ABLATION SYSTEM WITH VISUALIZATION

摘要

A method of treating tissue includes (a) providing a catheter (10) having proximal (20) and distal (22) ends, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, multiple ultrasound transducers (30) adjacent the distal end (22), the transducers (30) capable of transmitting sufficient power of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, and a device (60) for monitoring the temperature adjacent the transducers, (b) orienting the transducers (30) adjacent the treatment region, (c) exciting the transducers (30) to treat the tissue, and (d) flushing fluid over the transducers (30). Apparatus for treating tissue includes the catheter (10), the device (60) for monitoring the temperature adjacent the transducers (30), at least one transducer driver (74) for exciting the transducers (30) to treat the tissue, and a source providing a flow of fluid through the lumen and over the transducers (30).