Medical ultrasound device with force detection

1. A medical ultrasound device comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end region and a length axis along the elongation;

one or more ultrasound transducers for generating acoustic radiation, the one or more ultrasound transducers being positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body; and

a transmission element positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation,

wherein the transmission element is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation and

wherein the transmission element and the one or more ultrasound transducers are mounted so that an acoustic path length between the transmission element and each ultrasound transducer varies with contact force imposed to the distal end region.

2. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transmission element has a backside generally facing the ultrasound transducer and an opposite facing front-side, and

wherein the acoustic path length is detected based on detecting reflected acoustic radiation from a surface of the backside of the transmission element or a surface of the front-side of the transmission element.

3. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a compressive element positioned in the distal end region,

wherein the compressive element is capable of varying its size as a function of an exerted compression force, and

wherein the acoustic path length varies as a function o he size of the compressive element.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the compressive element is compressible by a compression force in the range of 0.05N to 0.5N.

5. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the compressive element is integrated into the elongated body.

6. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the compressive element is in the form of one or more compressive elements integrated into the transmission element or attached to the transmission element.

7. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transmission element is attached in the distal end region of the elongated body by one or more compressive elements, and

wherein the region between the elongated body and the transmission element is covered by a compliant material enveloping the region.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more ultrasound transducers include at least two ultrasound transducers, a first ultrasound transducer for emitting acoustic radiation along a length axis, and at least a second ultrasound transducer for emitting acoustic radiation along an axis which is tilted with respect to the length axis, so that the acoustic path length between the transmission element and the first ultrasound transducer is detected and the acoustic path length between the transmission element and the at least second ultrasound transducer is detected, thereby detecting the acoustic path length changes along the length axis and at least along the axis which is tilted with respect to the length axis.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission element includes a polymer-based body which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation, covered with an electrode substantially transparent to acoustic radiation.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission element includes a treatment modality for treatment of body tissue.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is an ultrasound catheter with an integrated ablation electrode, wherein the transmission element includes the integrated ablation electrode.

12. A medical system comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end region and a length axis along the elongation;

one or more ultrasound transducers for generating acoustic radiation, the one or more ultrasound transducers being positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body;

a transmission element positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, wherein the transmission element is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation;

a controller unit operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer;

wherein the transmission element and the one or more ultrasound transducers are mounted so that an acoustic path length between the transmission element and each ultrasound transducer varies with contact force imposed to the distal end region; and

wherein the controller unit is configured to detect each acoustic path length between each ultrasound transducer and the transmission element and determines the contact force from each detected acoustic path length.

13. The system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the transmission element includes a treatment modality for treatment of body tissue, and

wherein the treatment modality is operatively connected to the controller unit, so that the treatment modality is controllable to operate within a pre-specified contact force range.

14. Method of operating a medical device, the device includingan elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end region and a length axis along the elongation;

one or more ultrasound transducers for generating acoustic radiation, the one or more ultrasound transducers being positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body;

a transmission element positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, wherein the transmission element is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation;

wherein the transmission element and the one or more ultrasound transducers are mounted so that an acoustic path length between the transmission element and each ultrasound transducer varies with contact force imposed to the distal end region;

wherein the method comprises

generate acoustic radiation by operating the one or more transducers in a generation mode;

detect reflected acoustic radiation by operating the one or more transducers in a detection mode;

from the reflected acoustic radiation, detect an acoustic path length between the transmission element and each ultrasound transducer;

determine the contact force from each detected acoustic path length.

15. A computer program product being adapted to enable a computer system comprising at least one computer having data storage means associated therewith to operate a medical device according to claim 1 .