Methods And Apparatuses For Planning, Performing, Monitoring And Assessing Thermal Ablation
First Claim
1. A method of performing and assessing a thermal ablation procedure, said method comprising:
- performing thermal ablation within a VOI in a patient;
capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a first time interval occurs between said performing step and said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said first post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a first x-ray scanner, wherein a first mass is discernable within said first post-ablation procedure digital image;
capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a second time interval occurs between said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step and said capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said second post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a second x-ray scanner, wherein a second mass is discernable within said second post-ablation procedure digital image;
registering said first post-ablation procedure digital image to said second post-ablation procedure digital image; and
displaying said first post-ablation procedure digital image and said second post-ablation procedure digital image such that at least a portion of differences between said first mass and said second mass are visually discernable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided. Methods of assessing the post-ablation status of the patient and performance of the system are also provided.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of performing and assessing a thermal ablation procedure, said method comprising:
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performing thermal ablation within a VOI in a patient; capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a first time interval occurs between said performing step and said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said first post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a first x-ray scanner, wherein a first mass is discernable within said first post-ablation procedure digital image; capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a second time interval occurs between said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step and said capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said second post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a second x-ray scanner, wherein a second mass is discernable within said second post-ablation procedure digital image; registering said first post-ablation procedure digital image to said second post-ablation procedure digital image; and displaying said first post-ablation procedure digital image and said second post-ablation procedure digital image such that at least a portion of differences between said first mass and said second mass are visually discernable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of comparing a predicted coagulation necrosis volume to a post-procedure mass, said method comprising:
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performing ablation within a VOI in a patient; capturing, during said performing step, a series of digital images with a first x-ray scanner of said VOI, wherein each image of said series of said digital images is comprised of detected image signal data corresponding with an array of spatial locations substantially throughout said VOI; calculating image signal data changes for substantially each spatial location within said array between at least two of said series of digital images; inferring, based at least in part on said calculated image signal data changes, time-temperature profiles at each spatial location within said array during said performing step; predicting a coagulation necrosis volume based on said time-temperature profiles; generating a predicted digital necrosis image of said VOI that includes a depiction of said predicted coagulation necrosis volume; capturing, at a time subsequent to said performing step, a post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein said post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a second x-ray scanner, wherein a post-ablation mass is discernable within said post-ablation procedure digital image; registering said predicted digital necrosis image to said post-ablation procedure digital image; and displaying said registered predicted digital necrosis image and said post-ablation procedure digital image such that at least a portion of differences between said coagulation necrosis volume and said post-ablation mass are visually discernable. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of assessing the effectiveness of a thermal ablation procedure, said method comprising:
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capturing a first digital image of a VOI of a patient with a first x-ray CT scanner, wherein said first digital image includes a mass at a first stage; performing thermal ablation within said VOI; capturing, at a time subsequent to said performing step and said capturing a first digital image step, a second digital image of said VOI, wherein said capturing a second digital image step is performed with a second x-ray CT scanner, wherein said second digital image includes said mass at a second stage; registering said first digital image to said second digital image; and displaying said first and second digital images such that at least a portion of differences between said mass at said first and second stages are visually discernable. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of displaying a progression of a cryoablation procedure, said method comprising:
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performing cryoablation within a VOI in a patient; capturing, during said performing step, a series of digital images of said VOI with an x-ray scanner, wherein each image of said series of digital images is comprised of detected image signal data corresponding with an array of spatial locations substantially throughout said VOI; calculating image signal data changes for substantially each spatial location within said array between at least two of said series of digital images; identifying a region of said VOI undergoing transition from non-frozen to frozen; and displaying said region of said VOI undergoing transition from non-frozen to frozen such that said region is visually discernable from other regions of said VOI, wherein said other regions of said VOI include non-frozen regions and frozen regions. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification