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Systems and methods for delivering ultrasound energy

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/202,446, filed Jul. 24, 2002 and entitled “Systems and Methods for Delivering Ultrasound Energy at an Output Power Level That Remains Essentially Constant Despite Variations in Transducer Impedance,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/935,908, filed Aug. 23, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/645,662, filed Aug. 24, 2000, and entitled “Systems and Methods for Enhancing Blood Perfusion Using Ultrasound Energy,” which are all incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to systems and methods for increasing blood perfusion, e.g., in the treatment of myocardial infarction, strokes, and vascular diseases.

High frequency (5 MHz to 7 MHz) ultrasound has been widely used for diagnostic purposes. Potential therapeutic uses for ultrasound have also been more recently suggested. For example, it has been suggested that high power, lower frequency ultrasound can be focused upon a blood clot to cause it to break apart and dissolve. The interaction between lower frequency ultrasound in the presence of a thrombolytic agent has also been observed to assist in the breakdown or dissolution of thrombi. The effects of ultrasound upon enhanced blood perfusion have also been observed.

While the therapeutic potential of these uses for ultrasound has been recognized, their clinical promise has yet to be fully realized. Treatment modalities that can apply ultrasound in a therapeutic way are designed with the premise that they will be operated by trained medical personnel in a conventional fixed-site medical setting. They assume the presence of trained medical personnel in a non-mobile environment, where electrical service is always available. Still, people typically experience the effects of impaired blood perfusion suddenly in public and private settings. These people in need must be transported from the public or private settings to the fixed-site medical facility before ultrasonic treatment modalities can begin. Treatment time (which is often critical in the early stages of impaired blood perfusion) is lost as transportation occurs. Even within the fixed-site medical facility, people undergoing treatment need to be moved from one care unit to another. Ultrasonic treatment modalities must be suspended while the person is moved.

The invention provides systems and methods comprising an ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound generator coupled to the ultrasound transducer for operation. The systems and method include a use register sized and configured to be carried by the ultrasound transducer. The use register comprises a memory field that registers, according to preprogrammed rules, a prescribed copyright notice. The systems and method include a use monitoring controller sized and configured to be carried by the ultrasound generator and to be coupled to the use register to control delivery of ultrasound energy through the ultrasound transducer according to the preprogrammed rules comprising a preprogrammed rule that compares the prescribed copyright notice in the memory field to a prescribed content and disables use of the ultrasound transducer if the prescribed content is not present in the memory field.

In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer is sized and configured to transcutaneously apply ultrasound energy to the thoracic cavity.

In one embodiment, the ultrasound generator applies to the ultrasound transducer a power density not exceeding 3 watts/cm2 at a maximum total power output of no greater than 200 watts operating at a fundamental therapeutic frequency not exceeding 500 kHz, whereby the application of ultrasound energy increases the blood flow of the individual.

In one embodiment, the systems and methods further include a strap assembly to stabilize the ultrasound transducer on a chest during application of ultrasound energy.

Other features and advantages of the inventions are set forth in the following specification and attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system for transcutaneously applying ultrasound energy to affect increased blood perfusion.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an ultrasound applicator that forms a part of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the ultrasound applicator shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side section view of the acoustic contact area of the ultrasound applicator shown in FIG. 2.