Systems and methods for imaging biological tissue structures

• US 10,028,662 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endra Life Sciences Inc.
• Original Assignee: Endra Life Sciences Inc.
• Inventors: Thornton, Michael M., Picot, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernandez, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Yi-Shan
• Application Number:
  US14/712,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20170311808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0093 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying one single type of energy and measuring its conversion into another type of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5261 combining images from different diagnostic modalities, e.g. ultrasound and X-ray

Abstract

A thermoacoustic imaging system is provided for use in combination with an ultrasound imaging system for imaging features of tissue, the ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound imaging probe including a transmit-receive transducer array with a plurality of transmit-receive array elements. The thermoacoustic imaging system includes a receive-only transducer array with a plurality of receive-only array elements, registered with the plurality of transmit-receive array elements. The transmit-receive transducer array is housed in an ultrasound imaging probe, and the receive-only transducer array is housed in a thermoacoustic imaging probe. The thermoacoustic imaging probe is mechanically joined to the ultrasound imaging probe, e.g., as a sleeve fitted to the ultrasound imaging probe. A combined ultrasound transducer system including the ultrasound imaging probe and an thermoacoustic imaging probe may be used in composite imaging of tissue based upon the registration of the receive-only array elements with the transmit-receive array elements.

Claims

1. A thermoacoustic imaging system for use in combination with an existing ultrasound imaging system for imaging features of tissue, the existing ultrasound imaging system including a transmit-receive transducer array comprising a plurality of transmit-receive array elements housed within a first ultrasound probe, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array receives and detects echoes from an ultrasound beam delivered into the tissue by the transmit-receive transducer array, and converts the echoes to ultrasound output signals, the thermoacoustic imaging system comprising:

a source of electromagnetic energy;

a receive-only transducer array comprising a plurality of receive-only array elements housed within a second ultrasound probe, wherein the second ultrasound probe, in a form of a sleeve, surrounds and is joined mechanically to the first ultrasound probe such that the plurality of receive-only array elements are configured to surround and are in physical alignment and in proximity to the plurality of transmit-receive array elements,

wherein the plurality of receive-only array elements are registered with the plurality of transmit-receive transducer array, and

wherein the receive-only transducer array receives and detects thermoacoustically-generated acoustic signals in response to electromagnetic energy delivered into the tissue by the source of electromagnetic energy, and converts the thermoacoustically-generated acoustic signals to thermoacoustic output signals; and

an imaging assembly connectable to the existing ultrasound imaging system and configured to;

process the thermoacoustic output signals to generate at least one thermoacoustic image; and

when connected to the existing ultrasound imaging system, the imaging assembly is configured to;

receive the ultrasound output signals; and

process the ultrasound output signals and thermoacoustic output signals to generate at least one composite image.

2. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a first linear array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the first linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the first linear array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the first linear array.

3. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a rectangular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the rectangular linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the rectangular array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the rectangular array.

4. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a circular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a single ring array surrounding the circular array;

and a multiple-ring array surrounding the circular array.

5. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one composite image includes features of tissue.

6. A thermoacoustic imaging probe for use with an existing ultrasound imaging system for imaging features of tissue, the existing ultrasound imaging system including a transmit-receive transducer array comprising a plurality of transmit-receive array elements that receives and detects echoes from an ultrasound beam delivered into the tissue by the transmit-receive transducer array and that converts the echoes to ultrasound output signals, and an ultrasound imaging probe that houses the transmit-receive transducer array, the thermoacoustic imaging probe comprising:

a receive-only transducer array including a plurality of receive-only array elements housed in the thermoacoustic imaging probe,

wherein the receive-only transducer array receives and detects thermoacoustically-generated acoustic signals in response to electromagnetic energy delivered into the tissue by a source of electromagnetic energy, and converts the thermoacoustically-generated acoustic signals to thermoacoustic output signals,

wherein the thermoacoustic imaging probe, in a form of a sleeve, surrounds and is joined mechanically to the ultrasound imaging probe such that the plurality of receive-only array elements are configured to surround and are in physical alignment and in proximity to the plurality of transmit-receive array elements;

wherein the plurality of receive-only array elements housed in the thermoacoustic imaging probe are registered with the plurality of transmit-receive array elements housed in the ultrasound imaging probe; and

wherein the receive-only transducer array communicates the thermoacoustic output signals to an imaging assembly for processing to generate at least one of a thermoacoustic image and a composite image.

7. The thermoacoustic imaging probe of claim 6, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a first linear array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the first linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the first linear array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the first linear array.

8. The thermoacoustic imaging probe of claim 6, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a rectangular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the rectangular linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the rectangular array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the rectangular array.

9. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 6, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a circular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a single ring array surrounding the circular array;

and a multiple-ring array surrounding the circular array.

10. A thermoacoustic imaging system for use in combination with an existing ultrasound imaging system for imaging features of tissue, the existing ultrasound imaging system comprising a transmit-receive transducer array comprising a plurality of transmit-receive array elements housed within a first ultrasound probe, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array is configured to detect echoes from an ultrasound beam delivered into the tissue by the transmit-receive transducer array, and to convert the echoes to ultrasound output signals, the thermoacoustic imaging system comprising:

an electromagnetic energy source;

a receive-only transducer array comprising a plurality of receive-only array elements housed within a second ultrasound probe, wherein the second ultrasound probe, in a form of a sleeve, surrounds and is joined mechanically to the first ultrasound probe such that the plurality of receive-only array elements are configured to surround and are in physical alignment and in proximity to the plurality of transmit-receive array elements,

wherein the plurality of receive-only array elements are registered with the plurality of transmit-receive array elements, and

wherein the receive-only transducer array is configured to detect acoustic signals thermally induced in the tissue in response to electromagnetic energy delivered into the tissue by the electromagnetic energy source, and to output thermoacoustic output signals; and

an imaging assembly connectable to the existing ultrasound imaging system and configured to;

process the thermoacoustic output signals to generate at least one thermoacoustic image; and

when connected to the existing ultrasound imaging system, the imaging assembly is configured to;

receive the ultrasound output signals; and

process the ultrasound output signals and thermoacoustic output signals to generate at least one composite image.

11. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a first linear array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the first linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the first linear array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the first linear array.

12. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a rectangular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a multiple-linear array on more than one side of the rectangular linear array;

a rectangular loop array surrounding the rectangular array; and

a rectangular dense array surrounding the rectangular array.

13. The thermoacoustic imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmit-receive transducer array comprises a circular array of transmit-receive array elements, and the plurality of receive-only array elements have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a single ring array surrounding the circular array;

and a multiple-ring array surrounding the circular array.