Ultrasound stimulation devices and techniques

Abstract

Ultrasound stimulation devices and related techniques are disclosed. An ultrasound transducer for generating ultrasound energy is carried by a transducer housing that seals the transducer and may also include a positioning element for positioning the transducer proximate an application area to which generated ultrasound energy is to be applied. The transducer housing may also carry such components as a battery, a wireless receiver, and a controller. The same housing or a separate sensor housing may include an ultrasound sensor that provides feedback to the ultrasound transducer or its controller, illustratively through a wireless transmitter.

1 . A device comprising:
 (a) an ultrasound sensor operable to sense an intensity of ultrasound energy at a sensing area, the ultrasound energy being generated by an ultrasound transducer that is controlled by a controller based on a feedback signal from the ultrasound sensor;   (b) a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the ultrasound sensor and operable to transmit the feedback signal from the ultrasound sensor to the controller;   (c) a sensor housing for carrying the ultrasound sensor; and   (d) a sensor positioning element operable to position the ultrasound sensor proximate the sensing area.   
     
     
         2 . A self-contained ultrasound stimulation device comprising:
 (a) an ultrasound transducer unit comprising an ultrasound transducer operable to generate ultrasound energy, a controller operatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer and operable to control the ultrasound transducer based on a feedback signal, and a wireless receiver operatively coupled to the controller;   (b) a transducer housing sealing the ultrasound transducer unit;   (c) an ultrasound sensor unit comprising an ultrasound sensor operable to sense ultrasound energy at a sensing area and to generate the feedback signal based on sensed ultrasound energy, and a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the ultrasound sensor and operable to transmit the feedback signal to the ultrasound transducer unit; and   (d) a sensor housing sealing the ultrasound transducer.   
     
     
         3 . A method of stimulating growth of tissue or cells, comprising the step of applying ultrasound energy to the tissue or cells using a device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the ultrasound transducer generates ultrasound energy having an intensity which is adjustable in accordance with a feedback signal generated by the ultrasound sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the cells comprise stem cells in a cell culture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the cell culture is located between the ultrasound transducer unit and the ultrasound sensor unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the cell culture comprises a liquid media. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein one or both of the ultrasound transducer unit and the ultrasound sensor unit is floated in the liquid media. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the device of  claim 2  further comprises a battery disposed in the transducer housing and operatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer.