DUAL MODE ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER (DMUT) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DELIVERY OF ULTRASOUND THERAPY

• US 20130144165A1
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Ebbini, Emad S., Casper, Andrew J., Liu, Dalong, Ballard, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,231,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0816 using echo-encephalography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/892 the array being curvilinear
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8952 using discrete, multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8959 : using coded signals for correlation purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8997 : using synthetic aperture techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5202 : for pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 : Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 : Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A dual-mode ultrasound system provides real-time imaging and therapy delivery using the same transducer elements of a transducer array. The system may use a multichannel driver to drive the elements of the array. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements. Further, for example, multimodal coded excitation may be used in both imaging and therapy modes. Still further, for example, adaptive, real-time refocusing for improved imaging and therapy can be achieved using, for example, array directivity vectors obtained from DMUA pulse-echo data.

Claims

1. A dual mode ultrasound transducer system comprising:

an array of ultrasound transducer elements, the ultrasound transducer elements configured to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least a portion of a target region and to transmit/receive imaging ultrasonic energy to/from the target region; and

control apparatus configured to;

control conveyance of imaging signals to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;

generate treatment region image data usable to identify at least one or more target points within a target region based on imaging signals conveyed to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;

generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least one of the one or more target points in the target region; and

generate control image data based on imaging signals from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, wherein the control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a therapy burst is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to at least one or more target points within the target region resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to generate treatment region image data usable to identify one or more critical points representative of intervening tissue in the path between the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and the one or more target points within the target region based on imaging signals conveyed to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers elements to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to one or more of the critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein, to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to transmit at least one focused single transmit energy pulse, the control apparatus is configured to generate imaging signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit sequential single transmit energy pulses focused to each of a plurality of one or more target points within the target region and/or one or more critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein, to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to transmit at least one focused single transmit energy pulse, the control apparatus is configured to use coded excitation to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to one or more target points within the target region and/or one or more critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

7. The system of claim 1, prior to delivery of a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts at therapeutic levels based on therapy signals generated using control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a previous therapy burst, the control apparatus is configured to control a test of the subsequent therapy burst at sub-therapeutic levels.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to modify the therapy signals generated to deliver the subsequent therapy burst based on imaging data resulting from the test.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is configured to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one ultrasound energy pulse to the target region resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured by one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements between the generation of therapy signals that result in each sequential therapy burst of ultrasonic energy to be delivered to the target region via the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate control image data comprising ultrasound transducer element directivity data, wherein at least the ultrasound transducer element directivity data is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate control image data comprising thermal response data, wherein at least the thermal response data is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate control image data comprising displacement and/or strain data associated with at least the target region, wherein at least the displacement and/or strain data is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein to generate control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, the control apparatus is configured to generate control image data comprising data indicative of cavitation, wherein at least the data indicative of cavitation is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a control channel associated with each of a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements of the array, and further wherein the control apparatus is configured to:

generate multiple channel therapy signals for driving the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements via the respective control channels to deliver energy to at least one target point in the target region, wherein each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements is driven at one or more drive parameters to focus the ultrasound energy for delivery of each sequential therapy burst; and

adjust one or more of the drive parameters of one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements based on the control image data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a display apparatus to display image data and a user interface to allow a user to input one or more commands for real-time control of the delivery of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts, and further wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to select at least one or more target points and/or one or more critical points for use in controlling delivery of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a control channel associated with each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements of the array, wherein each control channel associated with each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements comprises a configurable diplexer, the configurable diplexer comprising an amplifier having its output set to a high impedance state when a therapy signal is not being transmitted.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the configurable diplexer further comprises a selectable voltage divider to attenuate a pulse echo signal received by the transducer element.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus comprises at least one processor coupled to a multimodal imaging apparatus, wherein the multimodal imaging apparatus is configured to fuse image data resulting from a plurality of different imaging modes, wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide the fused image data for display and/or for use to generate control image data.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one other ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured to capture ultrasound pulse-echo data of at least a portion of the target region in response to the delivery of one or more of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is configured to generate therapy signals usable for thermal treatments.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is configured to generate therapy signals usable for non-thermal treatments.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is configured to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least one of the one or more target points in the target region using coded excitation.

51. The system of claim 1, wherein control image data is generated based at least in part on imaging performed at least in part during delivery of one or more therapy bursts using coded excitation.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein control image data is generated for use in controlling one or more characteristics of the plurality of therapy bursts, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise at least one of phase/delay, amplitude, and spectral content.

16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

25. A dual mode ultrasound transducer system comprising:

an array of ultrasound transducer elements, the ultrasound transducer elements configured to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least a portion of a target region and to transmit/receive imaging ultrasonic energy to/from the target region;

means for controlling conveyance of imaging signals to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;

means for generating treatment region image data usable to identify at least one or more target points within a target region based on imaging signals conveyed to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound elements;

means for generating therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least one of the one or more target points in the target region, wherein each of the sequential therapy bursts is defined to produce a response at one or more target points within the target region; and

means for generating control image data based on imaging signals from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, wherein the control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a therapy burst is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the system further comprises means for generating treatment region image data usable to identify one or more critical points representative of intervening tissue in the path between the plurality of ultrasound elements and the one or more target points within the target region based on imaging signals conveyed to/from one or more of the plurality of ultrasound elements, and further wherein the means for generating control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts comprises means to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to one or more of the target points and/or critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

28. The system of claim 25, prior to delivery of a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts at therapeutic levels based on therapy signals generated using control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a previous therapy burst, the system comprises means to control a test of the subsequent therapy burst at sub-therapeutic levels, and further wherein the system comprises means for modifying therapy signals generated to deliver the subsequent therapy burst based on imaging results from the test.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for generating control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts comprises means to generate control image data comprising at least one of displacement and/or strain data, directivity data, thermal response data, and data indicative of cavitation for use in generating therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

31. A dual mode ultrasound transducer therapy method comprising:

providing an array of ultrasound transducer elements, the ultrasound transducer elements configured to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least a portion of a target region and to transmit/receive imaging ultrasonic energy to/from the target region;

generating treatment region image data and identifying at least one or more target points within a target region thereof based on pulse echo data received by one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements;

generating therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least one of the one or more target points in the target region to produce a response at the one or more target points within the target region; and

generating control image data based on pulse echo data received by one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts, wherein the control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a therapy burst is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein generating control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts comprises generating at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to at least one or more target points within the target region resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises identifying one or more critical points within the treatment region representative of intervening tissue in the path between the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements and the one or more target points within the target region.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein generating control image data during and/or following delivery of each therapy burst of a plurality of sequential therapy bursts comprises generating at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to one or more of the critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein generating at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one focused single transmit energy pulse comprises generating imaging signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit sequential single transmit energy pulses focused to each of a plurality of one or more target points within the target region or one or more critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein generating at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one focused single transmit energy pulse comprises using coded excitation to generate at least one imaging signal to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to transmit at least one single transmit energy pulse focused to one or more target points within the target region and/or one or more critical points resulting in pulse-echo data to be captured.

37. The method of claim 31, prior to delivery of a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts based on therapy signals generated using control image data generated during and/or following delivery of a previous therapy burst, the method comprises testing the subsequent therapy burst at sub-therapeutic levels lower than therapeutic levels associated with the subsequent therapy burst.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises modifying the therapy signals generated to deliver the subsequent therapy burst based on imaging results from the test.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein control image data is generated between the generation of therapy signals that result in each sequential therapy burst of ultrasonic energy to be delivered to the target region via the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein generating control image data comprises generating control image data comprising at least one of ultrasound transducer element directivity data, displacement and/or strain data, thermal response data, and data indicative of cavitation, wherein the control image data is used to generate therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a subsequent therapy burst of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein a control channel is associated with each of a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements of the array, and further wherein generating therapy signals comprises:

generating multiple channel therapy signals for driving the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements via the respective control channels to deliver energy to at least one target point in the target region, wherein each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements is driven at one or more drive parameters to focus the ultrasound energy for delivery of each sequential therapy burst; and

adjusting the one or more drive parameters to drive each of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements based on the control image data.

45. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying image data;

providing a user interface to allow a user to input one or more commands for real-time control of the delivery of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts; and

selecting, by a user using the user interface, at least one or more target points and/or one or more critical points for use in controlling delivery of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

47. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises:

fusing image data resulting from a plurality of different imaging modes; and

providing the fused image data for display and/or for use to generate control image data.

48. The method of claim 31, wherein generating the control image data comprises generating the control image data substantially in real-time relative to the therapy signals.

49. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises using at least one other ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to capture ultrasound pulse-echo data of at least a portion of the target region in response to the delivery one or more of the plurality of sequential therapy bursts.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein generating therapy signals comprises generating therapy signals to drive one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to deliver a plurality of sequential therapy bursts of ultrasonic energy to at least one of the one or more target points in the target region using coded excitation.

53. The method of claim 31, wherein therapy signals are generated for use in one or more non-thermal treatments, wherein the one or more non-thermal treatments comprise at least one of delivery of therapy to a target region in which a vessel of the patient is located, delivery of therapy to a target region in which a nerve is located, activation of a drug in a target region, and delivery of therapy to a target region in which a tumor is located.

54. The method of claim 31, wherein therapy signals are generated for use in one or more thermal treatments, wherein the one or more thermal treatments comprise at least one of delivery of therapy to a target region in which a blood vessel is located, delivery of therapy to a target region in which a tumor is located, delivery of therapy to a target region in which a nerve is located, activation of a drug in a target region, and delivery of therapy to a target region in which a vessel of the patient is located.

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

55-63. -63. (canceled)