Ultrasound Enhancing Target for Treating Subcutaneous Tissue

1 . A method for creating a minimally invasive surgical lesion in subcutaneous tissue, comprising:

providing at least one ultrasound enhancing target having at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments held in a spaced-apart relationship;

inserting the ultrasound enhancing target into the subcutaneous tissue;

insonating the ultrasound enhancing target with ultrasound at a pressure and frequency below the cavitation threshold of tissue and at a duty cycle below the threshold at which tissue will undergo thermal ablation in the absence of the ultrasound enhancing target for a time sufficient to create a surgical lesion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound pressure is between 20 kPa and 15 MPa and the frequency is between 200 kHz and 15 MHz.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound enhancing target is percutaneously inserted into tissue.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the ultrasound enhancing target is inserted at a depth of between 1 and 100 millimeters below a skin surface of a patient.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound enhancing target is percutaneously inserted into the subcutaneous tissue.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound reflecting filament segments have a gauge between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spacing between the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spacing between the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments is greater than zero and less than the wavelength of the ultrasound.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments held in a spaced-apart relationship comprises a single continuous filament formed as to have two or more facing or opposing portions.

10 . A minimally invasive method for creating a surgical lesion in subcutaneous tissue, comprising:

inserting at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments into the subcutaneous tissue with a spacing between adjacent filament segments;

insonating the at least two ultrasound reflecting filaments with ultrasound at a pressure and frequency below the cavitation threshold of tissue and at a duty cycle, pressure and frequency below the threshold at which tissue will undergo thermal mediated necrosis in the absence of the ultrasound enhancing target for a time sufficient to create a surgical lesion.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the spacing between the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the spacing between the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments is greater than zero and less than the wavelength of the ultrasound.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments held in a spaced-apart relationship comprises a single continuous filament formed as to have two or more facing or opposing portions.

14 . A system for non-invasively creating a surgical lesion in subcutaneous tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound generator;

an ultrasound transducer operably connected to the ultrasound generator;

an ultrasound enhancing target including at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments in a spaced-apart relationship; and

the ultrasound generator supplying ultrasound at a pressure and frequency which will heat subcutaneous tissue and create a surgical lesion proximate the ultrasound enhancing target and will not create thermally mediated necrosis in the absence of the ultrasound enhancing target.

15 . The system of claim 14 , where the ultrasound enhancing target includes a spacer sandwiched between adjacent ultrasound reflecting filament segments.

16 . The system of claim 15 , where the filament segments are adhered to the spacer.

17 . The system of claim 15 , where the spacer is an epoxy.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound enhancing target includes a first spacer sandwiched between adjacent ultrasound reflecting filament segments and a second spacer surrounding adjacent filament segments.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound reflecting filament segments are comprised of metal.

20 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising means for actively cooling the ultrasound transducer.

21 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound reflecting filament segments have a gauge between 0.1 and 2 mm.

22 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the spacing between two adjacent ultrasound reflecting filament segments is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

23 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments comprise a single continuous filament formed as to have two or more facing portions.

24 . A target for enhancing the effects of ultrasound, comprising:

at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments; and

a spacer interposed between adjacent filament segments, the spacer maintaining a spaced apart relationship between the ultrasound reflecting filaments.

25 . The target of claim 24 , where adjacent filament segments are adhered to a respective spacer.

26 . The target of claim 24 , where the spacer is an epoxy.

27 . The target of claim 24 , wherein the target includes a first spacer sandwiched between adjacent ultrasound reflecting filament segments and a second spacer surrounding adjacent filament segments.

28 . The target of claim 24 , wherein the ultrasound reflecting filament segments are comprised of metal.

29 . The target of claim 24 , wherein the ultrasound reflecting filament segments have a gauge between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

30 . The target of claim 24 , wherein a spacing between two adjacent ultrasound reflecting filament segments is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

31 . The target of claim 24 , wherein the at least two ultrasound reflecting filament segments comprises a single continuous filament formed as to have two or more facing portions.