Patent ID: 8152723

Claim:
A method of monitoring ultrasound therapy applied by an ultrasound therapy system having a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer comprising: acquiring a first ultrasound image scan of the region using the diagnostic ultrasound transducer, said first ultrasound image scan being formed by high frequency components of first diagnostic ultrasound signals emitted by the diagnostic ultrasound transducer; applying high intensity ultrasound to a region for a first time period using the therapy ultrasound transducer; acquiring a second ultrasound image scan of the region using the diagnostic ultrasound transducer, said second ultrasound image scan being formed by high frequency components of second diagnostic ultrasound signals emitted by the diagnostic ultrasound transducer; discontinuing the high intensity ultrasound from the therapy ultrasound transducer for a second time period; acquiring a third ultrasound image scan using the diagnostic ultrasound transducer, said third ultrasound image scan being formed by high frequency components of third diagnostic ultrasound signals emitted by the diagnostic ultrasound transducer; determining transient non-linearity changes in the region, wherein the transient non-linearity changes are detected by evaluating the high frequency components of each the third and second diagnostic ultrasound signals; and determining permanent non-linearity changes in the region, wherein the permanent non-linearity changes are detected by evaluating the high frequency components of each the third and first diagnostic ultrasound signals.