Medical apparatus for treating cells with vibrations

A computer program product comprising machine executable instructions for execution by a controller for controlling a medical apparatus for treating cells of a subject, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to:

• receive target data descriptive of the location of a target zone within the subject;
• individually vibrate a plurality of transducers using the controller;
• acquire first magnetic resonance data during the vibration of the plurality of transducers using the first pulse sequence and a magnetic resonance imaging system;
• calculate a vibration map for the plurality of transducers using the first magnetic resonance data, wherein the vibration map is descriptive of the phase and shear strain value of vibrations caused by individually vibrating the plurality of transducers within the subject;
• calculate transducer control data to control the plurality of transducers to cause a shear strain value of at least a first predetermined value within at least part of the target zone and less than a second predetermined value outside of the target zone using the vibration map for the plurality of transducers;
• and
• control the plurality of transducers with the transducer control data using the controller.

A method for treating cells of a subject using a medical apparatus comprising at least one transducer with a vibrating surface, wherein the transducer further comprises an applicator for attaching the vibrating surface to an outer surface of the subject, wherein the transducer is operable to vibrate at a frequency between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• applying the at least one transducer to an external surface of the subject,
• controlling the at least one transducer to vibrate for greater than a predetermined period of time to treat the cells, wherein the predetermined time is greater than one hour and wherein the vibration provides a shear strain value greater than a first predetermined value in a target zone and shear strain value less than a second predetermined value outside the target zone wherein the second predetermined value is less than the first predetermine value;
• receiving target data descriptive of the location of the target zone within the subject;
• individually vibrating the at least one transducers using the controller;
• acquiring first magnetic resonance data during the vibration of the at least one transducer using a first pulse sequence;
• calculating a vibration map for the at least one transducer using the first magnetic resonance data, wherein the vibration map is descriptive of the phase and shear strain value of vibrations caused by the at least one transducer within the subject;
• calculate transducer control data to control the at least one transducer to cause a shear strain value of at least a first predetermined value within at least part of the target zone and less than a second predetermined value outside of the target zone using the vibration map for the at least one transducer;
• and
• control the at least one transducer with the transducer control data using the controller.