Magnetic resonance guided ultrasound therapy system with inclined track to move transducers in a small vertical space

Patent 5275165 Issued on January 4, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 6, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Application

No. 972331 filed on 11/06/1992

US Classes:

600/411, Combined with therapeutic or diverse diagnostic device600/412, Temperature detection601/2, Ultrasonic607/96Thermal applicators

Examiners

Primary: Smith, Ruth S.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Zale; Lawrence P., Snyder; Marvin

Foreign Patent References

2123963 GB 02/13/1984

International Class

A61B 005/055

Abstract

A magnetic resonance (MR) surgery system facilitates surgery with a focussed ultrasound transducer that selectively destroys tissue in a region within a subject. The focussed energy transducer dissipates energy at a focal point within the region of tissue to be destroyed. A non-magnetic positioning device having a vertical dimension small enough to fit easily within the bore of an MR magnet moves an energy transducer in a limited vertical space. The positioning device employs a plurality of hydraulic positioners and an inclined plane to position the ultrasound focal point under the control of an operator. An MR imaging system employing a temperature sensitive pulse sequence creates an image of the tissue and the region being heated to allow the operator to adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer so as to direct ultrasonic energy to the appropriate location.