Real time control of high intensity focused ultrasound using magnetic resonance imaging

A method of operating a medical apparatus, wherein the medical apparatus comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound system configured for generating focused ultrasonic energy for sonicating a target volume of a subject, wherein the medical apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system for acquiring magnetic resonance data from an imaging zone, wherein the treatment volume is within the imaging zone, wherein the medical apparatus further comprises a control module for controlling the sonication of the target volume using the magnetic resonance data as a control parameter, wherein the method comprises the steps of repeatedly:

• acquiring magnetic resonance data in real time using the magnetic resonance imaging system;
• and
• controlling sonication of the target volume by the high intensity focused ultrasound system in real time using the sonication control module and the magnetic resonance data and
• wherein the magnetic resonance data comprises subsampled magnetic resonance data and image magnetic resonance data are acquired in an interleaved fashion by the magnetic resonance imaging system,
• reconstructing an image reconstruction module by way of the image magnetic resonance data into a magnetic resonance image,
• using at least the subsampled magnetic resonance data as the control parameter by the sonication control module,
• repeatedly reconstructing by the processor an image using the image reconstruction module and the image magnetic resonance data.

A computer program product comprising machine executable instructions for execution by a processor controlling a medical apparatus, wherein the medical apparatus comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound system configured for generating focused ultrasonic energy for sonicating a target volume of a subject, wherein the medical apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system for acquiring magnetic resonance data from an imaging zone, wherein the medical apparatus further comprises a control module for controlling the sonication of the target volume using the magnetic resonance data as a control parameter, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to repeatedly:

• acquire magnetic resonance data in real time using the magnetic resonance imaging system;
• and
• control sonication of the target volume by the high intensity focused ultrasound system in real time using the sonication control module and the magnetic resonance data and
• acquire the magnetic resonance data comprising subsampled magnetic resonance data and image magnetic resonance data are in an interleaved fashion by the magnetic resonance imaging system,
• reconstruct an image reconstruction module by way of the image magnetic resonance data into a magnetic resonance image,
• use at least the subsampled magnetic resonance data as the control parameter by the sonication control module,
• repeatedly reconstruct by the processor an image using the image reconstruction module and the image magnetic resonance data.