Patent ID: 7686763

Claim:
A method for using an ultrasound contrast agent to enhance administration of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy to a specific treatment site within a target area with a therapeutic ultrasonic transducer, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a contrast agent to the target area, the contrast agent having a characteristic of altering reflection characteristics of an ultrasonic wave; and (b) using the contrast agent to enhance the administration of the HIFU therapy in at least one of the following manners: (i) enabling a focal point of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer to be visualized in an image generated when the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer is energized at a power level insufficient to damage tissue, the focal point being readily visually identifiable in the image due to a change in the reflection characteristics of an ultrasonic wave produced by the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer caused by the contrast agent, thereby enabling the focal point of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer to be targeted at the treatment site, and not at non-target tissue; and (ii) directing a focal point of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer at the specific treatment site, such that a fluid filled volume containing the contrast agent is disposed distal to the specific treatment site, the contrast agent being administered in sufficient quantity so as to act as a shield to prevent tissue disposed distal to the specific treatment site from being adversely affected by the HIFU therapy administered to the specific treatment site.