Patent ID: 7985184

Claim:
A method for ultrasound-assisted drug delivery, said method including the steps of: (a) providing a dual-purpose needle with a tip equipped with a beacon, said beacon including a piezoelectric element connected to a cable via two electrical conductors, (b) providing a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an external ultrasound transmitter, said cable connecting said needle to said electronic unit, (c) inserting said needle to position the tip thereof at the target tissue, (d) injecting a drug into said tissue through said needle, (e) generating an initial ultrasound signal by said external transmitter, (f) receiving said initial ultrasound signal by said beacon and generating an electrical feedback signal, (g) sending said signal along said needle via said two electrical conductors to said cable and further to said electronic unit, and (h) focusing high intensity ultrasound at a location of said beacon by a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal.