Human Interface and Device for Ultrasound Guided Treatment

• US 20140018708A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mirabilis Medica, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mirabilis Medica, Inc.
• Inventors: Darlington, Gregory Paul, Lau, Michael P.H., Dunbar, Lee David, Parsons, Jessica E., Pedersen, Robert H., Etchells, Tim, Quistgaard, Jens Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for providing real-time, image-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) targeting and treatment of tissue. In one embodiment, the system includes an HIFU applicator and a user interface with a touchscreen display for three-dimensional visualization of the tissue. Image frames displayed on the user interface depict real-time images of the tissue, including an image parallel to a feature of the applicator and an image orthogonal to the parallel image. Reference lines may be sketched using the touchscreen and displayed on the image frames. In one embodiment, tissue boundaries are detected and marked on the image frames, either by the user or automatically by the system. In another embodiment, the user interface includes a footswitch for the user to interact with the system. In another embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound imaging component configured to undock from the system for use as a stand-alone ultrasound imaging device.

Claims

1. A high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system for real-time, image-guided HIFU treatment of tissue, the system comprising:

a HIFU applicator configured to deliver HIFU energy to the tissue;

a HIFU generator configured to control and transmit the HIFU energy to the HIFU applicator;

an ultrasound imaging device configured to control imaging of the tissue; and

a user interface including a display, wherein the user interface is configured to display images of the tissue on the display for three-dimensional visualization of the tissue, wherein the images include an active parallel frame depicting a real-time image plane parallel to a feature of the applicator and an active orthogonal frame depicting a real-time image plane orthogonal to the active parallel plane.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to display reference frames in addition to the active parallel frame and the active orthogonal frame, wherein the reference frames include a reference parallel frame and a reference orthogonal frame, and wherein the reference parallel frame provides a static view of the active parallel frame and the reference orthogonal frame provides a static view of the active orthogonal frame.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface is further configured to display reference lines added to the reference parallel frame and the reference orthogonal frame, and duplicate the reference lines on the active parallel frame and the active orthogonal frame.

4. The system of claim 1, where the user interface includes device controls for controlling the ultrasound imaging device, wherein at least one of the device controls is a control icon accessible via the display.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured to automatically set and adjust one or more of the device controls.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to:

detect and mark tissue boundaries;

calculate and adjust treatment parameters based on the detected tissue boundaries; and

display the marked tissue boundaries on the display.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is configured to automatically detect and mark the tissue boundaries, and calculate and adjust the treatment parameters based on the detected tissue boundaries.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to display a 360 degree sweep view of the tissue.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound imaging device is connected to the system via a docking interface.

10. A method of interacting with a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system during real-time, image-guided HIFU treatment of tissue, the method comprising:

delivering HIFU energy to provide treatment to the tissue; and

displaying ultrasound images of the tissue on a user interface during treatment,

wherein the images include an active parallel frame depicting a real-time image plane parallel to a feature of the applicator and an active orthogonal frame depicting a real-time image plane orthogonal to the active parallel plane.

11. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising displaying reference frames in addition to the active parallel frame and the active orthogonal frame during treatment, wherein the reference frames include a reference parallel frame and a reference orthogonal frame, and wherein the reference parallel frame provides a static view of the active parallel frame and the reference orthogonal frame provides a static view of the active orthogonal frame.

12. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising adding reference lines to the reference parallel frame and the reference orthogonal frame, and duplicating the reference lines on the active parallel frame and the active orthogonal frame.

13. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising controlling an ultrasound imaging device through device controls, wherein at least one of the device controls is a control icon accessible on a display.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising automatically setting and adjusting one or more of the device controls.

15. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising detecting, marking, and displaying tissue boundaries, and calculating and adjusting treatment parameters based on the detected tissue boundaries.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising automatically detecting, marking, and displaying tissue boundaries, and automatically calculating and adjusting treatment parameters based on the detected tissue boundaries.

17. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising displaying a 360 degree sweep view of the tissue.