Disposable acoustic coupling medium container
A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the device is that it can acoustically couple an ultrasound therapy transducer to a patient. In some embodiments, the medical imaging and therapy device is configured to conform to the anatomy of a patient's perineal area to acoustically couple an ultrasound therapy transducer to the patient for treatment of BPH. The medical imaging and therapy device can be used in therapeutic applications such as Histotripsy, Lithotripsy, and HIFU, for example. Methods associated with use of the medical imaging and therapy device are also covered.
1. A method of providing ultrasound therapy to a patient, comprising the steps of:
placing a frame having an open aperture against the patient's skin;
filling the frame with an acoustic coupling medium so that the acoustic coupling medium directly contacts the patient's skin through the open aperture;
inserting a rectal imaging probe into a rectum of the patient through a rectal sheath of the frame;
placing an ultrasound transducer in acoustic communication with the acoustic coupling medium;
imaging the patient's prostate with the rectal imaging probe; and
providing ultrasound therapy to the patient's prostate with the ultrasound transducer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the ultrasound transducer relative to the frame while maintaining acoustic communication between the ultrasound transducer and the acoustic coupling medium.