Oncology

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United States Patent 8376970.  This invention discloses methods and devices using ultrasound energy for use before, during or after surgery for providing a therapeutic effect on nerve tissue. The disclosure describes the use of ultrasound devices consisting of an ultrasound generator, ultrasound transducer and ultrasound horn at least partially enclosed by a shield to enhance neurogenesis on neurons of the central nervous system and other nerve tissue. The shield allows the application of therapeutic levels of ultrasound to nerve tissue to enhance the regeneration of the nerve tissue and mitigate damage to the nerve tissue. The shield serves to protect patient from unwanted contact with portions of the ultrasound horn not being utilized for therapeutic effect. The ultrasound application may be included in devices that have other uses such as a cutting edge for removing tissue.  

United States Patent 9241730. This invention discloses methods and devices using ultrasound energy for resecting bone tissue during surgical procedures. The disclosure describes the use of ultrasound surgical saw consisting of an ultrasound generator, ultrasound transducer and ultrasound horn including a cutting blade to resect bone tissue without excessive temperature rise during typical surgical procedures. The cutting blade provides a self-clearing design that includes at least two teeth disposed to prevent accumulation of bone chips within the proximity of the teeth. The design of the cutting blade allows the mechanical motion of the blade and the emission of the ultrasound energy to remove accumulated bone chips and prevent excessive temperature rise.  

United States Patent 9486234.  This invention discloses methods and devices using an improved surgical saw blade for resecting bone tissue during surgical procedures. The surgical saw blade may be used on oscillating, reciprocating, rotary or vibrational surgical saws. The disclosure describes the use of a cutting blade to resect hone tissue without excessive temperature rise during typical surgical procedures. The cutting blade provides a self-clearing design that includes at least two teeth disposed to prevent accumulation of bone chips within the proximity of the teeth. The design of the cutting blade allows the mechanical motion of the blade and other interactions between the blade and the tissue to remove accumulated bone chips and prevent excessive temperature rise. 

United States Patent 8048095.  An ultrasound assisted liquid blade cutting device such as a scalpel that may be used for routine surgical operations is disclosed in this invention. The ultrasound scalpel comprises an ultrasound generator, ultrasound transducer, transducer tip, a cavity on the transducer tip using a liquid spray shaped to form a cutting surface. The spray serves as a carrier medium for the applied ultrasound energy which enhances the features and performance of the scalpel. Ultrasonic energy transmitted from the transducer tip assists the transport of the liquid to a liquid blade formed outside of the cavity. The ultrasound energy focuses and activates the liquid to allow cutting of tissue with the liquid blade. This device may be utilized for cutting through skin and/other soft tissues during surgical operations, thereby enhancing cutting efficacy, decreasing and/or eliminating necrosis formation. 

United States Patent 8062289.  Ablative apparatus that can be used to treat atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias by ablating cardiac tissue is disclosed. When the distal end of the apparatus reaches the tissue to be ablated, an ablation probe driven by a transducer is vibrated. Scratching the tissue with abrasive members, the vibrating ablation probe is capable of mechanically ablating tissues. This mechanical ablation may be utilized to penetrate epicardial fat, thereby exposing the underlying myocardium. The ablative apparatus may then be used subject the exposed myocardium to mechanical ablation, cryoablation, ultrasonic ablation, and/or any combination thereof.

United States Patent 7431704.  Apparatus and method for the treatment of tissue, such as hard and soft tissues, wounds, tumors, muscles, and cartilage, through the direct contact of ultrasound energy is disclosed. Ultrasound energy is delivered to a target area through direct contact with an ultrasound tip. Ultrasound energy is also delivered through direct contact with a coupling medium. The ultrasound tip is specially designed to comprise of a cavity area for controlled fragmentation and the simultaneous sonication of a target area. The specially designed ultrasound tip allows for ultrasound energy to focus on a target area. The ultrasound apparatus may be moved in a variety of different directions during the treatment of tissue.

United States Patent 7662177.  The method and device of the present invention for pain relief using ultrasound waves in combination with cryogenic energy.  Includes a generator and a transducer to produce ultrasonic waves and a cryogenic source to produce cryogenic energy. Ultrasound waves are delivered to the target in combination with cryogenic energy. Ultrasound waves and cryogenic energy can be delivered to the target from the radial side of the ultrasound horn and/or tip or can be delivered from the distal end of the ultrasound tip. Cryogenic energy can also be delivered directly to the target through a central orifice. Ultrasound energy can also be delivered through a cryogenic spray at the distal end. The use of ultrasound waves in combination with cryogenic energy can provide an analgesic effect. 

United States Patent 7842032. An Ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues on internal organs (Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, ulcers or the like on internal organs; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus). The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy, either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs. 

United States Patent 7785278     Abstract: An ultrasound surgical apparatus and associated methods of use enabling relatively pain-free wound debridement is provided. The apparatus is constructed from a tip mechanically coupled to a shaft. The shaft is mechanical coupled to an ultrasound transducer driven by a generator. The ultrasound tip possesses at least one radial surface, a cavity, or some other form of a hollowed-out area, within at least one of the radial surfaces, and a cutting member at the opening of the cavity. A method of debriding a wound and/or tissue with the apparatus can be practiced by delivering ultrasonic energy released from the various surfaces of the vibrating tip to the wound and/or tissue prior to and/or while portions of the tip are scrapped across the wound and/or tissue.

United States Patent 7572268.  An ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs.  

United States Patent 8277472.  This invention discloses deflector shields to protect an operator from splashing from the use of hand-held ultrasound wound care devices. The deflector shield is for use with an ultrasound generator, ultrasound tip with a radiation surface and a fluid to serve as a coupling medium between the radiation surface and wound surface. The deflector shield is used to protect the operator from splashing fluid and removed tissue. The deflector shield consists of a hub portion and conical portion. The deflector shield is preferably transparent, disposable and easily installed. The deflector shield is preferably useable on several hand-held ultrasound wound care devices.  

United States Patent 8016208. An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the horn's internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations are reflected back into the chamber, like an echo. The ultrasonic vibrations echoing off the front wall pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids.  

United States Patent 7753285. An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the horn's internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations are reflected back into the chamber, like an echo. The ultrasonic vibrations echoing off the front wall pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids. 

United States Patent 7943352.  Method and device for the creation of vaccines using ultrasonic waves, comprised of an ultrasound generator and a transducer to produce ultrasonic waves, is disclosed. The transducer has a specific ultrasound tip depending upon the type of delivery method utilized and depending on the shape of the vial containing the solution of the virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent. The apparatus delivers ultrasonic waves to solution either directly through the insertion of the ultrasound tip into the solution, through a coupling medium adjacent to the vial or near the vial, or through an air or gas medium. The ultrasound waves have the effect of destroying the viable virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent and of releasing the appropriate antigens, thus resulting in a vaccine for that virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent. 

United States Patent 7842249. Method and device for the creation of vaccines using ultrasonic waves, comprised of an ultrasound generator and a transducer to produce ultrasonic waves, is disclosed. The transducer has a specific ultrasound tip depending upon the type of delivery method utilized and depending on the shape of the vial containing the solution of the virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent. The apparatus delivers ultrasonic waves to solution either directly through the insertion of the ultrasound tip into the solution, through a coupling medium adjacent to the vial or near the vial, or through an air or gas medium. The ultrasound waves have the effect of destroying the viable virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent and of releasing the appropriate antigens, thus resulting in a vaccine for that virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent. 

United States Patent 7729779.  A transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator (TENS) electrode that comprises a conductive layer containing both an inner perimeter(s) and an outer perimeter(s) is disclosed. When used with TENS treatment protocols and devices or other treatment/therapy methods, the electrode can induce a higher rate of A fiber firing by creating baffling to balance the electrical current flowing through the electrodes and induces superior analgesia. 

United States Patent 7770689. Disclosed is an ultrasonic lens configuration permitting the production of an acoustic field from low frequency ultrasound waves with predictable regions of energy concentration. The lens comprises at least three adjacent convex surface contours. Each surface contour corresponds to an arc of an ellipse. The first surface contour is within the center of the lens and is flanked by two adjacent contours. The flanking contours correspond to arcs from two symmetrical ellipses having semi-latus rectums at least equal to the semi-latus rectum of the ellipse to which the first, central, contour corresponds. The contours of the lens are arranged such that the flanking contours extend past the first contour by positioning the contours so that if the ellipses to which they correspond were drawn the ellipses of the flanking contours directly adjacent to the first contour would have their centers aligned on a plane parallel to and not below the major or minor axis of the ellipse of the first contour.  

United States Patent 7950594.  An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber, containing at least one free member, through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, while the free member moves about the chamber, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations echo off the front wall and pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids. 

United States Patent 8050752.  The present invention relates to a method of treating lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body with a liquid delivered with the use of ultrasound. Delivering a liquid with the use of ultrasound may be accomplished by utilizing a device comprising an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound horn, a channel running at least partially through said horn, and a dampening grommet at the distal end of the horn (hereafter called the “delivery device”). The delivery device may further comprise a liquid supply emptying into said channel. Subjecting liquids within the horn of the delivery device to ultrasonic energy accelerates the liquid, thereby creating a higher velocity, low pressure liquid stream. Consequently, the method of the present invention enables the treatment of maladies deep within lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body. The method of the present invention may also be used for douching and/or cleaning lumens, cavities, and tissues of the body. 

United States Patent 7896855.  A method of treating infected wounds utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated.  

United States Patent 7896854.  A method of treating areas of the body utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated. 

United States Patent 7846341.  The present invention relates to a method of utilizing ultrasonic waves emitted into a fluid to treat the fluid, matter within the fluid, and/or organisms within the fluid in a variety of manners such as, but not limited to, cleaning objects within the fluid, sterilizing the fluid and/or objects within it, separating bonded matter within the fluid, segregating matter within the fluid into discrete laminas, killing organisms within the fluid, inactivating organisms within the fluid, extracting matter from organisms within the fluid, extracting matter from other matter within the fluid, inducing chemical reactions within the fluid, and/or converting toxic matter within the fluid into a less toxic state. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of flowing the fluid to be treated, which may contain matter and/or organisms to be treated, through an object or plurality of objects such as, but not limited to a pipe, emptying the fluid flowing through the first object into an second object or plurality of second objects such as, but not limited to, a tank, wherein each second object possesses a cross-sectional area larger than the opening between the first objects and second objects, emitting ultrasonic waves into the fluid that are not parallel to the primary flow of fluid through the second objects as it flows through the second objects, establishing laminar flow in the fluid as the fluid flows through the second objects, and collecting the fluid in a third object or plurality of third objects such as, but not limited to, pipes. 

United States Patent 6964647.  A nozzle for ultrasound wound treatment comprising a main body with proximal and distal ends, a reservoir and valve. The proximal end of the nozzle being removably attached to an ultrasound transducer. The distal end of the nozzle being marginally close and coaxial to the free distal end of the ultrasound transducer. The body of the nozzle connected with liquid reservoir, which holds the wound treatment solution and delivers same to the free end of ultrasound tip directly or through a tube. The nozzle is provided with valve for controlling flow rate of wound treatment solution. The nozzle can mix different liquids or a liquid with a gas and deliver same to the wound surface. The nozzle can also be provided with trigger system for one hand use. The present invention is a device, using ultrasonic waves to create, direct and deliver liquid treatment spray to a wound surface. 

United States Patent 6569099.  The method and device of the present invention for wound treatment includes a transducer to produce waves, preferably ultrasonic waves. The transducer has tip with the distal end (radiation surface). A liquid is directed to the radiation surface wherein a directed atomized particle spray of the liquid is created upon contact of the liquid with the radiation surface. The spray directed to the wound from at least 0.1 inches transmits wave trough particles and has an irrigation, mechanical cleansing, liquid energizing, and bactericide effect.  

United States Patent 8449493. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic syringe and method of use for delivery and withdrawal of fluids from a human and/or animal patient. The ultrasonic syringe apparatus comprises a generator, a movable ultrasound transducer, a barrel, an ultrasound transducer tip, a radiation surface, an orifice located at the front end of the barrel, and a syringe head. The apparatus may further comprise a channel, a valve located on the distal end of the channel, and an orifice within the side wall which enables fluids to be delivered into the barrel. Ultrasonic waves emitting from the radiation surface induce vibrations within the fluids, sonicating the fluids, thereby eliminating the pain and discomfort associated with receiving injections, reducing and/or eliminating the force required to administer the injection, decreasing delivery time of the fluids into the body, and delivering ultrasonic energy to the tissue via the sonicated fluids.  

United States Patent 7830070. An ultrasound atomization apparatus including an ultrasound transducer, a horn attached to the distal end of the transducer, a chamber within the horn that receives a fluid to be atomized, a radiation surface, and a channel leading from the chamber to the radiation surface. Vibrations produced by the transducer travel down the horn to the radiation surface. The vibrations induce the release of energy into the fluid to be atomized as it travels through the horn's internal chamber and exits the horn at the radiation surface. Controllably increasing the kinetic energy of the fluid, energy emitted into the fluid assists and/or drives fluid atomization. Assisting and/or driving fluid atomization by utilizing vibrations to increase the kinetic energy of the fluid, the ultrasound atomization apparatus can preserve a desired spray pattern when changing environmental conditions would otherwise destroy the spray pattern and/or reduce atomization.  

United States Patent 7780095.  The present invention relates to an apparatus utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to force movement of protrusions to spray a fluid. The apparatus includes a horn with an internal chamber. Within the internal chamber of the horn are protrusions extending from a wall of the chamber. When the horn is vibrated, a fluid is expelled from the horn by the oscillation of the protrusions. Fluid to be expelled from the horn enters the internal chamber of the horn through at least one channel passing through a wall of the horn and leading into the chamber. After passing through the horn's internal chamber, the fluid exits the horn by passing through a channel originating in the front wall of the chamber and ending at the horn's radiation surface. A transducer may be connected to the horn's proximal end to generate ultrasonic vibrations throughout the length of the horn. 

United States Patent 6960173.  The method and device of the present invention for wound treatment with ultrasound standing waves includes a transducer probe to produce ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer has a tip with a distal radiation surface that radiates ultrasound energy toward the surface of a wound. Ultrasound standing waves occurring as a result of incident and reflected waves from the wound surface create ultrasonic radiation pressure. Ultrasound radiation pressure increases the blood flow in wound area, and ultrasound waves kill bacteria, stimulate healthy tissue cell and treat wounds.  

United States Patent 7785277.  A removable applicator nozzle for use in treating a wound is provided. The removable applicator nozzle includes a nozzle, a valve and a cup. The nozzle includes a proximal portion, a distal opening and a valve interface. The proximal portion of the nozzle is engageable with a portion of a transducer of an ultrasound wound therapy device. The distal opening of the nozzle allows at least a portion of a tip of the transducer to pass there through. The valve is engageable with the valve interface of the nozzle and the valve selectively allows fluid to flow therethrough. The cup includes an aperture and a puncturing device. The aperture is engageable with the valve and the puncturing device is able to puncture a bottle that is inserted on the cup. Fluid flows from the bottle, through the aperture and the valve and onto a tip of the transducer. The fluid is then moved to the distal opening of the nozzle by a vacuum effect.