High-intensity focused ultrasound irradiation

Abstract

The present invention provides n ultrasonic treatment device () for heating a portion of a subject of interest, comprising a ultrasonic irradiation unit () for generating high-intensity focused ultrasonic irradiation, whereby a beam path of the ultrasonic irradiation is movable along a trajectory for depositing ultrasonic energy within a target zone () of the subject of interest, and a control unit () for controlling the ultrasonic irradiation unit () to move the beam path of the ultrasonic irradiation along the trajectory and to apply an ultrasonic dose to the target zone (), wherein the control unit () is adapted to receive temperature information of the target zone () and to control the ultrasonic irradiation unit () based on the received temperature information, and the control unit () is adapted to control the ultrasonic irradiation unit () based on the temperature of a current () and at least one previous direction () of the beam path of the ultrasonic irradiation along the trajectory. The invention further provides a corresponding method for ultrasonic treatment and an ultrasonic treatment system, comprising the above ultrasonic treatment device () and a diagnostic imaging device for providing temperature information of a target zone () of the subject of interest, wherein the control unit () of the ultrasonic treatment device () is adapted to receive the temperature information from the diagnostic imaging device. By looking at the temperature or a thermal dose distribution along a previous direction of the beam path of the ultrasonic irradiation along the trajectory where the heating has been completed, an improved control of the treatment is achieved. Even if this previous sonication was different to the one currently applied, it represents a good indicator of the tissue and ultrasound system behavior.