Imaging, therapy, and temperature monitoring ultrasonic system

• US 7,229,411 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US10/193,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 610439-440, 601 2- 4, 606/1, 604/22
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/15 Transmission-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

An ultrasonic system useful for providing imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring generally comprises an acoustic transducer assembly configured to enable the ultrasound system to perform the imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring functions. The acoustic transducer assembly comprises a single transducer that is operatively connected to an imaging subsystem, a therapy subsystem and a temperature monitoring subsystem. The ultrasound system may also include a display for imaging and temperature monitoring functions. An exemplary single transducer is configured such that when connected to the subsystems, the imaging subsystem can generate an image of a treatment region on the display, the therapy subsystem can generate high power acoustic energy to heat the treatment region, and the temperature monitoring subsystem can map and monitor the temperature of the treatment region and display the temperature on the display, all through the use of the single transducer. Additionally, the acoustic transducer assembly can be configured to provide three-dimensional imaging, temperature monitoring or therapeutic heating through the use of adaptive algorithms and/or rotational or translational movement. Moreover, a plurality of the exemplary single transducers can be provided to facilitate enhanced treatment capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasonic therapy system including a single acoustic transducer, a display, and a control interface; and

operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring using at least two parameters, said at least two parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound, and provide therapeutic heating of a treatment region during the therapeutic treatment process, such that said three-dimensional real-time imaging, tissue parameter monitoring, and therapeutic heating are conducted through the use of said single transducer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating said control interface to control said single transducer comprises adapting two-dimensional imaging signals and tissue parameter signals from said single transducer to provide a three-dimensional representation of said imaging and said tissue parameter signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring comprises at least one of translating and rotating said single transducer around a parameter of said treatment region to provide a three-dimensional representation of said imaging and said tissue parameter signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of adapting said two-dimensional imaging signals and tissue parameter signals comprises using an adaptive algorithm for reconfiguring said signals to represent three-dimensional images and said tissue parameter monitoring.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating said control interface to control said single transducer comprises providing three-dimensional therapeutic heating of said treatment region.

6. A combined imaging, therapy and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising:

a single acoustic transducer which enables three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display, measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound of said target tissue by creating a map of tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display, and substantially controlled heating of said target tissue to provide treatment.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said three-dimensional real time imaging is obtained from at least one of translating and rotating said single transducer around a perimeter of said target tissue to provide a three-dimensional representation of said imaging and said tissue parameter map.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said single acoustic transducer further enables a three-dimensional map of said tissue parameter distribution.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a control system, wherein said tissue parameter is used as a feedback signal to substantially control heating of said target tissue.

10. An ultrasonic system for providing therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

at least two acoustic transducers configured within a single probe, wherein at least one of said acoustic transducers provides imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region within a single transducer, said tissue parameter monitoring comprising measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound.

11. The ultrasonic system of claim 10, wherein said at least two acoustic transducers are positioned within said probe in substantially opposite directions.

12. The ultrasonic system of claim 10, wherein said at least two acoustic transducers operate at different operating frequencies.

13. The ultrasonic system of claim 10, wherein said system comprises:

at least three acoustic transducers configured within a single probe, wherein at least two of said acoustic transducers are adapted to separately provide imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region.

14. The ultrasonic system of claim 11, wherein said single probe is rotated around a perimeter of said treatment region to provide an alternate plane-of-view for each said acoustic transducer.

15. An ultrasonic system for therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

a first transducer within an extracorporeal probe;

a second transducer within an intracorporeal probe;

wherein at least one of said first transducer and said second transducer provides imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region from a single transducer, and wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound.

16. A combined imaging, therapy, and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising:

a single acoustic transducer comprising an array of sub-elements, said transducer configured for providing an ultrasonic signal for ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display;

said transducer also for producing an ultrasonic signal for tissue parameter monitoring for measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound of said target tissue by creating a map of a tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display and;

said transducer also for providing controlled heating of said target tissue.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a control system, wherein said tissue parameter is used as a feedback signal to control heating of said target tissue.

18. A combined imaging, therapy, and tissue parameter monitoring system comprising a single acoustic transducer comprising an array of sub-elements, said transducer comprising:

a means for producing an ultrasonic signal for ultrasonic imaging of a target tissue on a display;

a means for producing an ultrasonic signal for monitoring at least two tissue parameters by creating a map of a tissue parameter distribution in said target tissue on said display, wherein said at least two tissue parameters comprise time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound; and

a means for providing controlled heating of said target tissue based on a feedback signal corresponding to said tissue parameter monitoring.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a control system, wherein said tissue parameter is used as a feedback signal to control heating of said target tissue.

20. A method for therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasonic therapy system including a single acoustic transducer, a display, and a control interface; and

operating said control interface to control said single transducer to non-invasively provide three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring such that said three-dimensional real-time imaging and tissue parameter monitoring are conducted through the use of said single transducer, said single transducer being operated to provide at least one of rotational and translational movement around a perimeter of a treatment region wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises at least two parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation, and speed-of-sound.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of operating further comprises using said tissue parameter as a feedback signal to control heating of said target tissue.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of operating further comprises translating said single transducer along an axis proximate to said treatment region in a substantially continuous manner.

23. An ultrasonic system for therapeutic treatment, said ultrasonic system comprising:

a first transducer having a first operating frequency and a first operating position;

a second transducer having a second operating frequency and a second operating position, said second operating frequency different than said first operating frequency; and

wherein at least one of said first transducer and said second transducer provides each of imaging, therapy and tissue parameter monitoring for a treatment region from a single transduction element, and wherein said tissue parameter monitoring comprises measurement of tissue parameters comprising at least two of time-shift, phase-shift, echo-amplitude, attenuation and speed-of-sound.

24. The ultrasonic system of claim 23, wherein said first operating position is substantially opposing said second operating position.

25. The ultrasonic system of claim 23, wherein said first operating frequency is configured for high resolution imaging and said second operating frequency is configured for optimal control of beamwidth and depth of penetration of ultrasonic signals.

26. The ultrasonic system of claim 25, wherein said first operating frequency varies between approximately 12MHz to 18MHz and said second operating frequency varies between approximately 3MHz to 5MHz.

27. The ultrasonic system of claim 23, wherein said another of said first transducer and said second transducer is adapted to provide imaging, tissue parameter monitoring and therapeutic heating for a treatment region.