811 results about "Ultrasound device" patented technology

Obesity or fat deposits are treated with ultrasound. In one embodiment, a waveguide-based apparatus and method are disclosed for applying ultrasound to a treatment-subject for the purpose of providing treatment or therapy for obesity, fat-deposits, cosmetic benefit or other bodily therapy tasks. In another embodiment, a novel apparatus and method are disclosed for providing at least one such treatment or therapy using a liquid-based waveguide. In yet another embodiment, a wearable apparatus is disclosed that incorporates a waveguide of the invention. Any of the embodiments has application to hospital use, clinical use or home use, for example, and the place of use will likely be determined by which treatment mechanism is employed and at what power-level.

An electrosurgical instrument for sealing and cutting tissue is provided. The instrument includes a housing having a plurality of transducers included therein and a waveguide coupled to and extending from the housing. An end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the waveguide includes a pair of opposing jaw members, where at least one of the jaw members includes a transducer. The transducer is configured to receive an acoustic signal from the plurality of transducers in the housing.

An ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs.

Endoscopic suturing devices are provided for suture locking and / or cutting, the devices being small enough to pass through the working channel of various endoscopic and ultrasound devices. One embodiment of the invention provides a device and method for a physician in a medical procedure to automatically lock and cut a suture in one motion and without the need for additional cutting instrumentation, rather than perform separate locking and cutting actions.

The present invention is directed to improved devices and methods for use in ultrasound guiding of percutaneous probes during medical procedures. The ultrasound devices of the present invention include an ultrasound transducer housing having a passage therethrough configured to accommodate a probe. The devices can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide in the passage of the transducer housing, and along a path extending from the ultrasound transducer housing to a target at a known angular relationship to the ultrasound transducer. In this manner, the path of the advancing probe and hence the location of the probe tip can be more clearly known in relation to a target imaged by the ultrasound device. In addition, the devices can include a sterile sleeve including a sterile probe guide such that the transducer housing itself, including the integral probe guide opening, can be separated from the patient by a sterile barrier. The devices can also include a clamp for clamping the probe in the probe guide. The devices can also include means and methods for imaging a virtual probe overlaying the sonogram formed by the ultrasound device such that a real time image of the probe approach to the target may be observed during and after probe placement.

The present invention is directed to improved devices and methods for use in ultrasound guiding of percutaneous probes during medical procedures. The ultrasound devices of the present invention include an ultrasound transducer housing having a passage therethrough configured to accommodate a probe. The devices can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide in the passage of the transducer housing, and along a path extending from the ultrasound transducer housing to a target at a known angular relationship to the ultrasound transducer. In this manner, the path of the advancing probe and hence the location of the probe tip can be more clearly known in relation to a target imaged by the ultrasound device. In addition, the devices can include a sterile sleeve including a sterile probe guide such that the transducer housing itself, including the integral probe guide opening, can be separated from the patient by a sterile barrier. The devices can also include a clamp for clamping the probe in the probe guide. The devices can also include means and methods for imaging a virtual probe overlaying the sonogram formed by the ultrasound device such that a real time image of the probe approach to the target may be observed during and after probe placement.

Ultrasound devices and methods are described, including a repeatable ultrasound transducer probe having ultrasonic transducers and corresponding circuitry. The repeatable ultrasound transducer probe may be used individually or coupled with other instances of the repeatable ultrasound transducer probe to create a desired ultrasound device. The ultrasound devices may optionally be connected to various types of external devices to provide additional processing and image rendering functionality.

A rotationally vibrating imaging catheter and method of utilization has an array of ultrasound or optical transducers and an actuator along with signal processing, display, and power subsystems. The actuator of the preferred embodiment is a solid-state nitinol actuator. The actuator causes the array to oscillate such that the tip of the catheter is rotated through an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees. The tip is then capable of rotating back the same amount. This action is repeated until the desired imaging information is acquired. The rotationally vibrating catheter produces more imaging points than a non-rotating imaging catheter and eliminates areas of missing information in the reconstructed image.Rotationally vibrating catheters offer higher image resolution than stationary array catheters and greater flexibility and lower costs than mechanically rotating imaging catheters.The rotationally vibrating array carried on a catheter is vibrated or rocked forward and backward to allow for acquisition of three-dimensional information within a region around the transducer array.The addition of adjunctive therapies to the imaging catheter enhances the utility of the instrument. Examples of such therapies include atherectomy, stent placement, thrombectomy, embolic device placement, and irradiation.

Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.

Disclosed are ultrasound devices and methods for use in guiding a subdermal probe during a medical procedure. A device can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide to a subdermal site. In addition, a device can include a detector in communication with a processor. The detector can recognize the location of a target associated with the probe. The processor can utilize the data from the detector and create an image of a virtual probe that can accurately portray the location of the actual probe on a sonogram of a subdermal area. In addition, disclosed systems can include a set of correlation factors in the processor instructions. As such, the virtual probe image can be correlated with the location of the actual probe.

Method and apparatus for treating obesity by an energy delivery device, such as a high focus ultrasound transducer, mounted for movement along two or three axes relative to the esophagus to deliver transesophageal energy to interrupt the function of vagal nerves. Preferably, movement along a longitudinal axis of the esophagus changes the site to which the energy is directed and movement transversely along a radius of the esophagus focuses the energy on a vagal nerve. The third degree of freedom relative to the esophagus is to rotate the transducer about the longitudinal axis of the esophagus.

A system monitors and characterizes internal elasticity of a blood vessel to detect abnormality. A catheter system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, comprises an ultrasound device for emitting ultrasound wave signals within patient anatomy and acquiring corresponding ultrasound echo signals. A signal processor processes the ultrasound echo signals to, determine a signal indicating displacement of a tissue wall over at least one heart cycle and identify a displacement value in the displacement signal. The displacement value indicates a tissue wall displacement occurring at a point within a heart cycle. A comparator compares the tissue wall displacement value with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor, in response to the comparison indicator indicating the tissue wall displacement value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold.

The present invention provides a method for monitoring long-term potentiation and long-term depression, comprising placing a subject in head down rest position and monitoring in real-time cerebral mean blood flow velocity using a transcranial Doppler device during psychophysiologic tasks. The method involves using Fourier analysis of mean blood flow velocity data to derive spectral density peaks of cortical and subcortical processes. The effect of head-down rest at different time intervals is seen as accentuation of the cortical peaks in long-term potentiation and attenuation of subcortical peaks in long-term depression. The effect of different interventions could be evaluated for research, diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapeutic use.

An ultrasound system used for both imaging and delivery high intensity ultrasound energy therapy to treatment sites and a method for treating tumors and other undesired tissue within a patient's body with an ultrasound device. The ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer array disposed on a distal end of an elongate, relatively thin shaft. In one form of the invention, the transducer array is disposed within a liquid-filled elastomeric material that more effectively couples ultrasound energy into the tumor, that is directly contacted with the device. Using the device in a continuous wave mode, a necrotic zone of tissue having a desired size and shape (e.g., a necrotic volume selected to interrupt a blood supply to a tumor) can be created by controlling at least one of the f-number, duration, intensity, and direction of the ultrasound energy administered. This method speeds the therapy and avoids continuously pausing to enable intervening normal tissue to cool.

In a method for re-entry from extraluminal space into the central lumen of a vessel, a guidewire is advanced into the extraluminal space of the vessel, and then a directional catheter is advanced over the guidewire through the extraluminal space. Thereafter, the guidewire is removed from the directional catheter, an ultrasound device is placed through the directional catheter, and the ultrasound device is advanced through the extraluminal space into the central lumen and then activated.

Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.

A method for delivering ultrasound energy to a patient's intracranial space includes forming at least one aperture in the patient's skull, introducing at least one acoustically conductive medium into the intracranial space to contact brain tissue of the patient, advancing an ultrasound device at least partially through the aperture in the skull, and transmitting ultrasound energy to the intracranial space, using the ultrasound device. In some embodiments, the acoustically conductive medium may be cooled to help regulate the temperature of the patient's brain tissue.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound device disposed in a housing is provided. The ultrasound device comprises a first transducer for imaging a region of interest, and a second transducer that generates one or more ultrasound frequencies for cavitating fat cells in the region of interest, and one or more frequencies for thermally treating connective tissues in the region of interest.

A continuous, non-invasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer array patches that are adhered or attached to the mother. Each ultrasound transducer array is operated in an autonomous mode by a digital signal processor to obtain data from which fetal heart rate information can be derived. Each ultrasonic transducer array patch comprises a multiplicity of subelements that are switchably reconfigurable to form elements having different shapes, e.g., annular rings. Each subelement comprises a plurality of interconnected cMUT cells that are not switchably disconnectable. The use of cMUT patches will provide the ability to interrogate a three-dimensional space electronically (i.e. without mechanical beam steering) with ultrasound, using a transducer device that is thin and lightweight enough to stick to the patient's skin like an EKG electrode. The ultrasound device can track the fetal heart in three-dimensional space as it moves due to the mother's motion or the motion of the unborn child within the womb.

Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient.

A rotationally vibrating imaging catheter and method of utilization has an array of ultrasound or optical transducers and an actuator along with signal processing, display, and power subsystems. The actuator of the preferred embodiment is a solid-state nitinol actuator. The actuator causes the array to oscillate such that the tip of the catheter is rotated through an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees. The tip is then capable of rotating back the same amount. This action is repeated until the desired imaging information is acquired. The rotationally vibrating catheter produces more imaging points than a non-rotating imaging catheter and eliminates areas of missing information in the reconstructed image.Rotationally vibrating catheters offer higher image resolution than stationary array catheters and greater flexibility and lower costs than mechanically rotating imaging catheters.The rotationally vibrating array carried on a catheter is vibrated or rocked forward and backward to allow for acquisition of three-dimensional information within a region around the transducer array.The addition of adjunctive therapies to the imaging catheter enhances the utility of the instrument. Examples of such therapies include atherectomy, stent placement, thrombectomy, embolic device placement, and irradiation.

An ultrasonic surgical system utilizes a digital control system to generate ultrasonic drive current for transducers that are located in a hand piece and are attached to a surgical scalpel or blade so as to vibrate the blade in response to the current. The digital control includes a digital signal processor (DSP) or microprocessor; a direct digital synthesis (DDS) device; a phase detection logic scheme, a control algorithm for seeking and maintaining resonance frequency; and design scheme that allows to regulate current, voltage, and power delivered to an ultrasonic device. The system allows the power versus load output curve to be tailored to a specific hand piece; the components of the digital system are much less sensitive to temperature variations; and the digital system provides increased flexibility in locating the resonance frequency of the blade and running diagnostic tests.

In a method for re-entry from extraluminal space into the central lumen of a vessel, a guidewire is advanced into the extraluminal space of the vessel, and then a directional catheter is advanced over the guidewire through the extraluminal space. Thereafter, the guidewire is removed from the directional catheter, an ultrasound device is placed through the directional catheter, and the ultrasound device is advanced through the extraluminal space into the central lumen and then activated.

An ultrasonic apparatus measures the concentration and flow rate of a sample gas by calculating a possible propagation time range on the basis of the gas temperature, determining whether or not the phases at which two first trigger signals, respectively generated on the basis of forward and backward waveforms of the ultrasonic waves, coincide with each other, processing the zero-cross signals so that the phases coincide with each other, obtaining reference zero-cross time instant by calculating mean value of the forward and backward zero-cross time instants, obtaining an ultrasonic reception point by subtracting an integral multiple of the cycle of the ultrasonic waves so that the results of the subtraction falls into a possible propagation time range and estimating the ultrasonic propagation time on the basis of the ultrasonic reception point.

Disclosed is a rotor unmanned aircraft independent take-off and landing system based on three-layer triangle multi-color landing ground. The system comprises a small rotor unmanned aircraft (SRUA), an onboard sensor, a data processing unit, a flight control system, an onboard camera, landing ground, a wireless image transmission module, a wireless data transmission module and a ground monitor station, wherein the onboard sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a barometer, an ultrasound device and the like, the data processing unit is used for integrating sensor data, the flight control system finishes route planning to achieve high accuracy control over the SRUA, the onboard camera is used for collecting images of the landing ground, the landing ground is a specially designed landing point for an unmanned aircraft, the wireless image transmission module can transmit the images to a ground station, the wireless data transmission module can achieve communication of data and instructions between the unmanned aircraft and the ground station, and the ground station is composed of a visual processing unit and a display terminal. According to the rotor unmanned aircraft independent take-off and landing system based on the three-layer triangle multi-color landing ground, the reliability of SRUA navigation messages is guaranteed, the control accuracy of the SRUA is increased, costs are low, the application is convenient, and important engineering values can be achieved.

An electrosurgical instrument for sealing and cutting tissue is provided. The instrument includes a housing having a plurality of transducers included therein and a waveguide coupled to and extending from the housing. An end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the waveguide includes a pair of opposing jaw members, where at least one of the jaw members includes a transducer. The transducer is configured to receive an acoustic signal from the plurality of transducers in the housing.

Method and apparatus for treating obesity by an energy delivery device, such as a high focus ultrasound transducer, mounted for movement along two or three axes relative to the esophagus to deliver transesophageal energy to interrupt the function of vagal nerves. Preferably, movement along a longitudinal axis of the esophagus changes the site to which the energy is directed and movement transversely along a radius of the esophagus focuses the energy on a vagal nerve. The third degree of freedom relative to the esophagus is to rotate the transducer about the longitudinal axis of the esophagus.

Systems and methods for ultrasonically inspecting pipe, the pipe having a longitudinal axis, the methods in certain aspects including compressing with a compressing force an elastomeric element between an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic pipe inspection system and a pipe to be inspected; and, in certain aspects, the systems and methods including placing a coupling between the elastomeric element and the pipe, wherein the elastomeric element surrounds the pipe; and, in certain aspects, a system for ultrasonically inspecting pipe, the system with a housing, a packer element in the housing with an opening through which a pipe to be inspected is passable, and at least one ultrasonic probe in or on the housing useful in conjunction with an ultrasonic apparatus for inspecting pipe.

A medical device for determining the position of intracorporeal implants such as fixation systems, plates or the like, comprises at least one impedance-measuring device and an ultrasound device which are both connected to at least one intracorporeal probe, the impedance-measuring device being additionally equipped with at least one connector for connection to the implant. The device is suitable for determining the position of pedicle screws and the like in a spinal column fixation system with metal rods as stabilizers.