# US 9,533,174 B2 · Systems and methods for ultrasound treatment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,533,174 B2 - Document ID: US9533174B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/833,865 - Filed: 2015-08-24 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2017-01-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-02 - Assignees: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC - Applicants: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC - Inventors: Peter G. Barthe; Michael H. Slayton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9533174B2 ## 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 8/13: Tomography (A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence) - A61B 8/14: Echotomography - A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe} - A61B 8/5246: {combining images from the same or different imaging techniques, e.g. color Doppler and B-mode} - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61B 8/4272: {involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue} - A61B 8/485: {involving measuring strain or elastic properties} - A61B 2017/320069: {for ablating tissue} - A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control} - A61B 2018/00898: {Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition} - A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound} - A61N 2007/0008: {Destruction of fat cells} - A61N 2007/0013: {Fracture healing} - A61N 2007/0034: {Skin treatment} - A61N 2007/0052: {using the same transducer for therapy and imaging} - A61N 2007/006: {Lenses} - A61N 2007/0065: {Concave transducers} - A61N 2007/0091: {with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors} - A61N 2007/0095: {by modifying an excitation signal} - A61N 2007/027: {with multiple foci created simultaneously} - 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 Various embodiments provide a method for an extended field of view treatment. The method can include the steps of imaging a region; targeting a region with directed ultrasound energy; monitoring the region; moving the imaging, treatment, and monitoring region while spatially correlating to one or more prior regions via imaging and/or position sensing; continuing the extended field of view treatment; and, achieving an ultrasound induced biological effect in the extended field of view treatment region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of ultrasound treatment, the method comprising: a) coupling a hand-held probe comprising a housing to a treatment region, the housing containing or coupled to a therapy ultrasound transducer, an imaging ultrasound transducer, and a position sensor; b) acquiring, using the imaging ultrasound transducer, a first image of the treatment region; c) monitoring, using the position sensor, a position of the housing versus time; d) subsequent to the acquiring of step b), moving the housing, thereby coupling the housing to an extended treatment region; e) subsequent to the moving of step e), acquiring, using the imaging ultrasound transducer, a second image of the extended treatment region; f) forming and correlating the first image and the second image to create an extended field of view image of the treatment region and the extended treatment region; and g) delivering, using the therapy ultrasound transducer, directed therapeutic ultrasound energy into the treatment region or the extended treatment region, wherein the delivering directed therapeutic ultrasound energy is controlled using the position of the housing versus time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivering of step g) initiates at least one ultrasound induced biological effect in the treatment region or the extended treatment region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the directed therapeutic ultrasound energy is spherically focused, cylindrically focused, multi-focused, unfocused, or defocused. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor is an optical position sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the first image, the second image, or the extended field of view image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising dynamically targeting an additional treatment region with directed ultrasound energy based on the monitoring of step c). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating thermally or mechanically induced ultrasound bioeffects with directed ultrasound energy at or adjacent to the treatment region or the extended treatment region, the thermally or mechanically induced ultrasound bioeffects selected from the group consisting of effects of heating, coagulation, ablation, cavitation, streaming, radiation force, increased perfusion, inflammation, generation of heat shock proteins, and initiation of healing cascade. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, the treatment region comprising a nonflat surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, the hand-held probe further comprising a tissue contact sensor, the method further comprising: h) monitoring, using the tissue contact sensor, to determine if the therapy ultrasound transducer or the imaging ultrasound transducer are coupled to the treatment region or the extended treatment region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the tissue contact sensor is a capacitive contact sensor and the monitoring of step h) includes measuring a capacitance of a skin surface above the treatment region or the extended treatment region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the monitoring of step h) is initiated by pressing the hand-held probe against a skin surface above the treatment region or the extended treatment region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivering of step g) includes delivering pulses of therapeutic ultrasound energy into the treatment region or the extended treatment region, wherein the pulses of therapeutic ultrasound energy are separated by a pre-determined distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring of step c) including determining a speed of motion of the hand-held probe and the delivering of step g) is further controlled using the speed of motion of the hand-held probe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein delivery of additional directed ultrasound energy into the treatment region or the extended treatment region is prevented when the housing crosses over a position of the housing during a previous delivery of directed therapeutic ultrasound energy.