Methods of delivering energy to body portions to produce a therapeutic response

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of applying energy to various body portions to produce a therapeutic response. According to embodiments, the applied energy is ultrasound and may be delivered by an ultrasound focusing device deployed in the body, for example, by using an endoscope. The energy may be used to effect a variety of therapeutic responses, including ablating lesions in the gall bladder, treating gastrointestinal reflux disease, or treating fecal incontinence.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of sealing a blood-vessel puncture, the method comprising:
 advancing a catheter through a blood vessel of a patient;   advancing an ultrasound focusing device through a lumen of the catheter until the ultrasound focusing device is also proximate the blood vessel puncture;   positioning the ultrasound focusing device such that a focal point of emitted ultrasound energy is centered on a portion of the blood-vessel puncture to be sealed;   activating the ultrasound focusing device; and   increasing an amount of ultrasound energy to the delivered by the ultrasound focusing device such that the temperature of a tissue at the focal point rises, thereby sealing the blood-vessel puncture.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein, after advancing the ultrasound focusing device through the lumen, the ultrasound focusing device is past a distal end of catheter. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein positioning the ultrasound focusing device comprises adjusting an ultrasound array. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the focal point is below the surface of subcutaneous tissue or a blood-vessel wall. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the focal point is on the surface of tissue or a blood-vessel wall. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the ultrasound energy is applied to a specified volume of tissue. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising adjusting a position of the focal point or adjusting a volume of energized tissue during application of ultrasound energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein a frequency range of the ultrasound energy comprises 10 kHz-300 GHz and wherein the ultrasound energy is applied to the tissue for 1-10 seconds. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the temperature of the tissue rises to over 60 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising causing thrombosis or coagulation in blood proximate the focal point.