HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOR IMAGING AND TEATMENT OF ARRHYTHMIAS

摘要

A dual-mode, capable of imaging and ablation, ultrasound array (110) integrated in a catheter is provided for minimally invasive treatment of arrhythmias. The catheter array is small enough for insertion through a peripheral vein and is longitudinally integrated with the catheter to have a side-view for tissue imaging and ablation. A high length/width array ratio creates a large aperture necessary for high power ablation densities. A catheter stabilization device (150) maintains a distance between the catheter array and the wall of a heart or vein. Visualization of anatomy and imaging of ablated tissue provides a guide for placing the lesion and assists in achieving a pattern of ablated tissue. The catheter is advanced to another area by catheter rotation and/or array steering or focusing. Gating the imaging and ablation processes to a heart cycle allows for accounting and compensation of heart motion and enables automation of an arrhythmia treatment.