METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND DRUG DELIVERY AND THERMAL THERAPY WITH PHASE-CONVERTIBLE FLUIDS

摘要

An ultrasound treatment comprises applying ultrasound at a first energy level (32) to a region of interest (20) in a subject for activating a cavitation nucleation agent during a first portion of a treatment cycle (tl-t2). Ultrasound at a second energy level (34) is applied to the region of interest (20) during a second portion of the treatment cycle (t2-t3) for implementing a desired thermal therapy in the presence of the cavitation nucleation agent activated during the first portion of the treatment cycle. The second energy level is at an energy level different from the first energy level.