Patent ID: 8137274

Claim:
A method of non-invasively applying heat to a region proximate to a blood vessel target, the method comprising: generating an imaging ultrasonic beam adapted to image the blood vessel target, the blood vessel target having a puncture site; receiving a reflection of the imaging ultrasonic beam and in response producing a corresponding output signal; processing the output signal to identify a location of a treatment zone proximate an outer wall of the blood vessel target; detecting the presence of a nerve structure adjacent to the blood vessel target by applying an ultrasonic pulse to the treatment zone; applying a therapeutic ultrasound energy beam to the treatment zone, wherein the ultrasound energy beam is a high intensity focused ultrasound energy beam; and moving the therapeutic ultrasound energy beam to over-scan the treatment zone with therapeutic ultrasonic energy, wherein the imaging ultrasonic beam, the ultrasonic pulse, and the therapeutic ultrasound energy beam are transcutaneously applied.