Imaging and therapeutic procedure for carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

A system, method and/or apparatus is provided for visualization or imaging of the transverse carpal ligament and surrounding structures/features of a hand of a patient, and treatment of the transverse carpal ligament, particularly, but not necessarily, for performing non-invasive carpal tunnel release. The subject invention utilizes ultrasound waves preferably, but not necessarily, in the high frequency range and cavitations to image the transverse carpal ligament (TCL), record its location in three-dimensional space, and perform precision treatment on the transverse carpal ligament. Treatment may range from stretching or lengthening the TCL to complete tissue ablation or dissection of a portion or portions of the TCL (as is performed in a standard carpal tunnel release procedure) in order to release pressure within the carpal tunnel. Particularly, high temperature conditions are generated at target tissue of the TCL resulting in elongation or necrosis/dissection. The subject system, apparatus and/or method provides the surgeon to relieve a patient of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in a bloodless, efficient, and accurate manner.

1 . A system for treating a target area with frequency treatment signals comprising: 
 an imaging system for identifying a target area for application of frequency treatment signals;    a treatment system for applying a frequency treatment signal to the identified target area.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment system applies an ultrasonic signal in the range of about 100 KHz to about 50 MHz.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment system applies an ultrasonic signal in the range of about 20 KHz to about 100 KHz.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the imaging system is a magnetic resonance imaging system.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system further comprising: 
 a probe having at least one transducer that generates the frequency signal in the form of an ellipsoid field.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system further comprising: 
 a probe having at least one transducer that generates the frequency signal in the form of a circular spot field.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system further comprising: 
 a probe having at least one transducer that generates the frequency signal in the form of a rectangular spot field.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system being controlled to apply a second frequency treatment signal to the identified target area, the second frequency treatment signal having a frequency that is different than the first applied signal.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment system is controlled to apply the second frequency treatment signal contemporaneously with the application of the first applied signal.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , the treatment system further comprising: 
 a first transducer for application of the first frequency treatment signal to the target area; and    a second transducer for application of the second frequency treatment signal to the target area.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system applying the frequency signal to the target area while the target area is being treated with drug therapy.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , the treatment system including a probe for applying the frequency signal through epidermal contact in the vicinity of the TCL.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , the probe of the treatment system having one of a linear array, curved array, or a tightly curved area probe.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment system generates multiple frequencies for application to the target area and applies each frequency for a specified application time.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging system is controlled to measure a selected parameter following application of the frequency signal to determine the effectiveness of the frequency signal application.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging system measures a parameter selected from the group comprised of target area density, acoustic speed through the target area, signal attenuation in the target area, and linearity of the target area's response to the frequency signal.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the imaging system is a spatial compound ultrasound imaging system.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the imaging system is a computed tomography imaging system.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the treatment system includes a surgical probe for the subcutaneous application of the frequency signal to the target area during an endoscopic procedure.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of transducer array banks,    a plurality of ultrasound signal generators for specifying a frequency for each transducer array bank in the plurality of transducer array banks; and    a controller for providing a frequency to each ultrasound generator in the plurality of ultrasound signal generators.