Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Ladislav Jankovic

Yan Shi

Jan Frederik Suijver

Szabolcs Deladi

Nijs Cornelis Van Der Vaart

Khalid Shahzad

Erik A Harks

Maya Ella Barley

Wouter Harry Rensen

Roland Proksa

Raymond C Chan

Sheng-Wen Huang

Ramon Quido Erkamp

Robert Manzke

William Tao Shi

Ajay Anand

Emil George Radulescu

Daniel Robert Elgort

Wouter Harry Jacinth Rensen

Robert M Manzke

Maya E Barley

David Savery

Daniel R Elgort

Raymond Chan

The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring an ablation procedure. The monitoring apparatus comprises an ultrasound signal providing unit for providing an ultrasound signal that depends on received echo series of an object that is ablated. The monitoring apparatus further comprises an ablation depth determination unit for determining an ablation depth from the provided ultrasound signal. The ablation depth can be determined directly from the ultrasound signal and is an important parameter while performing an ablation procedure. For example, it can be used for determining the progress of ablation within the object and for determining when the ablation has reached a desired progression.

Monitoring apparatus for monitoring an ablation procedure

A system () includes a first imaging system () that utilizes first radiation to image an interior region of interest of a subject, including a first agent in the region of interest and a second imaging system () that utilizes second radiation to image a second agent in the region of interest, wherein an output of the second imaging system is used to trigger the first imaging system to scan the region of interest, including the first agent in the region of interest.

Agent imaging

The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus () for monitoring an ablation procedure. The monitoring apparatus () comprises an ultrasound signal providing unit for providing an ultrasound signal that depends on received echo series of an object () that is ablated. The monitoring apparatus () further comprises an ablation depth determination unit () for determining an ablation depth from the provided ultrasound signal. The ablation depth can be determined directly from the ultrasound signal and is an important parameter while performing an ablation procedure. For example, it can be used for determining the progress of ablation within the object () and for determining when the ablation has reached a desired progression.

Bubbles (-) are utilized in some embodiments as part of a photoacoustic contrast agent () and, in some embodiments, to localize one or more locations (-) of a source of acoustic energy. The bubbles, such as microbubbles, can be used in proximity of nanoparticles of a first photoacoustic contrast agent, thereby affording a second photoacoustic contrast agent. The bubbles can intercept and re-radiate acoustic energy emitted by light-based activation of the first photoacoustic contrast agent in the immediate vicinity of the bubbles. As a further option, if the nanoparticles permeate further to tissue structures but remain in close enough proximity, their positions can be triangulated by the nearby bubbles, based on direction (-) and time delays (-) of ultrasound received by a transducer array.

Photo-acoustic signal enhancement with microbubble-based contrast agents

Functional imaging for localization in biological tissue entails measuring a response in the tissue () to electromagnetic radiation. A catheter () for real-time monitoring of cardiac ablation is employed to distinguish a hemorrhage zone () from the sandwiching necrotic and healthy tissue, or to distinguish exogenous photoacoustic contrast agent from bordering native tissue. A pair of wavelengths is selected for differential absorption () of the radiation in, correspondingly, the hemorrhage zone or where the contrast agent exists, and relatively similar absorption elsewhere. Near infrared laser or LED light may be used photoacoustically to serially acquire (S, S) the two datasets to be compared, each representative of a time waveform. Alternatively, acquisition is for a pair of wavelength bands of microwave-induced thermoacoustic data. In either case, the members of the dataset pair are combined () by subtraction or division to effect the piece-wise cancellation/enhancement for display () of the resulting signal in real time.

Photoacoustic catheter for functional-imaging-based ablation monitoring

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for production and integration of compact illumination schemes. More particularly, disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus/systems and methods for production of highly compact illumination schemes, whereby photoacoustic waves are induced in a target sample. Additionally, the disclosed apparatus/systems and methods are effective to produce compact and portable integrated transducer-illumination arrays. Apparatus disclosed generally include at least one lighting source and a beamsplitting assembly. Systems disclosed generally include one or more apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes, an ultrasonic transducer assembly and means for coupling the one or more apparatus and US transducer assembly with a target sample.

Apparatus, systems and methods for production and integration of compact illumination schemes

A tissue ablation device employs one or more energy emitters () and one or more photoacoustic sensors () in a cooperative arrangement for applying a tissue ablation therapy to a tissue (). In operation, the energy emitters () emit a tissue ablation beam (TA) into a target portion of the tissue () to form a lesion () therein, and alternatively or concurrently emit a photoexcitation beam (PE) into the target portion of the tissue () to excite a photoacoustic response from the tissue (). The photoacoustic sensor(s) () sense the photoacoustic response of the tissue ().

Tissue ablation device with photoacoustic lesion formation feedback

A system for the determination of optical coefficients in an object including an ultrasonic scanner for recording first and second pulse echoes before and after the object has been illuminated with a heating light beam from a light source. An evaluation unit determines a map of temperature increase caused by the heating light beam inside the object based on apparent displacements showing up between the second and first pulse echoes.

Ultrasonic determination of optical absorption coefficients

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Fishkill, NY, United States of America

Ladislav Jankovic