METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ULTRASOUND

• US 20140371774A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HWANG, Young-kyoo, BANG, Won-chul, LEE, Ho-taik, KIM, Sang-hyun, PARK, Ji-young, KIM, Do-kyoon, KIM, Chang-yeong
• Granted Patent: US 10,136,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/101 Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5261 combining images from different diagnostic modalities, e.g. ultrasound and X-ray
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided to generate an ultrasound to be transmitted from an ultrasound irradiation device. The apparatus and the method include acquiring a medical image including anatomical information about a subject, and calculating characteristics of a tissue in the subject, which may affect propagation of the ultrasound based on the medical image. The apparatus and method also determine a parameter of the ultrasound to create a focal point on the subject using the calculated characteristics, and generate the ultrasound according to the determined parameter.

Claims

1. A method to generate an ultrasound from an ultrasound irradiation device, the method comprising:

acquiring a medical image comprising anatomical information about a subject;

calculating characteristics of a tissue in the subject affecting propagation of the ultrasound based on the medical image;

determining a parameter of the ultrasound to create a focal point on the subject using the calculated characteristics; and

generating the ultrasound according to the determined parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating of the characteristics comprises:

processing the medical image to calculate the characteristics of the tissue on a path along which the ultrasound propagates from an element of the ultrasound irradiation device to the focal point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprise a speed of the ultrasound passing through the tissue, a density of the tissue, an attenuation coefficient of the ultrasound for the tissue, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calibrating the ultrasound irradiation device using the medical image,

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating of the characteristics further comprises:

processing the ultrasound irradiation device and the medical image to calculate the characteristics of the tissue along a path that the ultrasound propagates from an element of the ultrasound irradiation device to the focal point.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the calibrating of the ultrasound irradiation device comprises:

generating an ultrasound image of the subject using a diagnostic ultrasound irradiation device;

calibrating the diagnostic ultrasound irradiation device using an image obtained by registering the ultrasound image with the medical image; and

calibrating the ultrasound irradiation device using the calibrated diagnostic ultrasound irradiation device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the calibration is performed by adjusting coordinates of the ultrasound irradiation device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical image comprises a computed tomography (CT) image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the parameter of the ultrasound comprises:

determining the parameter by combining characteristics of the ultrasound with the calculated characteristics affecting the propagation of the ultrasound.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1.

10. An apparatus to generate an ultrasound, the apparatus comprising:

an interface unit configured to acquire a medical image comprising anatomical information about a subject;

a characteristics calculation unit configured to calculate characteristics of a tissue in the subject affecting propagation of the ultrasound based on the medical image;

a parameter determiner configured to determine a parameter of the ultrasound to create a focal point on the subject using the calculated characteristics; and

a control unit configured to produce a control signal to generate the ultrasound according to the determined parameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the characteristics calculation unit processes the medical image to calculate the characteristics of the tissue on a path along which the ultrasound propagates from an element of a therapeutic ultrasound irradiation device to the focal point.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the characteristics comprise a speed of the ultrasound passing through the tissue, a density of the tissue, an attenuation coefficient of the ultrasound for the tissue, or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a calibration unit configured to calibrate the apparatus using the medical image.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the calibration unit acquires an ultrasound image of the subject from the interface unit, calibrates a diagnostic ultrasound irradiation device by using an image obtained by registering the ultrasound image with the medical image, and calibrates the apparatus by using the calibrated diagnostic ultrasound irradiation device.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical image includes a computed tomography (CT) image.

17. A method to generate an ultrasound, the method comprising:

acquiring an image of a subject including heterogeneous tissue; and

determining a parameter of the ultrasound, in which characteristics of the heterogeneous tissue has been reflected using the image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the image of the subject includes human internal organs.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining of the parameter of the ultrasound comprises:

calculating characteristics of the heterogeneous tissue affecting propagation of the ultrasound using the image; and

determining the parameter of the ultrasound to create a focal point on the subject using the calculated characteristics.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining of the parameter of the ultrasound using the calculated characteristics comprises:

calculating a first sound pressure representing a sound pressure at the focal point when the ultrasound propagates in homogeneous tissue;

determining an element that transmits the ultrasound among elements in the ultrasound irradiation device and setting a particle velocity of the determined element;

calculating a second sound pressure representing a sound pressure at the focal point when the ultrasound using the particle velocity propagates in the heterogeneous tissue; and

determining the parameter of the ultrasound based on a relationship between the first sound pressure and the second sound pressure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the determining of the parameter of the ultrasound based on the relationship between the first and second sound pressures comprises:

determining whether a difference between the first and second sound pressures exceeds a threshold value; and

resetting a particle velocity of the element in response to the difference exceeding the threshold value.

22. An ultrasound control apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to process a medical image of a subject to determine a parameter based on a speed of a therapeutic ultrasound passing through a tissue, a density of the tissue, and an attenuation coefficient and to control the therapeutic ultrasound to create a focal point onto a subject; and

a controller producing a signal to generate ultrasound waves according to the determined parameter.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the characteristics calculation unit is further configured to control an intensity and a duration of the therapeutic ultrasound.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a calibration unit processing the medical image to calibrate the processor and the controller.