Phased-array for tissue treatment
Apparatus is provided for ablating tissue of a patient by applying ultrasound energy to the tissue. The apparatus is typically delivered to the targeted tissue via a catheter and includes an ultrasound array, which is adapted to be driven as a phased array to concentrate the ultrasound energy on the targeted tissue while avoiding surrounding tissue.
1. Apparatus for use with a subject, comprising:
a catheter having a longitudinal axis and having a distal portion;
an ultrasound array arranged to the distal portion of the catheter, the ultrasound array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the plurality of ultrasound transducers being circumferentially arranged around the longitudinal axis, and adapted to operate in a phased array mode to apply ablating energy to tissue of the subject located in a range of azimuths, with respect to the longitudinal axis, that is less than 360 degrees, the plurality of ultrasound transducers being configured to provide, in concert, a curved profile along the longitudinal axis of the catheter and adjacent to the distal portion of the catheter;
a detection functionality adapted to determine a portion of the tissue of the subject that is not to be targeted by the ablating energy and a next successive portion of the tissue of the subject to be ablated; and
a controlling functionality adapted to control the ultrasound array to set the range of azimuths responsive to the determination of the portion of the tissue that is not to be targeted and the next successive portion of the tissue of the subject to be ablated as determined by the detection functionality.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection functionality comprises an ultrasound transducer.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection functionality comprises at least a portion of the ultrasound array.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection functionality comprises imaging functionality.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection functionality is adapted to be fixed to the distal portion of the catheter.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection functionality is adapted to operate external to a body of the subject.