Patent ID: 8057391

Claim:
An apparatus for delivering high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) energy to a treatment site internal to a patient's body, comprising: an elongate probe having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the probe having a section adapted for positioning the distal end of the probe at a desired location within the patient's body, wherein the distal end of the probe is fitted with a flexible material having one or more inflatable bladders that, when inflated, extend outward from the distal end of the probe and position the flexible material to form a HIFU therapy transducer with one or more active elements on a front surface of the flexible material, the one or more active elements being configured to generate therapeutic HIFU energy and direct the therapeutic HIFU energy to the treatment site, and wherein, to facilitate insertion of the probe in the patient's body, the bladders are configured to be inflated after the probe is inserted in the patient's body.