System and method for ultrasonic harmonic imaging for therapy guidance and monitoring

• US 6,726,627 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Riverside Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Riverside Research Institute
• Inventors: Lizzi, Frederic Louis, Deng, Cheri Xiaoyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang T.
• Application Number:
  US10/350,994
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/443, 600/447, 600/459, 601/2-4, 310/311, 310/322, 310/334, 310/337, 310/365, 310/366
• US Class Current: 600/439
• 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: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An ultrasound system is provided which includes a therapy ultrasound transducer and a diagnostic ultrasound transducer and operates in accordance with a method to direct the application of the therapy ultrasound. The method includes operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer to acquire a first ultrasound image; simultaneously operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer and therapy ultrasound transducer for a second interval to acquire a second ultrasound image; and determining a difference in the first and second images indicative of the pattern of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal. The difference in the images, which result from enhanced non-linearities and propagation distortions induced by the high intensity therapy ultrasound, can be obtained by subtracting the two images. A method is also provided for monitoring the progress of high intensity therapy ultrasound which evaluates transient changes due to in-situ heating as well as permanent changes which result from cell microstructure alteration.

Claims

1. A system for diagnostic imaging and ultrasound therapy, comprising:

a diagnostic ultrasound transducer;

a therapy ultrasound transducer;

a display unit; and

a controller operatively coupled to the diagnostic ultrasound transducer, the therapy ultrasound transducer and the display unit, the controller;

operating the diagnostic ultrasound transducer to acquire a first non-linearity image scan;

operating the therapy ultrasound transducer to apply a therapy beam ultrasound signal; and

operating the diagnostic ultrasound to acquire a second non-linearity image scan;

determining difference properties in the first non-linearity image scan and the second non-linearity image scan to determine an effect from the therapy ultrasound transducer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller:

generates difference image data from the first non-linearity image scan and the second non-linearity image scan; and

superimposes the difference image data on the first non-linearity image scan and displays the superimposed image on the display unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller employs digital signal processing to enhance the difference image between said generating and superimposing operations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the difference properties are detected by the controller evaluating mixing products of the diagnostic ultrasound transducer signal and the therapy ultrasound transducer signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the difference properties are detected by the controller evaluating harmonic components of the diagnostic ultrasound transducer signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the difference properties are detected by the controller evaluating harmonic components of the therapy ultrasound transducer signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second non-linearity image scan is acquired during application of the therapy beam ultrasound signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second non-linearity image scan is acquired after application of the therapy beam ultrasound signal.