Patent ID: 11872085
Assignee: INSIGHTEC LTD.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 0:
1. A system for generating an ultrasound focus at a target region and receiving signals therefrom, the system comprising:
an ultrasound transducer comprising a plurality of transducer elements;
an imaging system for obtaining a plurality of images of the target region and one or more path zones located on beam paths between at least some of the transducer elements and the target region; and
a controller, operably coupled to the ultrasound transducer and the imaging system, configured to:
(a) determine at least one tissue anatomical characteristic associated with a non-target region in the one or more path zones between the at least some of the transducer elements and the target region based on the obtained images, wherein the at least one anatomical characteristic includes a structure, a thickness, a density, or a heating profile of the non-target region;
(b) determine, for each of the transducer elements, a mode of operation comprising at least one of a transmitting mode or a receiving mode based at least in part on the at least one anatomical characteristic, wherein a non-target region structure, thickness, density, or heating profile associated with transducer elements determined to be in the transmitting mode is different from a non-target region structure, thickness, density, or heating profile associated with transducer elements determined to be in the receiving mode;
(c) operate at least first ones of the transducer elements determined to be in the transmitting mode to collectively transmit an ultrasound beam to the target region so as to create a focus thereon; and
(d) operate at least second ones of the transducer elements determined to be in the receiving mode to receive acoustic signals from the target region and, in response thereto, adjust operation of the at least first ones of the transducer elements to thereby alter the focus at the target region.