Medical device with CMUT array and solid state cooling, and associated methods and systems

• Main Authors: Khoury, Andre, Ergün, Arif Sanli, Khuri-Yakub, Butrus T, Irwin, III, John N
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.10.2021
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; ELECTROTHERAPY; FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL; GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MAGNETOTHERAPY; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICALVIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RADIATION THERAPY; SURGERY; TRANSPORTING; ULTRASOUND THERAPY

A medical device includes a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array configured to emit ultrasound to target tissue, and at least one thermoelectric cooler mechanically coupled with the CMUT array and configured to cool non-target tissue heated by the ultrasound. The medical device may be implemented in a catheter together with a solid thermal conductor coupled to the thermoelectric cooler and extending along the catheter, to conduct heat away from the thermoelectric cooler. A catheter or catheter sleeve includes a tubular wall for insertion into a body channel, and at least one thermoelectric cooler coupled to the tubular wall for cooling the body channel wall. A catheter sleeve includes tubular casing for insertion into a body channel and capable of encasing a catheter, and at least one sensor coupled to the tubular casing for sensing one or more properties of the body channel wall, such as temperature and pressure.