High intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and curing tumor

• US 6,685,639 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chongqing Peninsula Medical Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Chongqing Hifu
• Inventors: Wu, Feng, Wang, Zhibiao, Wang, Zhilong, Bai, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/600,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/444, 600/445, 600/407, 600/473, 600/476, 604/22, 601/2, 601/3, 601/4, 128/915, 560/1, 560/0, 561/5, 607/96, 310/322
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2251 characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• 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 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 35/00 Methods or apparatus for measurement or analysis of nanostructures

Abstract

A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor, having a combined probe, a power source, a B-mode ultrasound scanner, a multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus, a vacuum degassor apparatus, a therapeutic bed, and a computer. The combined probe comprises a B-mode ultrasound probe and a therapeutic head which generates therapeutic focused ultrasound; its ultrasound-emitting end is mounted on the multi-dimensional motional apparatus, and the motional apparatus carries out scanning movement outside the body under the control of the computer, causing the high sound intensity focal region (space-point) generated by the therapeutic head to carry out scanning within the body. By the action of high sound intensity, the temperature of the tissues in the focal region instantaneously rises to over 70 degrees centigrade and the tissues are affected by the mechanical action of cavitation, so degeneration and necrosis occur. In-this-way the tumor-within the body is treated by scanning movement outside the body.

Claims

1. A high intensity focused ultrasound system, comprising:

a controllable power supply;

a B-mode ultrasound scanner;

a therapeutic bed having a through hole;

a liquid bag placed in the through hole and having opposite upper and lower portions, the lower portion of the liquid bag being attached to a combined probe, whereby a body portion of a patient lying immediately above the through hole may be scanned and treated by said system; and

the combined probe comprising;

a therapeutic head coupled to said controllable power supply for generating and focusing a ultrasound beam on a focal region at a temperature greater than 70 degrees centigrade, said therapeutic head comprising a ultrasound lens and piezoelectric ceramics coupled to said controllable power supply and disposed beneath the ultrasound lens, and

an imaging probe coupled to said B-mode ultrasound scanner and mounted on a central axis of said therapeutic head so that the focal region of said therapeutic head is fixed at a predetermined location on a scanning plane;

wherein said liquid bag contains vacuum degassed water having an acoustic impedance similar to that of human tissue, the upper portion of said liquid bag including an opening exposing said vacuum degassed water, said opening being open to an upper surface of said therapeutic bed so as said vacuum degassed water is adapted to be placed in direct contact with the skin of the patient'"'"'s body portion;

said system further comprising a multi-dimensional motional apparatus, on which the combined probe is mounted and which is moveable along three-dimensional rectangular coordinate axes and rotatable about one or two rotational coordinate axes, for driving said combined probe, said multidimensional motional apparatus includes a plurality of one-dimensional motional devices each being configured to either translate or rotate said combined probe in a specific direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said one-dimensional motional devices comprises a stepping electric motor for moving said combined probe in said specific direction, a position sensor for sensoring an actual position of said combined probe, and a closed loop control for coordinating the sensored actual position with the movement by said stepping electric motor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controllable power supply comprises:

a signal source for generating sine wave signals having a frequency of from 0.2 to about 3.5 MHz;

a signal modulator for modulating the sine wave signals to continuous waves or low frequency carrier signals having a frequency of from about 10 to about 1000 Hz; and

a magnifier for duplicating, magnifying and supplying the modulated signals to said therapeutic head.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a sound intensity of the ultrasound beam is from about 100 W/cm² to about 10000 W/cm² in the focal region.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

a focal length from the focal region to the therapeutic head is from about 40 to about 280 mm;

and

said focal region has an ellipsoid shape having a short dimension in a longitudinal section in a range of from about 1.1 to about 5 mm, and a long dimension in the longitudinal section in a range of from about 3.5 to about 12 mm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said combined probe further comprises a shielded shell and a core disposed inside the shielded shell, said ultrasound lens and said therapeutic head are disposed in the shielded shell and around the core, said imaging probe is disposed within and positioned by the core.

7. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor, said system comprising a combined therapeutic head, a high frequency electric power source, a B-mode ultrasound scanner, a multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus, a vacuum, degasification water apparatus, a therapeutic bed, and, a computer operation system;

wherein

the combined therapeutic head comprises a therapeutic head which generates therapeutic ultrasound on a focal region at a temperature greater than 70 degrees centigrade and an image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner, the combined therapeutic head is mounted on the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus an upper end of the combined therapeutic head is connected to a central hole of the therapeutic bed, through a water bag;

the water bag is mounted to the central hole of the therapeutic bed a lower end of the water bag is connected to the upper end of the combined therapeutic head;

the combined therapeutic head is also connected to the high frequency electric power source;

the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner is mounted on a central axis of the combined therapeutic head;

the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus is connected to a digit-controlled scanning system;

the water bag is connected to the vacuum degasification water apparatus;

the computer operation system is connected separately to the high frequency electric power, B-mode ultrasound scanner, digit-controlled scanning system and vacuum degasification water apparatus;

wherein said multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional-apparatus consists of a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate and one or two-dimensional rotational coordinate;

wherein said water bag is an open water bag containing vacuum degasification water having an acoustic impedance similar to that of human tissue and small acoustic attenuation, a ultrasonic wave-emitting surface of the combined therapeutic head is located under the body parts to be treated, the water in the water bag is adapted to contact directly the human skin during treatment.

8. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance to claim 7, wherein the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner of the combined therapeutic head is mounted on the central axis of the combined therapeutic head and adjusted so that the focal region of a space point produced, by the therapeutic head falls within an image-displaying plane of the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner.

9. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 7, wherein the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus comprises a stepping electric motor that drives a tract base through a ball-screw to move on a ball-tract, a signal of the real position of the motion is taken by a position sensor, then closed-loop control of the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus is carried out, the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus is formed by repeat addition and combination of a certain number of single-dimensional motional apparatuses.

10. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 7, wherein the high frequency electric power source comprises a signal source, a signal modulator, a magnifier, a matching apparatus, a three-phase electric supply, a manual controller, a computer interface, and a displaying apparatus;

the signal modulator is connected separately to the three-phase electric supply, signal source, computer interface and magnifier;

the signal source is connected separately to the three-phase electric supply, magnifier, displaying apparatus, and manual controller;

the magnifier is connected separately to the three-phase electric source and matching apparatus;

the matching apparatus gives out 0.2˜

3.5 MHz high frequency continuous or pulsed electric supply;

the signal source gives out low pressure high frequency sine wave signal, which is modulated by a signal modulation electric current into a continuous wave or carrier signal of 10 to 1000 Hz.

11. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 7, wherein the vacuum degasification water apparatus is a vacuum degasification circulating water apparatus that comprises a vacuum pump, a water circulating pump, a water box, a water temperature regulator, and a controlling electric circuit;

the water box is connected separately to the vacuum pump, water temperature regulator, water circulating pump, combined therapeutic head and water bag;

electric circuit is connected separately to the water circulating pump, water temperature regulator, and vacuum pump;

the combined therapeutic head and water bag are connected separately to the water circulating pump, the vacuum degasification water apparatus treats water, by vacuum degasification, then the treated water is used as ultrasonic coupling medium.

12. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sound intensity of the focal region formed by the combined therapeutic head is 100˜

10000 W/cm2;

the technical parameters of the combined therapeutic head are as follows;

focal distance;

40˜

280 mm;

working frequency of therapeutic ultrasound;

0.2˜

3.5 MHz;

shape of focal region;

ellipsoid with a short diameter of 1.1˜

5 mm and a long diameter of 3.5˜

12 mm;

highest sound intensity at the center of the focal region;

over 1000 W/cm2; and

focusing angle;

30˜

120 degrees.

13. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 12, wherein regardless of the acoustic attenuation, I_a=(D/d)² ID, the ratio between average acoustic intensity of the focal region and that of the surface of the combined therapeutic head should be as large as possible.

14. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 7, wherein a four-coordinate digit-controlled scanning and one-coordinate rotational apparatus is used as the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus;

the power source, B-mode ultrasound scanner, and digit-controlled scanning apparatus all work discontinuously under control of the computer operation system.

15. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance to claim 7, wherein the whole combined therapeutic head is mounted within a shielded shell;

a water bag base of the water bag is assembled at the front end of the shielded shell;

an ultrasonic lens is placed on a core of the image-displaying probe, within the core of the image-displaying probe is the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner,

piezoelectric ceramics are assembled at the back end of the therapeutic head;

an electric supply driving the piezoelectric ceramics to produce ultrasonic wave is provided by a cable.

16. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor, said system comprising:

a combined therapeutic head, a high frequency electric power source, a B-mode ultrasound scanner, a multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus, a vacuum degasification water apparatus, a therapeutic bed, and, a computer operation system;

wherein

the combined therapeutic head comprises a therapeutic head which generates therapeutic ultrasound on a focal region at a temperature greater than 70 degrees centigrade and an image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner, the combined therapeutic head is mounted on the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus, an upper end of the combined therapeutic head is connected to a central hole of the therapeutic bed through a water bag;

the water bag is mounted to the central hole of the therapeutic bed, a lower end of the water bag is connected to the upper end of the combined therapeutic head;

the combined therapeutic head is also connected to the high frequency electric power source;

the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner is mounted on a central axis of the combined therapeutic head;

the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus is connected to a digit-controlled scanning system;

the water bag is connected to the vacuum degasification water apparatus;

the computer operation system is connected separately to the high frequency electric power, B-mode ultrasound scanner, digit-controlled scanning system and vacuum degasification water apparatus;

wherein said water bag is an open water bag containing vacuum degasification water having an acoustic impedance similar to that of human tissue and small acoustic attenuation, a ultrasonic wave-emitting surface of the combined therapeutic head is located under the body parts to be treated, the water in the water bag is adapted to contact directly the human skin during treatment.

17. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance to claim 16, wherein the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner of the combined therapeutic head is mounted on the central axis of the combined therapeutic head and adjusted so that the focal region of a space point produced, by the therapeutic head falls within an image-displaying plane of the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner.

18. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 16, wherein the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus comprises a stepping electric motor that drives a tract base through a ball-screw to move on a ball-tract, a signal of the real position of the motion is taken by a position sensor, then closed-loop control of multi-dimensional digit-controlled the motional apparatus is carried out, the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus is formed by repeat addition and combination of a certain number of single-dimensional motional apparatuses.

19. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 16, wherein the high frequency electric power source comprises a signal source, a signal modulator, a magnifier, a matching apparatus, a three-phase electric supply, a manual controller, a computer interface, and a displaying apparatus;

the signal modulator is connected separately to the three-phase electric supply, signal source, computer interface and magnifier;

the signal source is connected separately to the three-phase electric supply, magnifier, displaying apparatus, and manual controller;

the magnifier is connected separately to the three-phase electric source and matching apparatus;

the matching apparatus gives out 0.2˜

3.5 MHz high frequency continuous or pulsed electric supply;

the signal source gives out low pressure high frequency sine wave signal, which is modulated by a signal modulation electric current into a continuous wave or carrier signal of 10 to 1000 Hz.

20. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 16, wherein the vacuum degasification water apparatus is a vacuum degasification circulating water apparatus that comprises a vacuum pump, a water circulating pump, a water box, a water temperature regulator, and a controlling electric circuit;

the water box is connected separately to the vacuum pump, water temperature regulator, water circulating pump, combined therapeutic head and water bag;

the controlling electric circuit is connected separately to the water circulating pump, water temperature regulator, and vacuum pump;

the combined therapeutic head and water bag are connected separately to the water circulating pump, the vacuum degasification water apparatus treats water, by vacuum degasification, then the treated water is used as ultrasonic coupling medium.

21. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 16, wherein the sound intensity of the focal region formed by the combined therapeutic head is 100˜

10000 W/cm2;

the technical parameters of the combined therapeutic head are as follows;

focal distance;

40˜

280 mm;

working frequency of therapeutic ultrasound;

0.2˜

3.5 MHz;

shape of focal region;

ellipsoid with a short diameter of 1.1˜

5 mm and a long diameter of 3.5˜

12 mm;

highest sound intensity at the center of the focal region;

over 1000 W/cm2; and

focusing angle;

30˜

120 degrees.

22. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 21, wherein regardless of the acoustic attenuation, I_a=(D/d)² ID, the ratio between average acoustic intensity of the focal region and that of the surface of the combined therapeutic head should be as large as possible.

23. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance with claim 16, wherein a four-coordinate digit-controlled scanning and one-coordinate rotational apparatus is used as the multi-dimensional digit-controlled motional apparatus;

the power source, B-mode ultrasound scanner, and digit-controlled scanning apparatus all work discontinuously under control of the computer operation system.

24. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for scanning and treating tumor in accordance to claim 16, wherein the whole combined therapeutic head is mounted within a shielded shell;

a water bag base of the water bag is assembled at the front end of the shielded shell;

an ultrasonic lens is placed on a core of the image-displaying probe, within the core of the image-displaying probe is the image-displaying probe of the B-mode ultrasound scanner,

piezoelectric ceramics are assembled at the back end of the therapeutic head;

an electric supply driving the piezoelectric ceramics to produce ultrasonic wave is provided by a cable.