Patent ID: 9220924
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for ablating tissue, said method comprising: providing an elongate shaft having an ultrasound transducer adjacent a distal portion of the elongate shaft, the ultrasound transducer providing a collimated beam of ultrasound energy; positioning the ultrasound transducer adjacent target tissue for treatment; moving the ultrasound transducer over a surface of the target tissue; delivering the beam of ultrasound energy to the target tissue with the ultrasound transducer; sensing energy reflected back from the target tissue with the ultrasound transducer; measuring a gap distance between the ultrasound transducer and the surface of the target tissue based on the sensed energy reflected back from the target tissue, while the ultrasound transducer moves over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a plurality of gap distances; mapping the plurality of gap distances measured over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a map of the target tissue; ablating the target tissue with the beam of ultrasound energy based on the generated map of the target tissue to form a continuous lesion in the target tissue; and maintaining a gap between the ultrasound and the target tissue so that there is no contact between the ultrasound transducer and the target tissue while moving the ultrasound transducer, delivering the beam of ultrasound energy, and sensing the energy reflected back from the target tissue.