Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Kevin Michael Sekins

Liexiang Fan

Caroline Maleke

Patrick Gross

Stephen Roy Barnes

John Benson

Stephen J Hsu

Chi-Yin Lee

Roee Lazebnik

Xiaozheng Zeng

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is registered with imaging. The effects of transmission from a HIFU transducer, such as a rise in temperature, are detected by a separate imaging system. By using multiple transmissions, a plurality of locations of the transmissions from the HIFU transducer are determined within the imaging system coordinates. A transform relating the imaging system coordinates to the HIFU transducer coordinates is determined from the detected effects. The transform may be used to relate locations indicated in images of the imaging system with coordinates of the HIFU transducer for application of HIFU. The imaging system may not have to scan the HIFU transducer or fiducials and a fixed relationship may not be needed.

High intensity focused ultrasound registration with imaging

Magnetic resonance and ultrasound parametric image is fused or combined. MRI and ultrasound imaging are used to acquire the same type of parametric images. Fused data is created by combining ultrasound and MRI parametric data at times for which both types of data are available. Rather than sacrificing rate, fused data is created for times for which MRI data is not acquired. A curve representing the values of the parameter over time is fit to the available MRI and ultrasound data of each location, resulting in fused data at times for which MRI data is not available.

Magnetic resonance and ultrasound parametric image fusion

Feedback of position is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. The location of a beam from a HIFU transducer is determined using ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging detects tissue displacement caused by a beam transmitted from the HIFU transducer. The displacement or information derived from the displacement may be used to determine a center line or point location (e.g., foci) of the tissues response to HIFU. The location of the line or point may be displayed in an image, such as an overlay or by color coding.

Feedback in medical ultrasound imaging for high intensity focused ultrasound

Sub-aperture control is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. Test transmissions are made sequentially from different sub-apertures. The tissue response at the focal regions is determined and used to select sub-apertures. For example, one or more sub-apertures are not used where temperature does not rise above certain threshold or tissue displacement is weak, such as associated with intervening bone or attenuating tissue. Other factors may be used instead or in addition to tissue response at the focal region. Relative proximity of the sub-apertures to a lesion, angular distribution of the sub-apertures, shape or size of the sub-aperture focal regions as compared to the tissue to be treated, or combinations thereof may be used. Once selected, the relative weight for each sub-aperture may be adjusted based on measured tissue response for each sub-aperture, such as to provide more equal treatment contribution from different sub-apertures.

Sub-aperture control in high intensity focused ultrasound

A viscoelastic property of tissue is measured in vivo. To collect more information and/or estimate viscosity, shear modulus, and/or other shear characteristics, an amplitude and phase modulated waveform is transmitted to the tissue. The displacement caused by the waveform over time includes displacements associated with response to different frequencies. By examining the displacement in the frequency domain, one or more viscoelastic properties may be calculated for different frequencies. The frequency response may indicate the health of the tissue.

Viscoelasticity measurement using amplitude-phase modulated ultrasound wave

Feedback of position is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. The location of a beam from a HIFU transducer is determined using ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging detects tissue displacement caused by a beam transmitted from the HIFU transducer. The displacement or information derived from the displacement may be used to detect and image the location of the beam. Separate transducers may be used for HIFU and imaging. The user aims the HIFU transmissions with feedback from ultrasound imaging of displacement of tissue.

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Yarrow Point, WA, United States of America

Kevin Michael Sekins