors: Yi-Xian Qin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465427B1

## CPC

- A61B 8/0875: {for diagnosis of bone}
- A61H 1/006: {Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis}
- A61H 23/0245: {with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric}
- A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest}
- A61H 2205/065: Hands
- A61H 2205/081: Back
- A61H 2205/088: Hip
- A61H 2205/108: for the upper legs
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for non-invasive bone fracture detection and accelerated healing, that simultaneously maps, via a paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus having multi-element transducers, three dimensional bone surface topology at opposite surfaces along an ultrasound wave pathway; that measures, using the mapped three dimensional topology, a thickness of the mapped bone; that detects, using the mapped three dimensional topology, a region of interest with bone deterioration or fracture; that calculates an ultrasonic wave velocity and attenuation as the ultrasound wave passes through the detected region of interest; and that applies a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) pulse to the region of interest. The paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus focuses the application of the LIPUS pulse.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for application of a guided and focused ultrasound for treatment, said apparatus comprising:
a scanning confocal acoustic diagnostic (SCAD) apparatus configured to identify a region of interest having a bone deterioration or bone detection in a target employing multi-element transducers; and
a low intensity pulse ultrasound (LIPUS) device configured to apply a focused therapeutic ultrasound at said identified region of interest employing LIPUS transducers configured to focus emitted ultrasound,
wherein said SCAD apparatus controls and guides said LIPUS device in a guided mode to focus, and directly target, ultrasonic energy in said focused therapeutic ultrasound at said identified region of interest for effective treatment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an enhanced local treatment of said identified region of interest is provided by combining ultrasounds from said multi-element transducers and said LIPUS transducers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said LIPUS device localizes said ultrasonic energy at said region of interest during said guided mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said SCAD apparatus is configured to predict local trabecular bulk stiffness and microstructure of bone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LIPUS device is configured to apply said focused therapeutic ultrasound at a characteristic frequency selected from a range from 0.5 MHz to 1.5 MHz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said SCAD apparatus comprises a paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus focuses application of said focused therapeutic ultrasound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LIPUS transducers are combined with said multi-element transducers during said applying of said focused therapeutic ultrasound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LIPUS transducers are configured to apply ultrasound at a combination of dual frequencies having a frequency difference in a range from 0.01 MHz to 0.05 MHz.

### Claim 10

A method of applying a focused ultrasound for treatment, said method comprising:
identifying a region of interest having a bone deterioration or bone detection in a target employing a scanning confocal acoustic diagnostic (SCAD) apparatus that employs multi-element transducers; and
applying a focused therapeutic ultrasound employing a low intensity pulse ultrasound (LIPUS) device at said identified region of interest comprising LIPUS transducers configured to focus emitted ultrasound, wherein said SCAD apparatus controls said LIPUS device in a guided mode to focus, and directly target, ultrasonic energy in said focused therapeutic ultrasound at said region of interest for effective treatment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein an enhanced local treatment of said identified region of interest is provided by combining ultrasounds from said multi-element transducers and said LIPUS transducers.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein said LIPUS device localizes said ultrasonic energy at said region of interest during said guided mode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising predicting local trabecular bulk stiffness and microstructure of bone of said target employing said SCAD apparatus.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said focused therapeutic ultrasound is applied at a characteristic frequency selected from a range from 0.5 MHz to 1.5 MHz.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said SCAD apparatus comprises a paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said paired phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus focuses application of said focused therapeutic ultrasound.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said LIPUS transducers are combined with said multi-element transducers during said applying of said focused therapeutic ultrasound.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said LIPUS transducers apply ultrasound at a combination of dual frequencies having a frequency difference in a range from 0.01 MHz to 0.05 MHz.