US 5,443,068 AGranted

Mechanical positioner for magnetic resonance guided ultrasound therapy

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsHarvey E. Cline, Kenneth W. Rohling, Walter R. Abeling

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A positioner for a magnetic resonance (MR) surgery system which positions a focal point of an ultrasound transducer to selectively destroys tissue in a region within a patient. The positioning means moves an ultrasound transducer under the control of an operator. Mechanical threaded shafts and slides act as screw drives causing several connected slides to move the ultrasound transducer in three dimensions. Expanding shafts are connected between a fixed point on a housing and the actuating point of the threaded shafts. Two of the expanding shafts employ universal joints allowing the shafts to rotate as they follow the slides. The third expanding shaft need only expand but the relative angle between its attachment points does not change, thereby eliminating the need for universal joints. An MR imaging system employing a temperature sensitive pulse sequence, creates an image of the tissue and the region being heated to allow the operator to adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer so as to direct ultrasonic energy to the appropriate location.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A magnetic resonance (MR) focused heat system for positioning a focal point of an energy transducer within a subject, comprising:

a) an energy transducer for Concentrating energy at a focal point;
b) a subject interface located between the energy transducer and said subject, for facilitating energy to pass from the energy transducer to said subject;
c) a transducer plate constructed of an MR compatible material, for carrying the energy transducer:
d) a first slide constructed of an MR compatible material, having a first threaded shaft slideably connected to the transducer plate such that the transducer plate slides relative to the first slide when the first threaded shaft is rotated;
e) a second slide constructed of an MR compatible material, having a second threaded shaft slideably connected to the first slide such that the first slide slides relative to the second slide when the second threaded shaft is rotated;
f) a base plate constructed of an MR compatible material, having a third threaded shaft slideably connected to the second slide such that the second slide slides relative to the base plate when the third threaded shaft is rotated;
g) a first actuating means for causing rotation of the first threaded shaft;
h) a second actuating means for causing rotation of the second threaded shaft;
and
i) a third actuating means for causing rotation of the third threaded shaft thereby causing the energy transducer to be positioned in three dimensions.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.