Medical device that removably attaches to a bodily organ

Abstract

The present invention is a medical device for use on a bodily organ of a patient. The medical device includes a concave support element that is removably attachable to the surface of the bodily organ, thereby defining an enclosed space adjacent to the bodily organ. The enclosed space is fluidly connected to a fluid management system for circulating a fluid inside of the enclosed space. The medical device also has an energy transfer element mounted to the concave support element and electrically connected to a control unit. In some embodiments, the energy transfer element transmits intense ultrasound energy in a frequency range of 1-30 megahertz, and the fluid acoustically couples the energy transfer element to the bodily organ, and the fluid also cools the energy transfer element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medical device for use on a bodily organ of a patient, the medical device comprising: 
 a) a support element having an open portion that is removably attachable to the surface of the bodily organ, thereby defining an enclosed space adjacent to the bodily organ; and    b) an energy transfer element mounted to the support element, the energy transfer element positioned and oriented for transmitting energy to the bodily organ.    
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosed space is fluidly connected to a fluid management system for circulating a fluid inside of the enclosed space  
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the energy transfer element transmits intense ultrasound energy in a frequency range of 1-30 megahertz, and the fluid acoustically couples the energy transfer element to the bodily organ.  
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid management system includes a vacuum source for adjustably creating an operating pressure within the enclosed space that is lower than the pressure external to the support element, for removably attaching the support element to the bodily organ.  
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising an annular chamber circumventing the open portion of the support element, the annular chamber fluidly connected to a vacuum source for removably attaching the medical device to the bodily organ.  
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of attachment elements mounted on the support element for removably attaching the support element to the bodily organ.  
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment elements are hooks.  
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising positioning means for adjusting the position of the energy transfer element with respect to the bodily organ.  
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is collapsible into a collapsed configuration for insertion into a body cavity and is expandable to a expanded configuration for attachment to a bodily organ.  
     
     
         10  The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the support element is conformable to the shape of the bodily organ.  
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible membrane attached to the support element and hermetically separating the enclosed space from the bodily organ.  
     
     
         12 . A method of attaching a medical device for use in treating tissue in a bodily organ, the method comprising: 
 providing a medical device comprising a support element having an open side adjacent to the bodily organ, thereby defining an enclosed space adjacent to the bodily organ;    providing a fluid inside of the enclosed space; and    mounting an energy transfer to the support element, the energy transfer element positioned and oriented for transmitting energy to the bodily organ.