NEURONAVIGATION-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130331685A1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chang GUNG University
• Original Assignee: Chang GUNG University
• Inventors: LIU, Hao-Li, TSAI, Hong-Chieh, LU, Yu-Jen, WEI, Kuo-Chen
• Granted Patent: US 10,166,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0021 Neural system treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

The present invention discloses a neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system and a method for the same, which are used to guide focused ultrasound energy to a target point. The system of the present invention comprises a focused ultrasound device, a neuronavigation system and a fixture. According to an image of an interested region of an individual, a focus point of the focused ultrasound device, and tracking points provided by the neuronavigation system, the neuronavigation system performs a calibration process and establishes a positional relationship between the focus point and the image of the interested region. Thereby, the neuronavigation system can recognize the focus point and guide focused ultrasound to the target point.

Claims

1. A neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system, which guides a focused ultrasound energy to a target point, comprising

a focused ultrasound device generating a focus point and delivering said energy to said target point;

a neuronavigation system electrically connecting with said focused ultrasound device and including a calibration unit, wherein said calibration unit establishes a positional relationship between said focus point and an image of a interested region of an individual, performs a calibration process on coordinates, and enables said neuronavigation system to recognize said focus point and define said target point; and

a fixture fixing said interested region of said individual.

2. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said focused ultrasound device further comprises

a signal generator generating an ultrasonic signal;

a signal amplifier electrically connecting with said signal generator and amplifying said ultrasonic signal into said focused ultrasound; and

an ultrasonic transducer electrically connecting with said signal amplifier, delivering said focused ultrasound to said target point, wherein a central frequency of said focused ultrasound resonates with said ultrasonic transducer.

3. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 2, wherein said focused ultrasound device further includes a power meter electrically connecting with said ultrasonic transducer and measuring power of said focused ultrasound.

4. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal is a sinusoidal signal.

5. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said calibration unit provides a first tracking point and a second tracking point, and wherein said first tracking point provides fixed reference coordinates and is arranged at a location whose relative position to said interested region of said individual is invariable, and wherein said second tracking point is arranged on an ultrasonic transducer of said focused ultrasound device.

6. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 5, wherein said neuronavigation system includes a computer unit recording images of said interested region of said individual, and wherein said computer unit performs said calibration process according to said images of said interested region of said individual, said focus point of said focused ultrasound device, said first tracking point and said second tracking point.

7. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, further comprising a dummy and a calibration tracker, wherein said dummy is used to assist said calibration tracker to point out a spatial position of said focus point of said focused ultrasound device.

8. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 7, wherein said dummy is arranged on an ultrasonic transducer of said focused ultrasound device.

9. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said fixture comprises a sliding track and a fixed track, and wherein an ultrasonic transducer of said focused ultrasound device is arranged on said sliding track.

10. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 9, wherein said fixture further comprises a fixing device, and wherein said fixing device is worn by said individual and fixes said interested region of said individual in retrieving said image of said interested region of said individual.

11. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 10, wherein said fixing device is a thermoplastic mold.

12. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 5, wherein said fixture comprises a sliding track and a fixed track, and wherein said first tracking point is arranged on said fixed track, and wherein said second tracking point is arranged on said sliding track.

13. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said focused ultrasound is applied to cauterization, stimulating local or deep-seated cells, regulating local or deep-seated cells, enhancing blood vessel permeability, dissolving thrombi, and locally delivering medicine or therapeutic substances into the brain.

14. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said focused ultrasound is applied to enhance blood-to-brain permeability.

15. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said focused ultrasound device is a multi-point focused ultrasound device.

16. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said image of said interested region of said individual is an image obtained with an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology or a CT (Computed Tomography) technology.

17. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said target point is in a region where said neuronavigation system can reach.

18. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 17, wherein said target point is in a tissue of a central nervous system.

19. The neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system according to claim 18, wherein said target point is in a brain tissue, a spinal cord tissue, or a tissue wrapped by a hard tissue.

20. A focused ultrasound energy delivery method guided by a neuronavigation system for delivering an energy, which guides a focused ultrasound energy to a target point, comprising steps of:

providing a neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound system comprising a focused ultrasound device, a neuronavigation system and a fixture, wherein said focused ultrasound device generates said energy, and wherein said neuronavigation system guides said energy to said target point, and wherein said fixture fixes a interested region of an individual;

retrieving an image of said interested region of said individual;

providing a focus point of said focused ultrasound, wherein said focus point is located at a spatial position;

establishing a positional relationship between said focus point and said image of said interested region of said individual;

calibrating coordinates of said spatial position and said image of said interested region of said individual to enable said neuronavigation system to recognize said focus point;

guiding said focus point to said target point with said neuronavigation system; and

delivering said energy to said target point with said focused ultrasound device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step of “

establishing a positional relationship between said focus point and said image of said interested region of said individual”

includes using a dummy to point out a position of said focus point.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said focused ultrasound energy is applied to cauterization, stimulating local or deep-seated cells, regulating local or deep-seated cells, enhancing blood vessel permeability, dissolving thrombi, and locally delivering medicine.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein said focused ultrasound is applied to enhancing blood-to-brain permeability.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprising a step of stopping output of said focused ultrasound energy when a subharmonic or a ultraharmonic accompanies an ultrasonic echo.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein said image of said interested region of said individual is an image obtained with an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology or a CT (Computed Tomography) technology.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein said target point is in a tissue of a central nervous system.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said target point is in a brain tissue, a spinal cord tissue, or a tissue wrapped by a hard tissue.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein said focused ultrasound device is a multi-point focused ultrasound device.