Method and system for combined ultrasound treatment

Abstract

A non-invasive method and system for combined ultrasound treatment are provided. An exemplary combined ultrasound treatment system comprises a transducer configured to deliver ultrasound energy to provide two or more energy effects to a region of interest. The energy effects facilitate the initiation of one or more responses in the region of interest. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a transducer is configured to deliver energy over varying temporal and/or spatial distributions in order to provide energy effects and initiate responses in a region of interest.

1 . A method for treating a patient, the method comprising:
 coupling a transducer to a region of interest in the patient, said transducer configured to provide at least two energy effects to said region of interest;   providing said at least two energy effects from said transducer to said region of interest, said at least two energy effects include at least two of a thermal effect, an ablative effect, a hemostatic effect, a cavitational effect, a hydrodynamic effect, a non-thermal effect, and a resonance induced effect; and   facilitating at least one response in said region of interest.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising emitting a first ultrasound energy and a second ultrasound energy from said transducer into said region of interest. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising providing a delay between said emitting said first ultrasound energy and said second ultrasound energy from said transducer into said region of interest. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising imaging said region of interest. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring said region of interest. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said at least two energy effects are a thermal effect and a non-thermal effect. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one response is at least one of hemostasis, revascularization, angiogenesis, growth of an interconnective tissue, tissue reformation, ablation of existing tissue, collagen reformation, enhanced delivery a medicant, activation of a medicant, stimulation of protein synthesis, and increased cell permeability. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating a patient, said method comprising:
 emitting ultrasound energy at a first frequency range to provide a first energy effect comprising a thermal effect in a region of interest of the patient;   providing a delay period;   emitting ultrasound energy at a second frequency to provide a second energy effect distinct from and independent of said first energy effect.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising producing a first response in said region of interest before said providing a delay period. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said first response is at least one of hemostasis, revascularization, angiogenesis, growth of an interconnective tissue, tissue reformation, ablation of existing tissue, collagen reformation, enhanced delivery a medicant, activation of a medicant, stimulation of protein synthesis, and increased cell permeability. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising producing a second response in said region of interest after said providing a delay period. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said second response is at least one of hemostasis, revascularization, angiogenesis, growth of an interconnective tissue, tissue reformation, ablation of existing tissue, collagen reformation, enhanced delivery a medicant, activation of a medicant, stimulation of protein synthesis, and increased cell permeability. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising imaging said region of interest. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said second energy effect is one of a thermal effect, an ablative effect, a hemostatic effect, a cavitational effect, a hydrodynamic effect, a non-thermal effect, and a resonance induced effect. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising producing a first response in said region of interest before said providing a delay period and producing a second response in said region of interest after said providing a delay period, said first response is different from said second response. 
     
     
         16 . An ultrasound system configured for providing treatment comprising:
 a single ultrasound transducer comprising a first portion providing a first ultrasound energy effect and a second portion providing a second ultrasound energy effect to a region of interest, said first portion and said first ultrasound energy effect are different from said second portion and said second ultrasound energy effect, and said first ultrasound energy effect comprises a thermal effect and said second ultrasound energy effect comprises non-thermal effect; and   a controller coupled to said first portion and to said second portion and configured to operatively control said first portion independently of said second portion, said first energy effect and said second energy effect are configured to effect said region of interest to facilitate at least one response in said region of interest and said controller controller controls said second portion to provide said second energy effect occurs after a delay period after said first energy effect.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising an imaging system coupled to said controller and configured to provide at least one image from data collected by said single ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a coupling system configured for acoustic coupling between said single ultrasound transducer and said region of interest. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein said first portion and said second portion simultaneously provide said first energy effect and said second energy effect to achieve a simultaneous response in said region of interest. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein said first portion comprises a transduction element configured for low frequency treatment and said second portion comprises a transduction element configured for high-frequency treatment.