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:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1996
Johannes J Van Vaals, Eindhoven, NL;
Lennart Hofland, Eindhoven, NL;
U.S. Philips Corporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of heating a target region by ultrasound radiation includes determination of a position of the target region by a magnetic resonance method. The device for carrying out this method includes an ultrasound device and an MR device. By determining movement of the target region utilizing the MR device (100) and an appropriate magnetic resonance method, and by coupling the movement information to the ultrasound device (118) by an electric signal (122, 124), it is achieved that the ultrasound device can be controlled by the movement information. Various possibilities exist for controlling the ultrasound device. According to a first possibility, the focal region is adjusted to be situated within the target region in order to generate ultrasound. Another possibility is to determine from the movement information the instant at which the target region is situated within the focal region of the ultrasound and to generate ultrasound exclusively for a brief subsequent period during which the focal region is still within the target region. Another possibility is to refrain from generating ultrasound when the movement speed is too high. Finally, the movement information can also be used for making the focal region follow the target region during the generation of ultrasound.