Patent ID: 8870772
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for characterizing a region of tissue in a body, comprising: a) transmitting a relatively uniform beam of ultrasound from a transducer at least 3 cm across into the body to the region of tissue, with a spatial peak power level, time-averaged over any one second interval, of less than 720 mW/cm b) measuring temperature of the tissue, at a plurality of locations, or at a plurality of times, or at a plurality of locations and at a plurality of times, during the ultrasound transmission, following the ultrasound transmission, or both; and c) using the temperature measurement to determine at least one property of the body tissue, based on differences in absorption of ultrasound, differences in cooling rate of the tissue following the ultrasound transmission, or both.