US5391197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasound thermotherapy probe
Assignee: DORNIER MEDTECH AMERICA Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-25
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Granted: 1995-02-21
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Expires: 2013-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A thermotherapy method for treatment of prostate tissues. The thermotherapy method comprises the steps of locating a cylindrical ultrasound transducer substantially within an applicator housing, dimensioning the cylindrical ultrasound transducer to have a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the applicator housing, and providing a power source for the ultrasound transducer to produce a focused energy field.
Inventors
- 👤 Everette C. Burdette
- 👤 Richard diMonda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B90/00; A61B90/04; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/12; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61N7/00; A61N7/02; A61N7/022; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092; A61B2017/00106; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22065; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00017; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00547; A61B2090/0472; A61B2090/0481; A61B2090/049; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925; A61F2007/0095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising: providing a substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer for producing an energy field focused along a line; locating said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer substantially within an applicator housing, said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer being dimensioned to have a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing; and providing a power source for said ultrasound transducer to produce the line focused energy field for providing said thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising: providing a substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer for producing an energy field focused along a line; locating said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer substantially within an applicator housing, said substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer being dimensioned to have a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing; and providing a power source for said ultrasound transducer to produce the line focused energy field for providing said thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical ultrasound transducer is disposed with its cylindrical axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said applicator housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said applicator housing comprises a plurality of lumens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein at least one of said lumens is nondistensible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical ultrasound applicator comprises a plurality of transducers focused at selected locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 5 further including an additional ultrasound transducer comprised of a planar transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further including means for performing ultrasound imaging for monitoring at least one of tissue damage from the thermal therapy and location of said applicator housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined in claim 1 further including means for cooling said ultrasound transducer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of applying thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting an applicator housing near said tissue region; placing a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature greater than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing and being capable of rotation in said applicator housing; supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer and producing a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line; and rotating said arcuate ultrasound transducer to position said converging energy line pattern upon tissue to be treated.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of applying thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting an applicator housing near said tissue region; placing a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature greater than a radius of curvature of said applicator housing and being capable of rotation in said applicator housing; supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer and producing a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line; and rotating said arcuate ultrasound transducer to position said converging energy line pattern upon tissue to be treated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as described in claim 9 further including the step of providing cooling of said transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 9 further including another transducer for applying nonline patterns of ultrasound energy.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of producing a focused ultrasound energy pattern, comprising the steps of: determining a distance between a tissue region to be treated and an access path in said patient; selecting a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a first radius of curvature generally corresponding to said distance; inserting said arcuate ultrasound transducer into an applicator having a smaller radius of curvature than said first radius of curvature; and supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer to produce a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of producing a focused ultrasound energy pattern, comprising the steps of: determining a distance between a tissue region to be treated and an access path in said patient; selecting a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a first radius of curvature generally corresponding to said distance; inserting said arcuate ultrasound transducer into an applicator having a smaller radius of curvature than said first radius of curvature; and supplying energy to said arcuate ultrasound transducer to produce a converging energy pattern distributed substantially along a line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as described in claim 12, further including the step of rotating said arcuate ultrasound transducer to focus said converging energy pattern upon the tissue region to be treated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as described in claim 12, wherein a plurality of ultrasound transducers can be used to focus a plurality of converging energy patterns on the tissue region to be treated.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for providing thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a primary lumen and a secondary cooling lumen; providing an energy source capable of radiating a focused energy field having its highest energy levels distributed substantially along a line; and inserting said energy source into one of said lumens, said energy source comprising a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of one of said lumens.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for providing thermal therapy to a tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a primary lumen and a secondary cooling lumen; providing an energy source capable of radiating a focused energy field having its highest energy levels distributed substantially along a line; and inserting said energy source into one of said lumens, said energy source comprising a substantially arcuate ultrasound transducer having a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of one of said lumens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermotherapy method of claim 15 wherein said energy source comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermotherapy method of claim 16 wherein at least one of said ultrasound transducers is capable of being powered separately from the plurality of said ultraspund transducers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermotherapy method as defined in claim 15 wherein said energy source comprises a radially segmented substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer with each segment being capable of having individual power control.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermotherapy method as defined in claim 15 wherein said energy source comprises a longitudinally and radially segmented substantially cylindrical ultrasound transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4977902A
Cited
EP0370890A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-20 | 1998-08-22 | 1999-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-20 | 2002-08-22 | 2003-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-20 | 2006-08-22 | 2007-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |