Riverside Research Institute

Cornell University

Frederic Louis Lizzi

Cheri Xiaoyu Deng

Ernest Joseph Feleppa

D Jackson Coleman

Sheikh Kaisar Alam

Ronald H Silverman

Jack Driller

Jeffrey A Ketterling

Marek Elbaum

Robert Muratore

Dan Z Reinstein

Donald J Coleman

Kurt W Weil

Tian Liu

Mykola M Yaremko

William J Faulkenberry

William G Henriksen

An ultrasound system is provided which includes a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer and operates in accordance with a method to direct the application of the therapy ultrasound. The method includes operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer to acquire a first ultrasound image; simultaneously operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and therapy ultrasound transducer for a second interval to acquire a second ultrasound image; and determining a difference in the first and second images indicative of the pattern of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal. The difference in the images, which result from enhanced non-linearities and propagation distortions induced by the high intensity therapy ultrasound, can be obtained by subtracting the two images. A method is also provided for monitoring the progress of high intensity therapy ultrasound which evaluates transient changes due to in-situ heating as well as permanent changes which result from cell microstructure alteration.

System and method for ultrasonic harmonic imaging for therapy guidance and monitoring

Methods are provided for enhancing the image of brachytherapy seeds implanted in tissue using a transrectal ultrasound apparatus. In a first arrangement the resonance of the seeds is determined and the seeds are insonified using acoustic signals having a resonance frequency of the seeds to cause the seeds to vibrate. The vibrating seeds have enhanced detection using a Doppler ultrasound device. In a second arrangement the acoustic signature of the seeds is determined and used to enhance the imaging of the seeds using a correlation function. In a third arrangement images are taken of the tissue and implanted seeds prior to and during the application of mechanical stress to the tissue. A correlation between the unstressed and stressed tissue can cause enhanced imaging of the seeds.

Ultrasonic method for visualizing brachytheraphy seeds

Diagnostic ultrasound is used to measure distance from a transducer to selected tissue structure. In one arrangement, the focal point of a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer is adjusted in accordance with measured distance to the selected tissue structure. In a second arrangement a transducer transport apparatus moves a transducer to maintain a selected distance from tissue structure.

Ultrasound method and system

Improved methods of signal processing for generating estimates of tissue strain are presented. These techniques generally employ the frequency shifting of post-compression spectral data to determine a scaling factor which approximates the applied tissue strain. The scaling factor can be determined by finding the maximum correlation between the frequency shifted post-compression data to the pre-compression data and can also be determined by minimizing the variance of the ratio of such data. Correlation tracking and maximum correlation magnitude techniques for improving the results of elastography are also presented.

Methods for estimating tissue strain

Radiation pulses from a high energy therapeutic ultrasound system are used to stimulate tissue motion by radiation pressure. The tissue motion is monitored using a diagnostic ultrasound system.

Ultrasonic sensing by induced tissue motion

The concentration and/or radii of a contrast agent in a fluid can be estimated by acquiring ultrasound spectral data, performing spectral analysis to generate a linear estimation of the power spectrum, and correlating at least one spectral parameter to a predetermined distribution function for the contrast agent. If the mean radius squared of particles is known, then the concentration of contrast agent particles can be calculated. If the concentration is constant, then relative variations in mean radius squared can be determined.

Ultrasonic systems and methods for contrast agent concentration measurement

A dual-frequency band ultrasonic apparatus provides a first ultrasound signal to a region at a first frequency band and a second ultrasound signal at a second frequency band for monitoring the region. A processor controls the first and second ultrasound signals such that a predetermined phase relationship is achieved between the first frequency band signal and the second frequency band signal. The apparatus can employ a single transducer operable at both frequency bands or separate transducers for the first and second frequency bands.

Dual band ultrasonic systems

Clinical data, ultrasonic radio frequency (RF) backscatter spectral data and histological results of corresponding biopsy sites are stored in a database and are used to train a classifier suitable for real-time tissue classification and imaging. In clinical use, clinical data and ultrasonic RF backscatter data are applied as input variables to the trained classifier which assigns a likelihood of cancer (LOC) score to each pixel location in an ultrasound image. The LOC scores are then categorized by ranges, which can be established by user selected threshold values, to apply different colors or grey scale values distinguishing varying levels of suspicion (LOS) to each pixel position in real-time. This classification and display technique is especially valuable for guiding a person performing a needle biopsy of the prostate.

Ultrasonic tissue-type classification and imaging methods and apparatus

Fluid flow rate and perfusion rate are measured using ultrasound techniques by introducing a contrast agent into a fluid stream and then selectively modifying the contrast agent particles within a target area by the application of a focused pulse of relatively low frequency ultrasonic energy, thus creating a zone of reduced backscatter in the target area. The restoration of the zone of reduced backscatter or the movement of the zone of reduced backscatter is monitored, preferably using high frequency ultrasound, to determine the flow rate or perfusion rate of the fluid. Spectral parameters of ultrasound return signals are evaluated to determine an estimate of contrast agent concentration and/or mean particle size.

Ultrasonic systems and methods for fluid perfusion and flow rate measurement

A spherical cap transducer is provided with at least one electrode formed as segments. The segments are selectively driven to provide asymmetrical ovoid effective radiation patterns for treatment of tissue with ultrasonic radiation.

Stripe electrode transducer for use with therapeutic ultrasonic

An ultrasound system that enables determination of layer thicknesses and contours of a multi-layer organic body includes a transmitter/receiver for obtaining a radio frequency signal from echoes over a plurality of points on the organic surface. Each radio frequency signal is then deconvolved to remove apparatus generated noise and filtered to create an analytic signal that exhibits a magnitude related to an instantaneous rate of arrival of total echo energy received by the transmitter/receiver. Analytic signals from adjacent parallel scans are then cross-correlated and magnitude detected to determine energy peaks to enable accurate determination of echo producing surfaces of each layer of the multi-layer organic body across the plurality of interrogation points. In the application of the invention to Corneal Epithelium Mapping, a pupil monitoring system is included that disables the measurement system if the pupil's gaze wanders so as to cause a diversion of the optical axis.

System for ultrasonically determining corneal layer thicknesses and shape

A method and an apparatus for applying a therapeutic substance to body tissue are provided in which ultrasonic radiation is used. The method allows the application of medication to be tailored to the needs of an individual patient. In particular, the timing, duration, intensity, and concentration of the application of medication can be adjusted according to individual requirements. Side effects of tissue adjacent to tissue in need o

Local application of medication with ultrasound

A system is described for obtaining in real-time cross-sectional and 3-dimensional images of a body under study using ultrasonic energy. A piezoelectric transducer is positioned to emit ultrasonic energy and receive echo pulses. The transducer is electronically swept or physically rotated to produce a series of sectored scan planes which are separated by a known angular distance. The echo pulses are processed to produce an ultrasonic image in pseudo 3-dimensional display. By using data from one scan plane, processed as a B-scan image, cross-sectional data can be obtained. Such is combined in a display with an overlay to visually portray the object and positioning information or comparative data. The system is combined with a computer for data analysis and a therapeutic transducer for treatment.

Growing community of inventors

Tenafly, NJ, United States of America

Frederic Louis Lizzi