# US 9,039,617 B2 · Methods and systems for generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,617 B2 - Document ID: US9039617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/270,859 - Filed: 2014-05-06 - Published: 2014-08-28 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-24 - Assignees: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC - Applicants: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC - Inventors: Michael H. Slayton; Peter G. Barthe; Inder Raj S. Makin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039617B2 ## CPC - A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) - A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue} - A61B 8/48: {Diagnostic techniques (A61B8/13 takes precedence)} - A61N 5/0616: {Skin treatment other than tanning} - A61N 5/10: X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy (A61N5/01 takes precedence) - A61B 8/4472: {Wireless probes} - A61B 2018/00005: {Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe} - A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control} - A61N 2007/0039: {using microbubbles} - A61N 2007/0043: {intra-cavitary} - A61N 2007/0056: {Beam shaping elements} - A61N 2007/006: {Lenses} - A61N 2007/0065: {Concave transducers} - A61N 2007/0073: {using multiple frequencies} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing non-invasive ultrasound treatment of tissue, the method comprising: coupling an acoustic source to a region of interest comprising a surface and subcutaneous tissue; providing a first acoustic energy into the subcutaneous tissue of the region of interest; creating thermal bubbles in an outer portion of the region of interest; forming a boundary comprising the thermal bubbles in the outer portion of the region of interest, thereby surrounding an inner portion of the region of interest with the boundary; providing a second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest; and containing the second acoustic energy within the boundary; thereby protecting tissue outside of the inner portion from the second acoustic energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising reflecting a portion of the second acoustic energy off of at least one of the thermal bubbles in the boundary and directing a reflected portion of the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising directing the reflected portion of the second acoustic energy away from the tissue outside of the inner portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising scattering the reflected portion of the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising concentrating the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second acoustic energy stimulates a bio-effect in the inner portion of the region of interest. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the bio-effect in the inner portion of the region of interest is reducing a volume of the subcutaneous tissue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, the bio-effect in the inner portion of the region of interest is enhancing formation of collagen in the region of interest. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tissue outside of the region of interest comprises an internal organ. ### Claim 10 A method of cosmetic enhancement, the method comprising: coupling at least one source to a region of interest; directing a first energy from the at least one source into the region of interest; creating a boundary comprising a plurality of thermal bubbles in a non-target region with the first energy, thereby surrounding a target region in the region of interest with the boundary; and directing a second energy from the at least one source inside the boundary and into the target region in the region of interest. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising reflecting a portion of the second energy off of at least one of the thermal bubbles in the boundary and directing a reflected portion of the second energy into the target region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising concentrating the second energy into the target region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the second energy stimulates a bio-effect in at least a portion of the target region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the bio-effect in at least a portion of the target region is reducing a volume of tissue in the target region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the bio-effect in at least a portion of the target region is enhancing formation of collagen in the target region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one source comprises an ultrasound source and a pulsed laser. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first energy is ultrasound energy and the second energy is photon-based energy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first energy is ultrasound energy and the second energy is ultrasound energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein tissue in the non-target region comprises an internal organ.