Apparatus for treating vascular thrombosis by ultrasounds
Inventors
GOUDOT, GUILLAUME • Pernot, Mathieu • Tanter, Mickael • Vion, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11633199-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for treating vascular thrombosis with ultrasound, includes a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer, suitable for generating focused ultrasonic waves that propagate along an emission axis; an imaging ultrasonic transducer associated with the therapeutic transducer; a means for moving the focal spot of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer along the emission axis with respect to the imaging transducer; a motorized mechanical system for translating the transducers along at least a first axis parallel to the emission axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first; and an electronic control system for driving the motorized mechanical system and the means for moving the focal spot of the therapeutic transducer.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for treating vascular thrombosis with ultrasound that combines a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer (TUT) and an imaging ultrasonic transducer (TUJ). The TUT generates focused ultrasonic waves propagating along an emission axis, and the TUJ acquires two- or three-dimensional images of a region to be treated including a focal spot of the TUT.
The apparatus includes means for moving the focal spot of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer along the emission axis with respect to the imaging ultrasonic transducer. A motorized mechanical system moves the therapeutic and imaging ultrasonic transducers translationally along at least a first axis parallel to the emission axis and translationally or rotationally along or about a second axis not parallel to the first, while an electronic control system controls the position of the focal spot during a scan and keeps constant, with a predefined tolerance, a distance between the imaging ultrasonic transducer and a surface of the human or animal body.
A two-scan imaging-assisted treatment sequence is implemented by the electronic control system. During a first scan, the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is kept inactive while a plurality of images are acquired and analyzed to identify a blood vessel and determine a predefined path inside the human body corresponding to the blood vessel. During a second scan, the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is activated and its focal spot follows the predefined path identified from the first-scan images.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers the overall imaging-assisted thrombotripsy apparatus with coordinated two- or three-dimensional imaging, controlled focal-spot motion, and a two-scan workflow tied to blood-vessel identification. The inventive features are coordinated ultrasound imaging, focal-spot motion with constant imaging-to-surface distance, motorized movement along first and second axes, and predefined-path following during activation.
Ultrasound treatment apparatus with imaging of region including therapeutic focal spot
An apparatus for treating vascular thrombosis with ultrasound comprising a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer (TUT) configured to generate focused ultrasonic waves propagating along an emission axis, and an imaging ultrasonic transducer (TUJ) configured to acquire two- or three-dimensional images of a region to be treated of a human or animal body including a focal spot of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer.
Focal-spot moving along emission axis with constant imaging-to-surface distance
Means configured to move the focal spot of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer along the emission axis with respect to the imaging ultrasonic transducer, and an electronic control system configured to control the position of the focal spot along the emission axis during a scan while keeping constant, with a predefined tolerance, a distance between the imaging ultrasonic transducer and a surface of the human or animal body.
Motorized mechanical system with first axis parallel to emission axis and second axis not parallel
A motorized mechanical system configured to move the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer and the imaging ultrasonic transducer translationally along at least a first axis of movement parallel to the emission axis, and translationally or rotationally along or about a second axis of movement not parallel to the first.
Two-scan workflow with vessel identification and predefined path followed during activation
The electronic control system configured to drive the motorized mechanical system to perform a first scan while the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is kept inactive, acquire a plurality of images during the first scan, analyze the plurality of images to identify a blood vessel, determine a predefined path inside the human body corresponding to the blood vessel, then perform a second scan in which the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is activated and the focal spot follows the predefined path identified from the first-scan images.
The claim coverage centers on a coordinated ultrasound system where imaging acquires 2D/3D images including the therapeutic focal spot, the focal spot is moved along the emission axis while maintaining a constant imaging-to-surface distance within a predefined tolerance, and a two-scan workflow identifies a blood vessel and defines a predefined internal path that the activated focal spot follows during the second scan.
Stated Advantages
Enables higher-quality images and more precise vessel-wall localization while reducing risk of damage.
Operates the therapeutic transducer at ≤2 MHz to achieve a smaller, more stable focal spot and an approximately 8× reduced focal volume.
Documented Applications
Imaging-assisted thrombotripsy treatment of vascular thrombosis in a human or animal body using a therapeutic focused ultrasound transducer with associated 2D/3D imaging and predefined-path follow-up based on identified blood vessel images.
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