Importance

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Abstract

A focused ultrasound ablation device includes an ultrasound emitting member having a plurality of individual ultrasound emitting elements arranged in an array. The ultrasound emitting elements are selectively, independently actuatable to emit ultrasound energy and focus the emitted ultrasound energy a predetermined distance from the ultrasound emitting member such that the ultrasound energy is focused within anatomical tissue adjacent which the ultrasound emitting member is positioned. The anatomical tissue is heated by the focused ultrasound energy to form a lesion in the tissue of desired size and/or surface configuration. A method of thermal ablation comprises the steps of selecting selected ones of a plurality of ultrasound emitting elements, arranged in an array on an ultrasound emitting member, for actuation to emit ultrasound energy in accordance with a desired size and/or surface configuration of a lesion to be formed in anatomical tissue, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent the tissue, actuating the selected ones of the ultrasound emitting elements to emit ultrasound energy, focusing the ultrasound energy in the tissue with the selected ones of the ultrasound emitting elements, and heating the tissue with the focused ultrasound energy to form a lesion within the tissue having the desired size and/or surface configuration.

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First Claim