Ultrasound medical system

Abstract

An ultrasound medical system includes an ultrasound end effector and at least one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor. The ultrasound end effector includes a medical ultrasound transducer assembly having at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer. The at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is supported by the ultrasound end effector and is positionable in contact with patient tissue.

1 . An ultrasound medical system comprising an ultrasound end effector and at least one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor, wherein the ultrasound end effector includes a medical ultrasound transducer assembly having at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is supported by the ultrasound end effector and is disposable in contact with patient tissue. 
     
     
         2 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound end effector includes a longitudinal axis, wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor includes a first non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor and a second non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor, and wherein the at-least-one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer is disposed longitudinally between the first and second non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor measures tissue temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 3 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is chosen from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor measures tissue electric impedance. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 5 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is chosen from the group consisting of a monopolar electrode, a bipolar electrode, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is attached to the ultrasound interstitial end effector and is fixedly disposed substantially flush with the exterior surface. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 7 , wherein the exterior surface includes at least one balloon portion which is expandable and contractible and which is expandable against patient tissue to provide at least some stabilization of the ultrasound interstitial end effector with respect to patient tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is deployable to extend away from the exterior surface into patient tissue to provide at least some stabilization of the ultrasound interstitial end effector with respect to patient tissue and is retrievable to retract back toward the exterior surface. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 9 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is storable inside the exterior surface. 
     
     
         11 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 9 , wherein the exterior surface includes at least one balloon portion which is expandable and contractible and which is expandable against patient tissue to provide at least some stabilization of the ultrasound interstitial end effector with respect to patient tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 1 , also including a handpiece operatively connected to the ultrasound end effector, wherein the ultrasound end effector has a longitudinal axis and a shaft, wherein the medical ultrasound transducer assembly is supported by the shaft, and wherein the shaft is rotatable with respect to the handpiece about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . An ultrasound medical system comprising an ultrasound end effector and at least one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor, wherein the ultrasound end effector includes a medical ultrasound transducer assembly having at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is supported by the ultrasound end effector and is disposable in contact with patient tissue, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor measures tissue temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is chosen from the group consisting of a thermistor, a thermocouple, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is attached to the ultrasound interstitial end effector and is fixedly disposed substantially flush with the exterior surface. 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is attached to the ultrasound interstitial end effector and is fixedly disposed substantially flush with the exterior surface. 
     
     
         17 . An ultrasound medical system comprising an ultrasound end effector and at least one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor, wherein the ultrasound end effector includes a medical ultrasound transducer assembly having at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is supported by the ultrasound end effector and is disposable in contact with patient tissue, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor measures tissue electric impedance. 
     
     
         18 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 17 , wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is chosen from the group consisting of a monopolar electrode, a bipolar electrode, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 18 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is attached to the ultrasound interstitial end effector and is fixedly disposed substantially flush with the exterior surface. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasound medical system of  claim 17 , wherein the ultrasound end effector is an ultrasound interstitial end effector which is interstitially insertable into patient tissue and which has an exterior surface, and wherein the at-least-one non-ultrasound tissue-property-measuring sensor is attached to the ultrasound interstitial end effector and is fixedly disposed substantially flush with the exterior surface.