Sub-Aperture Control in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
First Claim
1. A method for sub-aperture control for high intensity focused ultrasound, the method comprising:
- identifying a target;
selecting at least a first sub-aperture from a plurality of sub-apertures, the selecting being a function of a match of a region shape of a focus region provided by the at least first sub-aperture to the target; and
applying high intensity focused ultrasound to the target with the at least first sub-aperture and not another of the sub-apertures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sub-aperture control is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. Test transmissions are made sequentially from different sub-apertures. The tissue response at the focal regions is determined and used to select sub-apertures. For example, one or more sub-apertures are not used where temperature does not rise above certain threshold or tissue displacement is weak, such as associated with intervening bone or attenuating tissue. Other factors may be used instead or in addition to tissue response at the focal region. Relative proximity of the sub-apertures to a lesion, angular distribution of the sub-apertures, shape or size of the sub-aperture focal regions as compared to the tissue to be treated, or combinations thereof may be used. Once selected, the relative weight for each sub-aperture may be adjusted based on measured tissue response for each sub-aperture, such as to provide more equal treatment contribution from different sub-apertures.
144 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for sub-aperture control for high intensity focused ultrasound, the method comprising:
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identifying a target; selecting at least a first sub-aperture from a plurality of sub-apertures, the selecting being a function of a match of a region shape of a focus region provided by the at least first sub-aperture to the target; and applying high intensity focused ultrasound to the target with the at least first sub-aperture and not another of the sub-apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for sub-aperture control for high intensity focused ultrasound, the system comprising:
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a phased array of elements, the array comprising a plurality of phased sub-arrays; a sub-aperture circuit for activating and deactivating the sub-arrays as sub-apertures of the phased array; and a processor operable to control the sub-aperture circuit to select some of the sub-apertures and not select others of the sub-apertures, the selection being as a function of a measured distribution, at a target to be treated, due to transmissions from the sub-apertures. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for sub-aperture control for high intensity focused ultrasound, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
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selecting a first set of sub-apertures as a subset from a second set of sub-apertures, the selecting being as a function of a spatial proximity of the sub-apertures to a lesion, as a function of an angular distribution of the sub-apertures in the first set to the lesion, or combinations thereof; and using the first set of the sub-apertures for the high intensity focused ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification