US 2010/0160781 A1 · DOPPLER AND IMAGE GUIDED DEVICE FOR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK PHASED ARRAY HIFU TREATMENT OF VASCULARIZED LESIONS

Abstract

A noninvasive technique that can be used to deny blood flow to a particular region of tissue, without the inherent risks associated with invasive procedures such as surgery and minimally-invasive procedures such as embolization. Blood flow in selected portions of the vasculature can be occluded by selectively treating specific portions of the vasculature with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), where the HIFU is targeted Doppler ultrasound data, and a duration of the therapy is automatically controlled using a negative feedback loop provided by Doppler ultrasound data collected during the HIFU therapy. A portion of the vasculature providing blood flow to the undesired tissue is selected by a clinician, or automatically selected based on Doppler data, and HIFU is administered to the selected portion of the vasculature to occlude blood flow through that portion of the vasculature.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat undesired tissue by damaging selected vascular regions to affect a viability of the undesired tissue, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting ultrasound data from the undesired tissue that provides information about flow rates in vascular structures associated with the undesired tissue;
(b) presenting a combined display to a user, where the combined display includes:
(i) an ultrasound image of the undesired tissue and the associated vascular structures;
(ii) the flow rate information;
and
(iii) a visualization of a focal point of a HIFU device;
(c) selecting a target site based on the flow rate data and the ultrasound image;
(d) automatically delivering HIFU therapy to the target site;
wherein a duration of the therapy is controlled using a negative feedback loop provided by flow rate information at the target site collected during the HIFU therapy, such that the HIFU therapy is automatically terminated when the flow rate at the target site reaches a predetermined value;
and
(e) frequently refreshing the combined display during the HIFU therapy, to enable the user to monitor the progress of the HIFU therapy in real-time.

8 more elements

A system for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat undesired tissue by damaging selected vascular regions to affect a viability of the undesired tissue, comprising:

(a) an imaging ultrasound component for collecting ultrasound data from the undesired tissue to provide information about flow rates in vascular structures associated with the undesired tissue and an ultrasound image;
(b) a HIFU therapy component for delivering HIFU therapy to a target site;
(c) a user interface enabling a user to interact with the system;
(d) a display component for providing information to a user;
and
(e) a controller implementing the following functions:
(i) generating a combined display on the display component, the combined display including an ultrasound image of the undesired tissue and the associated vascular structures, the flow rate information;
and a visualization of a focal point of a HIFU device;
(ii) automatically selecting a target site based on the flow rate data and a user defined region of interest;
and
(iii) automatically delivering HIFU therapy to the target site;
wherein a duration of the therapy is controlled using a negative feedback loop provided by flow rate information at the target site collected during the HIFU therapy, such that the HIFU therapy is automatically terminated when the flow rate at the target site reaches a predetermined value.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Doppler and image guided device for negative feedback phased array hifu treatment of vascularized lesions

Life of this patent

Doppler and image guided device for negative feedback phased array hifu treatment of vascularized lesions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15