Patent ID: 9700742
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61N

Claim:
1. A high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system for treating tissue, the HIFU system comprising: an ultrasound source having a frequency range between approximately 0.5 MHz and approximately 20 MHz, the ultrasound source being configured to deliver a peak positive pressure between approximately 10 MPa and approximately 100 MPa, wherein the ultrasound source is configured to generate shock waves proximate to a target site in the tissue and distinct from shock waves resulting from cavitation; a function generator operably coupled to the ultrasound source, the function generator being configured to generate a pulsing protocol delivered by the ultrasound source to the target site of tissue, wherein the pulsing protocol comprises at least one of ultrasound source frequency, peak positive pressure, pulse length, shock wave amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, and duty cycle; a monitoring system configured to distinguish boiling from cavitation in the tissue; and a controller operably coupled to the ultrasound source and the function generator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the pulsing protocol during treatment in response to feedback from the monitoring system to induce boiling during each pulse with substantially no thermal damage to the tissue at the target site and surrounding the target site.