Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Profound Medical Inc.

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Max Oskar Köhler

Shunmugavelu D Sokka

Gosta J Ehnholm

Erkki Tapani Vahala

Emil George Radulescu

Teuvo Vaara

Julia Kristina Enholm

Ramon Q Erkamp

I A Julius Koskela

Kirsi Ilona Nurmilaukas

Ronald Dekker

Peter Dirksen

Julius Koskela

Feng Huang

Matthew R Dreher

Wei Lin

Heikki Juhani Nieminen

Mika Petri Ylihautala

Jukka Ilmari Tanttu

Charles Mougenot

Annemaria Johanna Halkola

Matti Lindstrom

Pavel Sergeyevich Yarmolenko

Antti Johannes Viitala

Matti Oskari Tillander

Marko Tapani Hakkinen

Jere Matti Nousiainen

Ari Ilkka Mikael Partanen

Jaakko Juhani Tölö

Iipo Asko Julius Koskela

Ilpo Asko Julius Koskela

Jukka Iimari Tanttu

When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) () and any obstructions () between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI () while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction () is positioned between the ROI () and a given transducer element.

High intensity focused ultrasound transducer optimization

The invention provides for a medical apparatus () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system () for acquiring magnetic resonance thermometry data () from a subject (). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnet () with an imaging zone (). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory () for storing machine executable instructions (). The medical apparatus further comprises a processor () for controlling the medical apparatus, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: acquire () the magnetic resonance thermometry data from multiple slices (&#x2033;) within the imaging zone by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system; and interpolate () a three dimensional thermal dose estimate () in accordance with the magnetic resonance thermometry data.

Interpolated three-dimensional thermal dose estimates using magnetic resonance imaging

The invention provides for medical instrument () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system () and a high intensity focused ultrasound system (). A processor () controls the medical instrument. Instructions cause the processor to control () the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the magnetic resonance data using a pulse sequence (). The pulse sequence comprises an acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence (). The acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence comprises an excitation pulse () and a multi-dimensional gradient pulse () applied during the radio frequency excitation pulse for selectively exciting a region of interest () encompassing a target zone and at least a portion of the beam axis. The instructions cause the processor to control () the high intensity focused ultrasound system to sonicate the target zone during the acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence and reconstruct () a radiation force image () using the magnetic resonance data.

Acoustic radiation force magnetic resonance imaging

A medical apparatus () including a high intensity focused ultrasound system () generates focused ultrasonic energy () for sonicating within a target volume () of a subject (). The high intensity focused ultrasound includes an ultrasonic transducer () with a controllable focus (). The apparatus further includes a memory () containing machine executable for controlling the medical apparatus and a processor (). The processor causes () ultrasonic cavitations at multiple cavitation locations () within the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system, and sonicates () multiple sonication locations () within the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system. The multiple sonication locations and the multiple cavitation locations are targeted by adjusting the controllable focus.

High intensity focused ultrasound enhanced by cavitation

A therapeutic apparatus () comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system () for heating a target zone (). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a memory () containing machine executable instructions () for execution by a processor (). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to: generate () heating commands () which cause the high intensity focused ultrasound system to sonicate the subject; repeatedly acquire () magnetic resonance data () during execution of the heating commands; repeatedly calculate () a spatially dependent parameter (); and repeatedly modify () the heating commands in accordance with the spatially dependent parameter such that within the target zone the spatially dependent parameter remains below a first predetermined threshold and above a second predetermined threshold.

Therapeutic apparatus and method for heating a subject

The invention provides for a medical instrument () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system () and a high intensity focused ultrasound system () with an adjustable focus (). Execution of instructions causes a processor to control () medical instrument to sonicate the multiple sonication points while repeatedly acquire the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data. Multiple thermal maps are reconstructed using the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data and a heating center of mass is calculated for each. By comparing each of the heating center of masses to the sonication points a spatially dependent targeting correction () is determined. The spatially dependent targeting correction is then used to offset the adjustable focus.

High intensity focused ultrasound targeting

The invention provides for a medical apparatus () comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging system (); an ultrasonic system () for connecting to a catheter () with an ultrasound array (). The ultrasonic system is operable for driving the ultrasound array. Machine executable instructions () cause a processor () for controlling the medical apparatus to: generate () at least one acoustic radiation impulse with the ultrasonic system, wherein the generated ultrasound energy is below a predetermined level; acquire () the magnetic resonance data using an acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence; reconstruct () at least one acoustic radiation force pulse image using the magnetic resonance data; and determine () an energy deposition zone for the catheter using at least partially the at least one acoustic radiation force pulse image.

Energy deposition zone determination for a catheter with an ultrasound array

A catheter () includes a shaft with distal () and proximal ends (). The distal end comprises at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers () with an adjustable focus for controllably heating a target zone (). A connector () at the proximal end supplies the at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers with electrical power and controls the adjustable focus.

Catheter comprising capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with an adjustable focus

A medical apparatus () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory () storing machine readable instructions () for execution by a processor (). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire () spectroscopic magnetic resonance data (). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate () a calibration thermal map () using the spectroscopic magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to acquire () baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data (). Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to repeatedly acquire () magnetic resonance thermometry data (). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate () a temperature map () using the magnetic resonance thermometry data, the calibration thermal map, and the baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data.

Accelerated magnetic resonance thermometry

A medical apparatus () comprises a heating system () for heating a target zone () of a subject (), wherein the energy density in a predefined volume is modeled () using a thermal model and a processor () for controlling () the heating system (). The medical apparatus () further comprises a memory () containing machine executable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor () to receive () a treatment plan, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processor () to repeatedly: heat () the target zone () during alternating heating periods and cooling periods by controlling () the heating system () using the treatment plan and calculate () a present energy density map () in a predefined volume using the treatment plan and the thermal model, wherein the present energy density is repeatedly updated () during the heating of the target zone ().

Energy density map calculating using a thermo acoustic mode

A medical instrument () comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system () comprising an ultrasound transducer () with an adjustable sonication frequency. The ultrasound transducer comprises capacitive micromachined transducers (). Execution of machine executable instructions by a processor causes the processor to: receive () a treatment plan () descriptive of a target zone () within a subject (); determine () a traversal distance () through the subject to the target zone using the treatment plan, wherein the traversal distance is descriptive of the traversal of ultrasound from the ultrasound transducer to the target zone; determine () a sonication frequency () using the traversal distance for focusing the sonication volume onto the target zone; and sonicate () the target zone using the high intensity focused ultrasound system at the sonication frequency.

High intensity focused ultrasound with capacitive micromachined transducers

A therapy system comprises a therapy module to direct a therapeutic action to a target along successive trajectories in a target zone that includes the target. A thermometry module is provided to measure temperature in a measurement field and to compute a thermal dose. The measurement field at least partially covers the target zone. A control module controls the therapy module to switch the therapeutic action to a next successive trajectory on the basis of the measured temperature or thermal dose. The successive trajectories are located inside of or outside of one another within the target zone. The therapeutic action comprises application of a focused ultrasound beam to the target. Temperature measurement is done on the basis of magnetic resonance signals.

Therapy system with temperature control

A therapy system includes a therapy module to perform successive deposits of energy in a target zone. The therapy system further includes a control module configured to, prior to deposits of energy, produce an a priori estimate of the induced heating. A thermometry module is configured to measure temperature in a measurement field. The induced heating may be derived based on a tissue model from the settings of a therapy module. The therapy module includes a high-intensity focused ultrasound transmitter. A magnetic resonance examination system configured for thermometry is employed as the thermometry module.

Therapy system for depositing energy

A medical apparatus () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (). The medical apparatus further comprises a heating system () operable for heating a target zone () and a processor (). Execution of machine readable instructions causes the processor to receive () a treatment plan (). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to repeatedly: control () the heating system, using the treatment plan, to heat the target zone during alternating heating periods and cooling periods; acquire () magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system, and modify () the treatment plan using the magnetic resonance data. The instructions cause the processor to acquire the magnetic resonance data during a cooling period selected from at least one of the cooling periods.

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Espoo, Finland

Max Oskar Köhler