Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including a single sonic transducer, or an array of sonic transducers radially disposed about an axis, angled to direct sonic energy (12) towards said axis at a point remote therefrom, characterised in the provision of temperature sensing means (4) for association with the point of acoustic focus.and in that the or each transducer is adapted for relative angular movement thereby to allow adjustment of the shape and/or position-of the acoustic focus, in response to an output from said temperature sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit including a single sonic transducer, or an array of sonic transducers radially disposed about an axis, angled to direct sonic energy (12) towards said axis at a point remote therefrom, characterised in the provision of temperature sensing means (4) for association with the point of acoustic focus.and in that the or each transducer is adapted for relative angular movement thereby to allow adjustment of the shape and/or position-of the acoustic focus, in response to an output from said temperature sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A unit according to Claim 1, characterised in that the power output of each transducer is individually controlled by a microprocessor (6) so that the energy imparted to tumour tissues of varying densities may be adjusted to prevent damage to adjacent healthy cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A unit according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the sonic transducers is motor (5) driven through an arc and/or an angle, while signal strength is controlled by a single amplifier (11) having a single output for each transducer, thereby to move the acoustic focus through the tumour volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A unit according to Claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the power to the transducers can be momentarily suspended while the temperature sensing means output their values to the microprocessor whereby said values are not modified by the acoustic input per se.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A unit according to any preceeding Claim, further characterised in the provision of a heat treatment tank (31, 51) provided with means for controlling the temperature (40) of a heat exchange fluid circulatable therethrough, and a flexible heat conductive membrane (32, 52) forming part of said tank, whereby with the membrane overlying a portion (38, 58) to be treated, controlled heat from the heat exchange fluid can be applied to said portion even if said portion is irregularly shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A unit according to Claim 5, characterised in that the tank is provided towards its upper end in use with a fluid outlet or outlets (34, 54) and wherein the fluid inlet terminates about the vertical axis of symmetry of the tank in a downwardly directed nozzle (35', 55'), whereby the heated fluid passes first over the membrane (32, 52).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit comprising a sonic transducer or an array of sonic transducers (1) radially disposed about an axis, angled to direct sonic energy (12) towards said axis at a point remote therefrom, characterised in that said transducers are disposed adjacent to or within, a temperature controlled heat exchange fluid bath (31), said bath comprising a surface (32) for contact with an object (38) to be treated, wherein the contact surface is adapted to transfer heat to said object, while said transducer or transducers are controlled to independently apply acoustic power to an acoustic focus within said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
An ultrasound hyperthermia unit comprising a sonic transducer or an array of sonic transducers (1) radially disposed about an axis, angled to direct sonic energy (12) towards said axis at a point remote therefrom, characterised in that said transducers are disposed adjacent to or within, a temperature controlled heat exchange fluid bath (31), said bath comprising a surface (32) for contact with an object (38) to be treated, wherein the contact surface is adapted to transfer heat to said object, while said transducer or transducers are controlled to independently apply acoustic power to an acoustic focus within said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A unit according to Claim 7, characterised in that a microprocessor (61) is utilised to independently control the temperature of the bath and the acoustic power of the transducers in response to signals emanating from respective control outputs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A unit according to Claim 6, characterised by the provision of an array of temperature sensing means (40) for positioning adjacent the point of acoustic focus to provide a temperature profile output for processing by the microprocessor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A microprocessor (9, 61) adapted to control a unit as claimed in any preceeding Claim.