Inventors:
Chris Diederich - Novato CA, US
Will Nau - Longmont CO, US
Alison Jacoby - San Francisco CA, US
Dana Deardorff - Lafayette CO, US
Everette Burdette - Champaign IL, US
Assignee:
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Oakland CA
International Classification:
A61B 18/04
Abstract:
A high-power ultrasound heating applicator for minimally-invasive thermal treatment of uterine fibroids or myomas. High-intensity interstitial ultrasound, applied with minimally-invasive laparoscopic or hysteroscopic procedures, is used to effectively treat fibroids within the myometrium in lieu of major surgery. The applicators are configured with high-power capabilities and thermal penetration to treat large volumes of fibroid tissue (>70 cm) in short treatment times (3-20 minutes), while maintaining three-dimensional control of energy delivery to thermally destroy the target volume.