ABLATION PLANNING SYSTEM

• US 20140201669A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Liu, Xin, Kruecker, Jochen, Delal, Sandeep
• Granted Patent: US 10,729,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/104 Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations

Abstract

An ablation planning system includes a user interface (104) configured to permit selection of inputs for planning an ablation procedure. The user interface is further configured to incorporate selection of ablation probes and one or more combinations of ablation powers, durations or parameters applicable to selected probes in the inputs to size the ablation volumes. The user interface includes a display for rendering internal images of a patient, the display permitting visualizations of the ablation volumes for different entry points on the internal images. An optimization engine (106) is coupled to the user interface to receive the inputs and is configured to output an optimized therapy plan which includes spatial ablation locations and temporal information for ablation so that collateral damage is reduced, coverage area is maximized and critical structures are avoided in a planned target volume.

Claims

1. An ablation planning system, comprising:

a user interface (104) configured to permit selection of inputs for planning an ablation procedure, the user interface further configured to incorporate selection of ablation probes and one or more combinations of ablation powers, durations or parameters applicable to selected probes in the inputs to size the ablation volumes, the user interface including a display for rendering internal images of a patient, the display permitting visualizations of the ablation volumes for different entry points on the internal images; and

an optimization engine (106) coupled to the user interface to receive the inputs and configured to output an optimized therapy plan which includes spatial ablation locations and temporal information for ablation so that collateral damage is reduced, coverage area is maximized and critical structures are avoided in a planned target volume.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the optimization engine (106) computes a cost based on a set of inputs and the cost is minimized to determine a set of outputs.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the optimization engine (106) includes a penalty function to penalize cost for an unwanted effect.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the inputs (702) include one or more of a type of ablation probe, number of ablation probes, a location of one or more entry points, planned target volume to be covered in the treatment plan, a margin of error, ablation coverage, collateral damage, regions to be excluded, ablation power, and ablation time.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the output (736) includes types and number of ablation probes, locations of entry points, locations for ablation centers, minimum number of ablations needed, minimum ablation power or time needed, predicted ablation metrics, collateral damage, unablated planned target volume regions, and damage to critical structures.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a database (102) configured to store information related to an ablation probe or set of probes such that the information is retrievable by the user interface to select the ablation probe or set of probes to be employed in the inputs.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the ablation probe (630) includes a microwave ablation probe and the information includes power and time data for a plurality of ablation shapes.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of ablation shapes include ellipses and/or spheres.

9. An ablation planning system, comprising:

a user interface (104) configured to permit selection of inputs for planning an ablation procedure, the user interface further configured to incorporate ablation durations in the inputs to size the ablation volumes, the user interface including a display for rendering internal images of a patient, the display permitting visualizations of the ablation volumes for different entry points on the internal images, the display being configured to render internal images of a patient and provide selection controls to enable a user to select an internal image and a view of the internal image;

a database (102) configured to store the internal images and information on the ablation probes to assist in determining sizes and shapes for the ablation volumes for a given planned target volume by associating power and time characteristics with the sizes and shapes of the ablation volumes; and

an optimization engine (106) coupled to the user interface to receive the inputs and configured to output an optimized therapy plan which includes spatial ablation locations and temporal information for minimally needed ablation durations, so that collateral damage is reduced, coverage area is maximized and critical structures are avoided in a planned target volume.

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16. A method for planning an ablation procedure, comprising:

displaying (502) an internal image of a patient on a display of a user interface;

selecting (504) an ablation probe or set of probes for performing an ablation procedure using the user interface;

selecting (506) a point or points of entry for the ablation probe or set of probes on the internal image;

providing (508) information to an optimization engine for a set of inputs including the ablation probe or set of probes selected, the point or points of entry selected, time and power information to determine sizes and shapes of ablation volumes; and

providing output (510) from the optimization engine an optimized therapy plan based on reducing collateral damage, maximizing coverage area and avoiding critical structures in a planned target volume.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein providing output includes minimizing (512) a cost based on the set of inputs.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising computing (514) a penalty function to penalize the cost for an unwanted effect.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the set of inputs (702) includes one or more of a type of ablation probe, number of ablation probes, a location of one or more entry points, a margin of error, ablation coverage, collateral damage, regions to be excluded, ablation power, and ablation time.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the optimized therapy plan (736) includes types and number of ablation probes, locations of entry points, locations for ablation centers, minimum number of ablations needed, minimum ablation power or time needed, ablation metrics, collateral damage, unablated planned target volume regions, and damage to critical structures.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablation probe (630) includes a microwave ablation probe and the information includes power and time data for a plurality of ablation shapes.