Computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of an ultrasound device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target, the method comprising: identifying or receiving from a user and / or a memory an acceptable acoustic power level range for the device as a function of at least one configuration parameter of the target and the device; displaying a user interface on a display; detecting at least one operation by the user of any control element of the user interface; and transmitting at least one instruction to the device based on the operation. The present invention also relates to such a computer system, a computer program product for performing the method, and a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves that are focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target.

[0002] The invention also relates to a computer system in communication with such an apparatus, comprising one or more programs containing instructions for carrying out the above-described methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, comprising computer-executable instructions for causing such a computer system to carry out the above-described methods, and to such a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium.

[0003] The present invention has application in both industrial and medical applications of ultrasound, and although in the following the focus will be on medical, and more particularly therapeutic, applications, this should not be considered limiting. [Background technology]

[0004] Interest in ultrasound-based techniques has steadily grown as many applications have been discovered. Ultrasound can be used to induce cavitation bubbles by focusing ultrasound pulses onto a focal spot, allowing mechanical energy to be released toward specific targets within a region contained within, partially contained within, or near the focal spot. Multiple cavitation bubbles can be generated within such a region near or at the focal spot, which can then be identified as a cavitation region. The induced cavitation bubbles can also be referred to as a cavitation cloud.

[0005] The cavitation bubbles or clouds generated by ultrasound can be used in a variety of applications. In medical applications, cavitation bubbles can be used, for example, for histotripsy (mechanical destruction of tissue), thrombus trituration (mechanical destruction of blood clots), or lithotripsy (disintegration of stones). Such applications have the unique advantage of being non-invasive or minimally invasive. There are also many other applications of ultrasound, such as sonochemistry, ultrasonic cleaning, sonolysis, and others, which can lead to the initiation or enhancement of chemical activity in a solution.

[0006] For example, in histotripsy, an acoustic transducer generates short bursts of sinusoidal ultrasound, which are focused on a target zone and typically operate at a central emission frequency of 700 kHz to 4 MHz, with a pulse repetition frequency of 1 to 1000 Hz and 1 to 20 intraburst repetition cycles. Histotripsy generates localized pressures of up to 100 MPa and as low as -25 MPa.

[0007] Some applications, particularly medical applications, require focused ultrasound pulses with a high level of precision regarding the focal spot and cavitation region where cavitation bubbles or clouds will be generated. Controlling the location and / or size of the cavitation region remains difficult because the expected cavitation region is relatively uncertain depending on the target and the device. It is particularly important to ensure that the cavitation region is closest to the target. Typically, the ultrasound device also includes a means for acquiring an image of the target, thereby enabling identification of cavitation and where the cavitation bubbles are occurring.

[0008] The acoustic power level of a device can generate cavitation bubbles if it exceeds a certain threshold, and this threshold depends on many parameters, such as the device, distance to the target, and environmental parameters. Conversely, an acoustic power level that is too high can lead to cavitation bubbles being generated in undesired locations or too many cavitation bubbles. To control an ultrasonic device as precisely as possible, the acoustic power level should exceed the cavitation threshold while at the same time not exceeding safety limits.

[0009] These thresholds and limits depend on many parameters, such as the composition or size of the target, the hardware elements of the device that can modulate the acoustic power level, the shape of the transducer for emitting ultrasound, environmental parameters, and the acoustic coupling between the system and the sonicated object. These parameters are unstable and time-varying. For maximum fine control, the user may wish to increase or decrease the acoustic power level while monitoring the generation of cavitation bubbles. In medical applications, the acoustic output power level, or acoustic power level, may correspond to a "therapeutic gain value."

[0010] However, using such devices with the utmost precision and control requires a variety of preparations and simultaneous actions. Indeed, the user must be able to prepare the ultrasound device, position it relative to the target, identify a specific acoustic power level for the ultrasound device to generate cavitation, activate the device at the correct time, verify proper operation of the device after such activation, increase the acoustic power level until cavitation bubbles are generated and simultaneously observed, and ensure that the cavitation bubbles are still generated at the target while maintaining an effective acoustic power level and ensuring that the acoustic power level does not exceed safety limits. In practice, the user's goal is to identify the minimum therapeutic gain (as low as reasonably achievable) that can trigger a cavitation phenomenon, i.e., the "cavitation threshold." Identifying such a minimum therapeutic gain is a challenging task because it depends on a variety of factors. In particular, there is no standard value that fits all subjects, and for a given subject, there is no standard value that fits all target zones and the overall duration of the ultrasound session. Identifying such a minimum therapeutic gain is a challenging task because it depends on a variety of factors.

[0011] All these steps require high concentration, short reaction times and a significant mental workload from the user, which the user tries to address over time during the preparation of each action, a procedure that is desirable to keep as short as possible for reasons of efficiency, energy conservation, safety reasons (in medical applications) and / or to preserve the material being ultrasonically irradiated (in industrial applications).

[0012] Additionally, users must rely on real-time imaging to monitor the cavitation effects of focused ultrasound generated by the ultrasound device. Users may also need to identify audible noises to adjust appropriate acoustic power levels. Meanwhile, in medical applications, users may also need to simultaneously monitor at least one subject's vital signs, which also requires additional attention.

[0013] Known hardware solutions (foot switches, knobs or joysticks) have some drawbacks in this regard: they require the user to actively control the increase / decrease in the sound power level of the device by repeated body movements, which in the long term can cause injuries (repetitive stress injuries), especially if the ultrasound lasts for several minutes and the entire ultrasound exposure session lasts for an hour.

[0014] These are inherently limited in their responsiveness to user actions due to the way they are constructed. Unlike their use in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) modalities, which induce thermal effects over long timescales and whose heatmaps evolve slowly, they may be too difficult to control and unsuitable for ultrasound cavitation treatments such as histotripsy or image-guided non-invasive ultrasound therapy (NIUT), which have fast-acting mechanisms that cause the body to have very short reaction times (e.g., cardiac arrhythmias) and require user monitoring and vigilance.

[0015] The user may also experience physical fatigue, which may negatively impact the effectiveness / efficiency of the session and the selection of an adjusted sound power level for the device. Furthermore, the user is not able to convey all of the visual feedback regarding the current sound power level and requires other user interface support to convey the remaining necessary information.

[0016] Known graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have a limited range of motion (simple click, toggle mode, long press) and do not allow the user to adjust the spatial peak pulse average intensity (I SPPA : Intensity Spatial Peak Pulse Average) and the range of therapeutic gain values. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0017] Therefore, there is a need for means and methods to help reduce the mental workload of a user when using an ultrasound device while ensuring the user has maximum fine control of the ultrasound device.

[0018] The present invention seeks to overcome all or some of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, and more specifically, to assist a user in ensuring fine control of an ultrasound device while reducing the number of interactions between the user and the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target, the method comprising: - specifying or receiving from a user and / or a memory an allowable sound power level range for the device depending on the target and at least one configuration parameter of the device; - On the display, at least a first area displaying at least one image of a target; a second area displaying a control element for starting or stopping the generation of ultrasound waves by the device; a third area displaying the current sound power level emitted by the device, a specified range of acceptable sound power levels, and a control element for selecting any sound power level within the range of acceptable sound power levels, a third area including at least one control element for gradually and automatically increasing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a higher value, the gradual and automatic change being in accordance with a predetermined rate law; displaying a user interface including: - detecting at least one operation by a user of a control element of the user interface while displaying the user interface; - transmitting at least one command to the device, the command corresponding to at least one operation of any control element of the user interface; Includes.

[0020] "Detecting at least one manipulation of any control element of the user interface by a user" means that the manipulation can be performed by an interface device, such as a computer mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a physical control element or button, or the screen itself, which in turn is a tactile screen or any other physical object that interfaces the user's actions by manipulating a control element. If the interface device is not the screen itself, it is preferably located next to the screen.

[0021] Advantageously, the third area may include at least one control element for gradually and automatically reducing the sound power level of the device by selecting a lower value, the gradual and automatic change following a predetermined rate law, such control element being the same as or different from the at least one element for gradually and automatically increasing the sound power level of the device.

[0022] Advantageously, the gradual and automatic change of the acoustic power level of the device may follow a first rate law when increasing and a second rate law when decreasing, the first and second rate laws being the same or different. Alternatively, or additionally, the decrease to a certain lower value may be instantaneous.

[0023] Advantageously, when the device includes a power amplifier, the allowable acoustic power level range can be further adjusted according to the temperature of the power amplifier or other hardware components. Furthermore, the acoustic power level range can be adjusted to accommodate any factor that limits the maximum acoustic power level. For example, particularly in medical applications, cumulative exposure limits can influence the adjustment of the acoustic power level range. Furthermore, in medical applications, the acoustic power level range can be limited to an acceptable value according to the patient's body mass index (BMI), allowing adjustment to accommodate different acoustic attenuation rates for different patient sizes. Furthermore, the acoustic power level range can depend on the physical phenomenon (e.g., mechanical, thermal) to be induced by the ultrasound. For example, in clinical applications, the acoustic power level required for treating a calcified aortic valve (with the goal of softening tissue) is lower than that required for histotripsiablation (with the goal of destroying cancer cells).

[0024] Advantageously, a temperature threshold for the power amplifier may be predetermined, and the user interface may then display a first alert when the temperature threshold is close to the temperature of the power amplifier and / or a second alert when the temperature threshold is exceeded. "Close" means that the temperature of the power amplifier corresponds to, for example, 90%, 95%, or 98% of the threshold temperature. The user may select which percentage is most appropriate based on at least one of the configuration parameters and / or the target.

[0025] Advantageously, the user interface displays a cumulative exposure corresponding to the cumulative focused ultrasound generated by the device at the target site, and the allowable acoustic power level range is further adjusted according to a predetermined maximum cumulative exposure.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a computer system in communication with an apparatus, the apparatus being capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target, the computer system including a display, one or more processors, a memory, and one or more programs, the one or more programs being stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for performing a method of controlling the operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0027] Advantageously, the display of the computer system may include a touch-sensitive surface on which the user interface is displayed and which is capable of detecting the intensity of contact with the touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, it may include a non-touch-sensitive ("normal") screen, in which case user actions are performed through a device such as a mouse or joystick.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of an apparatus according to the present invention.

[0029] The present invention also relates to a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a computer-implementable method for assisting a user in controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target, the method comprising: identifying, or receiving from a user and / or a memory, an allowable acoustic power level range for the device as a function of at least one configuration parameter of the target and the device; - On the display, at least a first area (12, 22) displaying at least one image of a target; a second area displaying control elements (17, 27) for starting or stopping the generation of ultrasound waves by the device; a third area (15, 26d, 26e, 26f) displaying the current sound power level emitted by the device, the specified range of allowable sound power levels, and at least one control element (15c, 15d, 26g) for selecting any sound power level within the range of allowable sound power levels; Including, At least one of the control elements (15c, 15d, 26g) displayed in the third area is configured to gradually and automatically increase the sound power level of the device by selecting a higher value, the gradual and automatic change following a predetermined rate law. Displaying a user interface; - detecting at least one operation by a user of any control element of the user interface while displaying the user interface; Includes.

[0031] The invention will be better understood, and its various features and advantages made apparent, from the following description of several illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings, as set forth below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a first user interface used to execute the computer-implemented method of the present invention, which may be displayed on a display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a second user interface used to execute the computer-implemented method of the present invention, which may be displayed on the display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The present invention is further described herein by way of examples that particularly demonstrate the performance of the computer-implemented method of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0034] The computer-implemented method of the present invention allows automation of ultrasound emission. In particular, the gradual and automatic increase and possibly decrease allows the user interface to convey information for adjusting the acoustic power level to a target value with a single operation of a control element, thereby allowing the user to monitor the ultrasound image in real time as the acoustic power level changes, without having to concentrate on selecting an acoustic power level. This also contributes to improving the usability of the user interface and user comfort.

[0035] Real-time control of acoustic power level allows for spatial peak pulse average intensity (I SPPA ) increases or decreases over an optimal time period that is controlled.

[0036] The computer-implemented method of the present invention is safer than prior art methods because it allows the user to stop the process while monitoring the image in real time, without having to simultaneously manipulate other elements, and at the same time instantly set a lower / safer sound power level if necessary.

[0037] Also, due to the rate law of gradual and automatic increase, the sound power level does not immediately increase to the higher I SPPA This value is not reached, allowing the user to monitor the subject's response to the increased acoustic power level and to stop the device if necessary to stop its progression or reduce the acoustic power level to a lower value.

[0038] The present invention further overcomes the technical constraints (hardware, SPPA If there is any irradiation amount, take that into consideration and SPPAThe values ​​can be adjusted, for example, if the temperature of a power amplifier coupled to an ultrasound transducer is reaching a threshold, the specified acoustic power level range will be adjusted and this will be immediately visible to the user in the user interface.

[0039] If the cumulative dose has not reached a certain threshold after a certain session duration, the specified acceptable acoustic power level range can be adjusted by limiting the minimum acoustic power level to optimize the efficacy of the treatment. The present invention also allows the user to perform a certain ultrasound session in a shorter time.

[0040] "Cumulative dose" refers to the total intensity delivered by the device to the target site over the entire time (during the generation of ultrasound waves).

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a first user interface used to perform the computer-implemented method of the present invention, which may be displayed on the display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target.

[0042] The first user interface of Figure 1 includes a first area 12 that displays an image of a target. The displayed image of the target is acquired by a device capable of generating ultrasound waves that are focused within the target. This image can be acquired by any imaging technique, although an ultrasound imaging transducer is preferred for the present invention. In Figure 1, the displayed image has a particular shape, but the displayed image can have any shape. The displayed image is in black and white, but the image may be displayed in color or only partially in color. In this illustration, the target being insonified corresponds to the entire image.

[0043] In certain embodiments that may be combined with any other embodiment without requiring special adjustment to such other embodiments, the first area may display multiple images of the target.

[0044] The user interface of Figure 1 also displays a second area displaying a control element 17 for starting or stopping the generation or emission of focused ultrasound waves by the device. According to Figure 1, the control element 17 can stop the emission of ultrasound waves by the device.

[0045] Although not shown, a control element 17 can be used to stop the device when it is emitting ultrasound, and the same control element 17 can be used to activate the device when it is not emitting ultrasound.

[0046] Alternatively, the control element 17 in the second area comprises two parts, one for activating the device and one for deactivating the device. The control element 17 may have any shape or color and may change color depending on the state (activation or deactivation) of the device.

[0047] The user interface of FIG. 1 also includes a third area 15 that displays the current sound power level emitted by the device. The current sound power level may be displayed by a value 15b, and / or by a gauge 15c, and / or by a scale 15d. Other symbols or methods for displaying the current sound power level may also be used. The third area 15 may also display a specified range of sound power levels, such as by a gauge 15c or a scale 15d. The gauge 15c or the scale 15d may have a specific color combination to indicate the current sound power level and / or the specified acceptable sound power level range.

[0048] The third area also displays a control element for selecting any sound power level within the range of allowable sound power levels. Such control element may correspond to gauge 15c, in which case the user may click directly on gauge 15c to select the sound power level of the device, or it may correspond to scale 15d, in which case the user may click directly on any portion of the scale to select the sound power level of the device. Other designs of this control device may also be used in the present invention.

[0049] The third area may also include a control element for increasing and optionally decreasing the acoustic power level in unitary steps, for example a simple square button shown in FIG. 1 below scale 15d and above displayed data 15e, which is data related to parameters of the ultrasound device.

[0050] "Unitary step" means any fixed value or any percentage of a value, such as a unitary step in watts, or a percentage of a specified sound power level range or a percentage of the device's maximum sound power level. For example, such a fixed value may correspond to a percentage of the maximum sound power level, such as 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or any other value. The user may specify what percentage is most appropriate for the application. Also, the minimum percentage of the maximum sound power level may be set to, for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or any other value. Preferably, the minimum sound power level percentage is set to a percentage value greater than or equal to 20% and including 30%. The unitary step may be different when increasing or decreasing.

[0051] The control element for selecting the acoustic power level of the device, such as a gauge 15c or a scale 15d, may correspond to a control for gradually and automatically increasing and optionally decreasing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a value higher or lower than the current acoustic power level of the device, the gradual and automatic progression of the acoustic power level following a predetermined rate law. Such a predetermined rate law may be selected by the user before or during use of the method of the present invention. Information regarding peak acoustic power and focal intensity 15e is also presented.

[0052] For example, the gradual and automatic evolution of the sound power level of the device, whether increasing or decreasing, may follow at least a linear, exponential, logarithmic, quadratic, or cubic law, and indeed the gradual and automatic change may follow any function that can be developed as a law.

[0053] The rate law for increasing the sound power level of the device may follow a different or the same rate law as the rate law for decreasing the sound power level of the device. The user can define which rate law is more suitable for increasing and / or decreasing the sound power level and can select which rate law should be applied when the control element for selecting the sound power level is operated.

[0054] 1 displays a general information area 11, which displays multiple data such as the hospital and user name number 11a, the patient name or number and planned treatment 11b, and control elements 11c for configuring or closing the user interface. An image settings area 16 also allows the brightness and contrast of the image to be changed. The general information area 11 and the image settings area may contain any other information and are not required for carrying out the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0055] 1 also includes imaging information 13 relating to the image being displayed, such as frame rate, depth, focus, or any other parameters, although the imaging information 13 is not required to perform the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0056] 1 displays a treatment summary area 14, which displays session information 14a including, for example, the current session number, the maximum duration of the current session, and the cumulative treatment time. Additionally, the treatment summary area 14 displays the remaining time 14b for using the ultrasound transducer device. The treatment summary area 14 also displays the average target area scan time and the total number of target area scans 14c. This information is not required to perform the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates a second user interface used to execute the computer-implemented method of the present invention, which may be displayed on the display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target.

[0058] The user interface of Figure 2 includes a first area 22 that displays an image of a target. In Figure 2, the image of the target includes two portions. The two portions may be acquired from different angles of the imaging transducer. Although the image displayed in Figure 2 has a particular shape, the displayed image may have any shape. Although the displayed image is black and white, the image may be displayed in color or only partially in color.

[0059] In the user interface of FIG. 2 , the image is covered with a layer including a depth scale 23 and a pattern 24 in the form of a grid adapted to the target, with the target represented by dots inside the periphery of the grid. This pattern allows the user to more quickly identify where the target is located or where the expected focal point of the ultrasound emitted by the ultrasound transducer is located. Furthermore, the color or shape of the pattern may change depending on the acoustic power level of the ultrasound transducer or any other parameter. Alternatively, the pattern may have any shape or color depending on the user's selection and / or the target and / or the acquired image. Preferably, the shape of the pattern is adjusted to fit around or overlay the expected focal spot of the ultrasound generated by the device. For example, the pattern may correspond to a circle, a square, or any other shape adapted to the target, optionally depending on the acoustic power level of the ultrasound transducer. The use of such a pattern, whether in the form of a grid or not, may be combined with any other embodiment, and no specific adjustments are required for such other embodiments.

[0060] The user interface of FIG. 2 also displays a view area 25 for switching between different views of the image 22 and for adding or removing at least one pattern, such as the pattern 24 .

[0061] The user interface of Figure 2 displays a general information area 21, which displays multiple data such as the hospital and user name 21a, the patient's name or number and planned treatment 21b, and controls 21c for configuring or closing the user interface. The general information area also includes an indicator 21d of the amplifier temperature. An image settings area 28 allows the brightness and contrast of the image to be changed. The general information area 21 and the image settings area may include any other information and are not required to perform the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0062] The user interface of Figure 2 displays a second area displaying a control element 27 for starting or stopping the generation or emission of focused ultrasound waves by the device. According to Figure 2, the control element 27 can stop the ultrasound emission of the device. Although not shown, the control element 27 can also be used to stop the device when it is emitting ultrasound waves, and the same control element 27 can be used to activate the ultrasound device when it is not emitting ultrasound waves.

[0063] The user interface of FIG. 2 also includes a third area 26 that displays the current acoustic power level emitted by the device. The current acoustic power level may be displayed by a value 26f and / or by a gauge or scale 26g. Other symbols or methods for displaying the current acoustic power level may also be used. The third area 26 also displays the current session time 26a, the number of completed sessions 26b, the total time of completed sessions 26c, the spatial peak pulse average intensity (I SPPA ) (insertion value at the focal spot, either in water or inside the subject's body), cumulative treatment dose 26e, and maximum allowable acoustic power level 26j are displayed.

[0064] The third area displays control elements for selecting any sound power level within the range of allowable sound power levels for the device. These control elements may correspond to gauges 26g, in which case the user clicks directly on gauge 26g to select the sound power level for the device. Other designs of control elements may also be used in the present invention.

[0065] The third area of ​​FIG. 2 also includes control elements 26h, 26i for increasing or decreasing the sound power level in unitary steps, such as simple square buttons 26h and 26i.

[0066] The control element for selecting the acoustic power level of the device, e.g., gauge 26g, may correspond to a control element for gradually and automatically increasing or decreasing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a value higher or lower than the current acoustic power level of the device, the gradual and automatic change in acoustic power level following a predetermined rate law, which may be selected by the user before or during use of the method of the present invention.

[0067] The various embodiments presented in this specification are not limiting and may be combined with each other. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A computer-implemented method for controlling operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of the target, comprising: - specifying or receiving from a user and / or a memory an acceptable sound power level range for said device depending on said target and at least one configuration parameter of said device; - on the display, at least a first area (12, 22) displaying at least one image of said target; a second area displaying control elements (17, 27) for starting or stopping the generation of ultrasound waves by the device; a third area (15, 26d, 26e, 26f) displaying the current sound power level emitted by the device, the specified range of acceptable sound power levels, and at least one control element (15c, 15d, 26g) for selecting any sound power level within the range of acceptable sound power levels; Including, At least one of the control elements (15c, 15d, 26g) displayed in the third area is configured to gradually and automatically increase the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a higher value, the gradual and automatic change following a predetermined rate law. Displaying a user interface; - detecting at least one operation by a user of any control element of said user interface while said user interface is displayed; - sending at least one command to said device, said command corresponding to said at least one operation of any control element of said user interface; 10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control elements displayed in the third area is configured to gradually and automatically decrease the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a lower value, the gradual and automatic change following a predetermined rate law, and wherein such control element is the same as or different from the at least one element for gradually and automatically increasing the acoustic power level of the device.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gradual automatic change in the acoustic power level of the device follows a first rate law when increasing and a second rate law when decreasing, the first and second rate laws being different.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device includes a power amplifier, and the range of acceptable acoustic power levels is further adjusted in response to a temperature of the power amplifier.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein a temperature threshold for the power amplifier is predetermined, and the user interface displays a first alert when the temperature threshold is approached and / or a second alert when the temperature threshold is exceeded.

6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface displays a cumulative exposure corresponding to the cumulative focused ultrasound generated by the device at the target site, and the allowable acoustic power level range is further adjusted according to a predetermined maximum cumulative exposure.

7. 10. A computer system in communication with an apparatus capable of generating ultrasound waves focused within a target and acquiring at least one image of said target, said computer system comprising: a display; one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs, said one or more programs being stored in said memory and configured to be executed by said one or more processors, said one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the computer system, perform a method for controlling the operation of an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. 8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the display includes a touch-sensitive surface, the user interface is displayed on the touch-sensitive surface, and the touch-sensitive surface is capable of detecting an intensity of contact with the touch-sensitive surface.

9. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images