Combined Imaging Therapy Transducer with Integrated Amplifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound systems face limitations in accurately delivering therapeutic ultrasound with uniform intensity and monitoring the treatment site simultaneously, as existing transducers struggle to maintain precise positioning and imaging during therapy, particularly in applications like dissolving blood clots with microbubble contrast agents.
Innovation Solution
A combined ultrasound imaging and therapy transducer design featuring a linear array of imaging elements with canted therapy transducer elements on either side, allowing for focused therapeutic ultrasound delivery and simultaneous imaging, using a high-intensity RF amplifier to apply therapeutic signals stepwise to avoid near-field distortion and ensure uniform intensity at the treatment site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate imaging and therapy transducers are used, then imaging resolution and therapy delivery can be optimized independently, but positioning accuracy and simultaneous monitoring during therapy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines imaging transducer elements and therapy transducer elements into a single integrated transducer assembly. The imaging elements are positioned centrally while therapy elements are arranged on either side, all sharing a common focal zone. This integration ensures that imaging and therapy are delivered from the same anatomical location, eliminating positioning errors that would occur with separate transducers.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated transducer assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides high-resolution imaging through the imaging elements while delivering focused therapeutic ultrasound through the therapy elements. The shared focal zone allows both functions to operate effectively from the same position, enabling real-time monitoring during therapy delivery.
2Productivity
If high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound is applied continuously, then treatment efficacy is improved, but near-field distortion and non-uniform intensity distribution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The therapy transducer elements are divided into multiple segments positioned on either side of the imaging elements. These segmented elements can be activated independently or in different patterns, allowing the system to deliver high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound while avoiding near-field distortion by distributing the energy delivery across multiple controlled segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternates between applying high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound pulses and performing imaging acquisitions. This periodic action allows the therapy to be delivered in controlled bursts while intermittently monitoring the treatment site to ensure uniform intensity distribution and assess treatment progress, preventing cumulative near-field distortion effects.
3Measurement precision
If imaging and therapy are performed at different frequencies, then imaging resolution and therapy penetration are optimized, but a single transducer cannot achieve both functions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer is segmented into distinct imaging elements and therapy elements, each optimized for their respective frequency ranges. The imaging elements are designed for high-frequency operation to achieve superior image resolution, while the therapy elements are optimized for lower frequencies to achieve adequate tissue penetration and therapeutic effect.
Solution Approach 2:
Despite the frequency differences, both imaging and therapy elements share a common focal zone and are integrated into a single transducer assembly. This allows the system to switch between or combine high-resolution imaging and effective therapy delivery from the same position, achieving both high-frequency imaging resolution and low-frequency therapy penetration through a unified multi-functional device.
4Measurement precision
If microbubble contrast agents are used to enhance ultrasound reflections, then image quality improves, but the microbubbles are easily fractured by ultrasound energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic, pulsed ultrasound delivery where imaging pulses are interspersed with therapy pulses. During imaging phases, lower intensity ultrasound is used to maintain microbubble integrity and enhance reflections for image quality. During therapy phases, higher intensity pulses are applied to achieve therapeutic effects. This periodic alternation allows the system to exploit microbubble contrast for imaging while limiting their exposure to fracture-inducing energy levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated transducer provides real-time imaging feedback during therapy delivery, allowing the system to monitor microbubble presence and distribution. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of therapy parameters to maintain microbubble stability while achieving therapeutic goals, and allows verification that contrast agents remain in the target region throughout treatment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and efficient delivery of therapeutic ultrasound with uniform intensity, allowing for real-time monitoring of the treatment site, facilitating effective clot dissolution and bioactive agent release, while minimizing the need for transducer repositioning and improving treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer to generate and receive ultrasound energy
Implementation Method 2
High-intensity ultrasound is also being used experimentally with the ultrasonic energy focused to a subcutaneous depth where internal bleeding is occurring. This technique heats and thus coagulates the tissues at the depth to which the ultrasound is focused
Implementation Method 3
The therapy transducer elements are canted inwardly toward the imaging transducer elements to direct therapeutic ultrasound to a localized depth
Implementation Method 4
an RF amplifier in the transducer connector to apply high-intensity electrical signals to the therapy transducer elements
Implementation Method 5
All of these contrast agents intensify the reflections of ultrasound because they create large acoustic discontinuities between the contrast agents and the surrounding blood or tissue
Implementation Method 6
The ultrasound breaks up the microbubbles, and the destruction of the microbubbles apparently provides agitation to a greater extent than is possible using ultrasound alone
Data Source
AI summary
A combined ultrasound imaging and therapy transducer (10) includes a linear array of imaging transducer elements (14). First and second linear arrays of therapy transducer elements (18, 20) extend longitudinally along respective first and second sides of the imaging transducer elements and are canted inwardly toward each other. The imaging and therapy transducer is used with an ultrasound imaging system to locate clots in a region of interest. After the region of interest has been perfused with a microbubble contrast agent, the therapy transducer elements are driven by an amplifier located in the transducer to dissolve the clot. The use of the imaging transducer elements and the therapy transducer elements can be interleaved so that the therapy can be conditioned on an ultrasound image showing substantial destruction of the contrast agent microbubbles, re-perfusion of microbubbles in the region of interest, or the continued presence of the clot.