Patent ID: 7083614
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of applying energy to the wall of an internal organ of a living subject comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an expansible structure within the body of the subject in or adjacent to said organ and bringing said expansible structure to an expanded condition; and (b) directing energy onto an active region of said expansible structure so that energy is reflected from said active region and directed from said active region onto the wall of the internal organ, said expansible structure focusing said energy in a focal region; wherein said expansible structure includes a first balloon, said step of bringing said reflector structure to said expanded configuration including inflating said first balloon; wherein said first balloon defines a transmissive wall, said positioning step including positioning said first balloon so that said transmissive wall lies adjacent the wall of the organ, and said energy is directed onto said active region from within said first balloon so that the energy is reflected at said active region through the interior of the first balloon and through the transmissive wall into said focal region; wherein said step of directing energy includes directing ultrasonic energy towards said active region, said expansible structure includes a second balloon, and said step of expanding said expansible structure includes the step of inflating said first balloon with a first fluid having a first acoustic impedance and inflating said second balloon with a second fluid having a second acoustic impedance different from said first acoustic impedance to thereby form a first reflective interface at said active region.