Transurgical, Inc.

Mark Wagshul

David E Acker

Todd N Fjield

A high intensity focused ultrasound applicator includes a frame, ultrasonic emitters mounted on the frame and a bag containing a substantially air-free fluid permanently connected to the frame. The frame, the bag, the fluid within the bag and the emitters constitute a permanently connected unit which can be releasably connected to an ultrasonic actuation apparatus.

MRI-guided therapeutic unit and methods

Magnetic resonance information acquired by a movable magnetic resonance instrument is used to monitor hyperthermia treatments such as tissue ablation. The instrument may include both the magnetic resonance equipment and an energy applicator such as a high intensity focused ultrasound unit. The treatment can be conducted under automatic control after the operator marks a treatment volume on an image of the subject, such as a magnetic resonance image acquired using the movable magnetic resonance instrument. The automatic treatment can be based on interpolation of tissue response curves at plural test points near the treatment volume. The system can also provide automatic supervisory control during manual operation, to prevent application of heat to sensitive anatomical structures.

An electrical appliance such as an ultrasonic energy applicator used in conjunction with magnetic resonance apparatus is controlled so that the appliance is active only while the magnetic resonance signals from the subject are not being received. Alternatively, magnetic resonance signals received while the appliance is operating can be rejected and the magnetic resonance cycles used to acquire such signals can be repeated. RF noise from the appliance does not affect the signals which are accepted and used to form an image.

Interleaved operation of MRI and electronic equipment

A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging of the type arranged to provide fields suitable for imaging in an imaging region outside of the physical structure of the magnet, such as a magnet including plural concentric superconducting coils, generates a field having near-zero radial curvature at one location. Shim coils are actuated to adjust this location in synchronism with tuning of the RF transceiver for slice selection, so that when each slice is selected, that slice is coincident with the location of near-zero radial curvature.

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Patchogue, NY, United States of America

Mark Wagshul