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System and method for control and monitoring of conformal thermal therapy

  • US 8,998,889 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2012
  • Issued: 04/07/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a prostate, comprising:

  • determining a target boundary defining a target treatment volume within the prostate;

    inserting a multi-element ultrasonic thermal therapy applicator at least partially within said target treatment volume;

    applying controlled driving signals to a plurality of elements of said applicator so as to controllably raise a temperature of a portion of said target treatment volume including in a region proximal to an active face of said applicator and along a direction radially emanating therefrom;

    imaging said target treatment volume using an imaging modality to determine a current temperature distribution within said target treatment volume;

    determining a future temperature distribution in a portion of said target treatment volume based at least on the current temperature distribution in and proximal to that portion using a thermal response model;

    controlling said driving signals to the plurality of elements of the applicator based at least on the determined future temperature distribution; and

    generating an alarm condition in the event that a temperature excursion is predicted to occur in said future temperature distribution according to a pre-programmed threshold for said alarm condition.

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