SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING DIRECTIONAL ULTRASOUND THERAPY TO SKELETAL JOINTS

Title:

SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING DIRECTIONAL ULTRASOUND THERAPY TO SKELETAL JOINTS

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO2003059437

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

An ultrasound therapy system (120) and method is provided that provides directional, focused ultrasound ( R ) to localized regions of tissue within body joints (104), such as spinal joints. An ultrasound emitter or transducer (130) is delivered to a location within the body associated with the joint and heats the target region (108) of tissue associated with the joint from the location. Such locations for ultrasound transducer placement may include for example in or around the intervertebral discs (101), or the bony structures such as vertebral bodies or posterior vertebral elements such as facet joints. Various modes of operation provide for selective, controlled heating at different temperature ranges to provide different intended results in the target tissue (108), which ranges are significantly effected by pre-stressed tissues such as in-vivo intervertebral discs. In particular, treatments above 70 degrees C, and in particular 75 degrees C, are used for structural remodeling, whereas lower temperatures achieves other responses without appreciable remodeling.

Inventors:

DIEDERICH CHRIS J (US)
LOTZ JEFFREY C (US)
NAU WILL (US)
BRADFORD DAVID S (US)
WISTROM ELIZABETH (US)
BASS ELISA (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2003/001568

Publication Date:

July 22, 2004

Filing Date:

January 15, 2003

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation Help

Assignee:

UNIV CALIFORNIA (US)
DIEDERICH CHRIS J (US)
LOTZ JEFFREY C (US)
NAU WILL (US)
BRADFORD DAVID S (US)
WISTROM ELIZABETH (US)
BASS ELISA (US)

International Classes:

A61N7/02; A61B17/00; A61B19/00; A61N7/00; (IPC1-7): A61H1/00

Foreign References:

US6074352A	2000-06-13
US6231528B1	2001-05-15
US5391197A	1995-02-21
US6368292B1	2002-04-09
US6575969B1	2003-06-10

Other References: