Methods and apparatuses for planning, performing, monitoring and assessing thermal ablation
First Claim
1. A method of performing and assessing a thermal ablation procedure, said method comprising:
- performing thermal ablation within a VOI in a patient;
capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a first time interval occurs between said performing step and said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said first post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a first x-ray scanner, wherein a first mass is discernable within said first post-ablation procedure digital image;
capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a second time interval occurs between said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step and said capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said second post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a second x-ray scanner, wherein a second mass is discernable within said second post-ablation procedure digital image;
registering said first post-ablation procedure digital image to said second post-ablation procedure digital image; and
displaying said first post-ablation procedure digital image and said second post-ablation procedure digital image such that at least a portion of differences between said first mass and said second mass are visually discernable.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided. Methods of assessing the post-ablation status of the patient and performance of the system are also provided.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of performing and assessing a thermal ablation procedure, said method comprising:
-
performing thermal ablation within a VOI in a patient; capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a first time interval occurs between said performing step and said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said first post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a first x-ray scanner, wherein a first mass is discernable within said first post-ablation procedure digital image; capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image of said VOI, wherein a second time interval occurs between said capturing a first post-ablation procedure digital image step and said capturing a second post-ablation procedure digital image step, wherein said second post-ablation procedure digital image is captured with a second x-ray scanner, wherein a second mass is discernable within said second post-ablation procedure digital image; registering said first post-ablation procedure digital image to said second post-ablation procedure digital image; and displaying said first post-ablation procedure digital image and said second post-ablation procedure digital image such that at least a portion of differences between said first mass and said second mass are visually discernable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of displaying a progression of a cryoablation procedure, said method comprising:
-
performing cryoablation within a VOI in a patient; capturing, during said performing step, a series of digital images of said VOI with an x-ray scanner, wherein each image of said series of digital images is comprised of detected image signal data corresponding with an array of spatial locations substantially throughout said VOI; calculating image signal data changes for substantially each spatial location within said array between at least two of said series of digital images; identifying a region of said VOI undergoing transition from non-frozen to frozen; and displaying said region of said VOI undergoing transition from non-frozen to frozen such that said region is visually discernable from other regions of said VOI, wherein said other regions of said VOI include non-frozen regions and frozen regions. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification