Abstract: A variable length interstitial probe apparatus includes: a probe for effecting thermal therapy and/or cryotherapy to a tissue; a flexible umbilical sheath permanently affixed to the probe, including at least one interface for supplying energy, cooling fluid, cooling gas, heating fluid, and/or heating gas to the probe; and an adjustable depth stop configured to slide along a length of a shaft region of the probe, and lock to the shaft region at a selected position. The adjustable depth stop is configured to engage a probe driver and/or a skull mount apparatus to stabilize positioning of the probe and to control a depth of entry of the probe into a patient. The probe may be configured to effect temperature modulation therapy, where processing circuitry activates a modulation pattern of thermal therapy emission and cryogenic therapy emission for applying a thermal dose to the tissue.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an adjustable cradle assembly for adjusting a head position of a patient relative to a patient platform includes a base portion with a pair of vertical support members and a cradle portion. The vertical support members may each include at least one position aperture for setting a vertical height of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The cradle portion may include a channel for receiving a head fixation ring. The cradle portion may include at least one set of adjustment connection points for aligning with position apertures of each vertical support member. The cradle may be pivotably connected to the vertical support members such that a pitch angle of a head position of a patient secured in the head fixation apparatus may be adjusted. A set of adjustment mechanisms may releasably secure the cradle to the base at a selected lateral and/or pitch position.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an adjustable cradle assembly for adjusting a head position of a patient relative to a patient platform includes a base portion with a pair of vertical support members and a cradle portion. The vertical support members may each include at least one position aperture for setting a vertical height of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The cradle portion may include a channel for receiving a head fixation ring. The cradle portion may include at least one set of adjustment connection points for aligning with position apertures of each vertical support member. The cradle may be pivotably connected to the vertical support members such that a pitch angle of a head position of a patient secured in the head fixation apparatus may be adjusted. A set of adjustment mechanisms may releasably secure the cradle to the base at a selected lateral and/or pitch position.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for effecting thermal therapy using an in vivo probe includes positioning the probe in a volume in a patient, identifying an irregularly shaped three-dimensional region of interest and automatically applying thermal therapy to the region using the probe. Applying thermal therapy may include identifying a first emission level at a first rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission of the probe, causing rotation of the probe to a next rotational angle, identifying a next emission level at the next rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission to deliver therapeutic energy, and repeating rotation and emission until therapeutic energy has been delivered to the volume.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a head fixation apparatus including a number of support posts, and a curved ring portion including a number of connectors configured to adjustably and releasably mount support posts on the lower ring portion, such that the support posts are selectively mounted to a subset of the connectors in a customized arrangement for a patient. The apparatus may include a ring mount configured for fixation to a platform, including a curved channel substantially matching a curvature of the curved ring portion, and a mount locking mechanism for locking the curved ring portion within the channel of the ring mount. The curved ring portion may be configured to rotate within the channel of the ring mount while the ring mount is fixed to the platform, an angular head position of the patient being selectably adjustable while the patient is laying on the platform.

Abstract: A variable length interstitial probe apparatus includes: a probe for effecting thermal therapy and/or cryotherapy to a tissue; a flexible umbilical sheath permanently affixed to the probe, including at least one interface for supplying energy, cooling fluid, cooling gas, heating fluid, and/or heating gas to the probe; and an adjustable depth stop configured to slide along a length of a shaft region of the probe, and lock to the shaft region at a selected position. The adjustable depth stop is configured to engage a probe driver and/or a skull mount apparatus to stabilize positioning of the probe and to control a depth of entry of the probe into a patient. The probe may be configured to effect temperature modulation therapy, where processing circuitry activates a modulation pattern of thermal therapy emission and cryogenic therapy emission for applying a thermal dose to the tissue.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an user of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for effecting thermal therapy using an in vivo probe includes positioning the probe in a volume in a patient, identifying an irregularly shaped three-dimensional region of interest and automatically applying thermal therapy to the region using the probe. Applying thermal therapy may include identifying a first emission level at a first rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission of the probe, causing rotation of the probe to a next rotational angle, identifying a next emission level at the next rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission to deliver therapeutic energy, and repeating rotation and emission until therapeutic energy has been delivered to the volume.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a head fixation apparatus including a number of support posts, and a curved ring portion including a number of connectors configured to adjustably and releasably mount support posts on the lower ring portion, such that the support posts are selectively mounted to a subset of the connectors in a customized arrangement for a patient. The apparatus may include a ring mount configured for fixation to a platform, including a curved channel substantially matching a curvature of the curved ring portion, and a mount locking mechanism for locking the curved ring portion within the channel of the ring mount. The curved ring portion may be configured to rotate within the channel of the ring mount while the ring mount is fixed to the platform, an angular head position of the patient being selectably adjustable while the patient is laying on the platform.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an user of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an user of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Thermal monitoring of tissue during a thermal therapy may include identifying an imaging plane bisection axis lying along at least one of a longitudinal axis of a thermal therapy instrument and a vector through a region of interest. The method may include identifying multiple thermal monitoring planes used in monitoring thermal therapy of the volume, where each thermal monitoring plane intersects the region of interest, where a first thermal monitoring plane intersects a second thermal monitoring plane at the imaging plane bisection axis, and the first thermal monitoring plane is offset from the second thermal monitoring plane by an angle of intersection. The method may include and performing thermal monitoring of the thermal therapy by obtaining magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained from the first monitoring plane and the second monitoring plane, and calculating, based on the images, temperature data of the volume.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an user of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an user of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: A drive system for controlling movement of an elongate member includes a base unit having a first rotatable knob and a second rotatable knob, a follower assembly including a follower slidably coupled to a guide rail, a longitudinal movement wire, and a rotational movement wire. The follower includes a longitudinal movement pulley, a rotational movement pulley, and an alignment element structured to receive an elongate member such that the elongate member is attachable thereto. The longitudinal movement wire operably couples the first rotatable knob to the longitudinal movement pulley such that rotation of the first knob drives the follower in a longitudinal direction along the guide rail. The rotational movement wire operably couples the second rotatable knob to the rotational movement pulley such that rotation of the second knob rotates the alignment element and attached elongate member.