The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1997
Thomas Richard Anthony, Schenectady, NY (US);
Harvey Ellis Cline, Schenectady, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A system for treating a prostate includes an acoustic carrier, a phase fresnel zone in a section of the acoustic carrier, and an acoustic transducer. The phase fresnel zone is formed in the acoustic carrier adjacent a first end of the acoustic carrier and extends at least partially around the outer surface of the acoustic carrier. An acoustic transducer is coupled to a second end of the acoustic carrier. In treating the prostate, which surrounds a urethra, the acoustic carrier is inserted into the urethra and positioned so that the phase fresnel zone is situated in a region of the urethra surrounded by the prostate. Acoustic waves are transmitted into the second end of the acoustic carrier and the phase fresnel zone focuses the acoustic waves to constructively interfere at the location in the prostate. By moving the acoustic carrier, the phase fresnel zone may be moved along at least a portion of the region of the urethra surrounded by the prostate while the acoustic waves are being transmitted.