Elscint Ltd.

Insightec, Ltd.

Insightec-txsonics Ltd

Txsonics, Ltd.

Marconi Medical Systems Israel Ltd.

Marconi Medical Systems Isreal Ltd.

David A Freundlich

Shuki Vitek

Yoav Levy

Hadas Ziso

Benny Assif

David Ruimi

Naama Brenner

Gilad Halevy

Jacob Vortman

Arik Hananel

Dan Inbar

Carl R Crawford

Yoav Medan

Ehud Dafni

Kobi Vortman

Hanan Keren

Jerome Stephen Arenson

A Robert Sohval

Reuven Levinson

Avner Ezion

Rita Schmidt

Andre Feldman

Nathan Hermony

Roni Yagel

Oded Yehezkeli

Nitzan Magen

Carlos Marantz

Osnat Dogadkin

Skuki Vitek

Avi Weinreb

Ehud Nahaliel

Alex Zaslavsky

Moshe B Porath

A system () for treating tissue within a body is configured to deliver a first level of ultrasound energy to a target tissue region () for a first duration resulting in the generation of micro-bubbles () in the target tissue region, determine one or more characteristics of the target tissue region in the presence of the micro-bubbles, and deliver a second level of ultrasound energy to the target tissue region for a second duration, wherein one or both of the second energy level and the second duration are based, at least in part, on the determined one or more characteristics of the target tissue region.

Controlled, non-linear focused ultrasound treatment

Techniques for correcting measurement artifacts in MR thermometry predict or anticipate movements of objects in or near an MR imaging region that may potentially affect a phase background and then acquire a library of reference phase images corresponding to different phase backgrounds that result from the predicted movements. For each phase image subsequently acquired, one reference phase image is selected from the library of reference phase images to serve as the baseline image for temperature measurement purposes. To avoid measurement artifacts that arise from phase wrapping, the phase shift associated with each phase image is calculated incrementally, that is, by accumulating phase increments from each pair of consecutively scanned phase images.

Techniques for correcting measurement artifacts in magnetic resonance thermometry

Techniques for temperature measurement and correction in long-term MR thermometry utilize a known temperature distribution in an MR imaging area as a baseline for absolute temperature measurement. Phase shifts that arise from magnetic field drifts are detected in one or more portions of the MR imaging area, facilitating correction of temperature measurements in an area of interest.

Techniques for temperature measurement and corrections in long-term magnetic resonance thermometry

A thermal treatment system including a heat applying element for generating thermal doses for ablating a target mass in a patient, a controller for controlling thermal dose properties of the heat applying element, an imager for providing preliminary images of the target mass and thermal images during the treatment, and a planner for automatically constructing a treatment plan, comprising a series of treatment sites that are each represented by a set of thermal dose properties. The planner automatically constructs the treatment plan based on input information including one or more of a volume of the target mass, a distance from a skin surface of the patient to the target mass, a set of default thermal dose prediction properties, a set of user specified thermal dose prediction properties, physical properties of the heat applying elements, and images provided by the imager. The default thermal dose prediction properties are preferably based on a type of clinical application and include at least one of thermal dose threshold, thermal dose prediction algorithm, maximum allowed energy for each thermal dose, thermal dose duration for each treatment site, cooling time between thermal doses, and electrical properties for the heat applying element. The user specified thermal dose prediction properties preferably include at least one or more of overrides for any default thermal dose prediction properties, treatment site grid density; and thermal dose prediction properties not specified as default thermal dose prediction properties from the group comprised of thermal dose threshold, thermal dose prediction algorithm, maximum allowed energy for each thermal dose, thermal dose duration for each treatment site cooling time between thermal doses, and electrical properties for the heat applying element.

Apparatus for controlling thermal dosing in a thermal treatment system

Systems and methods for performing a focused ultrasound procedure monitored using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. An MRI system uses a timing sequence for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals and detecting magnetic resonance (MR) response signals from a patient's body in response to the RF pulse sequences. A piezoelectric transducer is driven with drive signals such that the transducer emits acoustic energy towards a target tissue region within the patient's body. Parameters of the drive signals are changed at times during the timing sequence that minimize interference with the MRI system detecting MR response signals, e.g., during transmission of RF signals by the MRI system.

Focused ultrasound system with MRI synchronization

Apparatus for controlling thermal dosing in an thermal treatment system

An ultrasound therapy system utilizes a mechanical positioning assembly to locate and aim an ultrasonic transducer. The positioner provides for roll and pitch control as well as control in the lateral and longitudinal directions. The positioner uses piezo-electric vibrational motors that can effectively operate within the field of an MRI system without interfering with its operation. The motors are capable of providing a breaking force to the drive shafts while de-energized and thus aid in preventing motor slippage or backlash. Since the motors do not affect the operation of an MRI system, the ultrasonic therapy system can be made more compact. Two sets of position encoders are used to align the positioner. Course absolute encoders and fine relative encoders are both coupled to the positioning motors and allow for precise control over the position and orientation of the ultrasonic transducer.

Mechanical positioner for MRI guided ultrasound therapy system

Systems and methods using magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring the temperature of a tissue mass being heated by energy converging in a focal zone that is generally elongate and symmetrical about a focal axis. A first plurality of images of the tissue mass are acquired in a first image plane aligned substantially perpendicular to the focal axis. A cross-section of the focal zone in the first image plane is then defined from the first plurality of images. A second plurality of images are acquired of the tissue mass in a second image plane aligned substantially parallel to the focal axis, the second image plane bisecting the first image plane at approximately a midpoint of the defined focal zone cross-section.

MRI-guided temperature mapping of tissue undergoing thermal treatment

Apparatus for producing multiple image slice data responsive to incident radiation passing through an object. The apparatus includes a detector array having a plurality (p) of parallel rows of detector elements which receive such incident radiation and generate signals therefrom, each of which rows is characterized by a width measured prior to collimation in the direction perpendicular to a long dimension thereof; and signal processing circuitry which receives signals from the detector elements and which combines the signals in a first combination mode and in at least m additional combination modes. In the first combination mode, the circuitry forms a set of n groups of rows, each such group of rows having an effective group width substantially equal to the effective group width of each of the other groups in the set. In each of the m additional combination modes, the circuitry forms different sets of n groups of rows, each such set having a different effective group width common to all groups in the set.

Multi-slice detector array

A method for reconstructing one or more non-axial image slices in a CT scanner, comprising: acquiring X-ray attenuation data over an axial range; and processing the attenuation data to determine CT values at a plurality of points along one or more surface corresponding respectively to each one or more non-axial image slices, wherein processing the attenuation data comprises back-projecting the data directly to the plurality of points along each of the one or more surfaces.

CT systems with oblique image planes

A nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging system wherein the gamma camera rotates about the patient and is coupled to receive electrical power, control signals and to transmit data using cableless coupling means. This enables the system to provide whole body helical scans. Reconstruction begins during the first revolution of the camera about the patient and continues during subsequent revolutions to provide evolving images.

Gantry for nuclear medicine imaging systems

A CT scanner using a rotate-rotate mode wherein the detector is designed to simultaneously detect X-rays that have traversed multiple-planar sections in a patient being scanned.

Dual slice scanner

Systems and methods are presented for decreasing the processing time of spectral artifact reduction systems that use reprojection data for post reconstruction corrections. The systems and methods essentially reduce the data processed for the reprojection step to reduce the normally relatively long time period required by reprojectors. The time savings have no detrimental effect on image resolution. Thus, better quality pictures are obtained in shorter time periods.

Data reduction in reprojection systems

A slice orientation selection arrangement for magnetic resonance imaging in planes oblique to the normal cartesian coordinates. The coordinates are rotated to applying gradient signals using Euler computations.

Slice orientation selection arrangement

Growing community of inventors

Haifa, Israel

David A Freundlich