Abstract: A therapeutic system, comprising: a MR imaging unit arranged to acquire MR signals from a patient in an examination volume, and a thermal treatment unit for depositing thermal energy within tissue of the patient. The system is arranged for: initiating a thermal treatment by heating the tissue at a focus within the examination volume selectively acquiring MR signals from a first image plane, including the focus, reconstructing a thermographic MR image from the MR signals acquired from the first image plane, computing a baseline thermographic MR image from a temperature distribution within at least one second image plane, moving the focus to a new position within the examination volume, changing the position and/or orientation of the first image plane corresponding to the new position of the focus, repeating the acquiring and reconstructing steps, wherein the baseline thermographic MR image is used for thermographic image reconstruction in a subsequent reconstructing step.

Abstract: A system and method for treating tissue uses an ultrasound therapy system including an ultrasonic applicator having has at least one transducer element. Steering and focusing of ultrasound beams uses at least one variable focus lens, which may be a fluid focus lens, attached to each transducer element so that focus of the variable focus lens is controlled by a voltage signal. A treatment controller receives input from an imager and controls the voltage applied to the variable focus lens. The treatment controller controls the lens voltage signals, at least partially determined by the input from the imager, and directs an ultrasonic treatment beam emitted by the transducer element. Fine adjustment of the therapy beam is achieved to deliver therapy for various prostate sizes and shapes while avoiding damage to critical structures such as the rectal wall and nerve bundles.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of three-dimensional ultrasound imaging and therapy comprising a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging array of transducer elements having an image signal transmitter and receiver that forms, steers and selectively focuses ultrasound beams to a three-dimensional moving or stationary spatial volume; one or more two-dimensional ultrasound therapy arrays of transducer elements, each array having a therapy signal transmitter that forms, steers and selectively focuses and delivers ultrasound therapy to the volume; wherein the location of the array of imaging and therapy transducer elements are known relative to one another; and a controller that controls the image transmitter and receiver to provide three-dimensional images of the volume and simultaneously independently controls each of the one or more therapy transmitters to deliver therapy to the volume.

Abstract: An ultrasonic blood flow sensor includes a plurality of adjacent triangular shaped transducer elements which transmit ultrasound waves into a blood vessel and receive reflected ultrasound waves from the blood flow in the vessel. Preferably the transducer elements are paired in pairs of transmit and receive elements. The elements are fixed in a matrix which may be attached in acoustic coupling contact with the skin The matrix retains adjacent transducer elements slightly spaced apart so that the matrix of transducer elements may bend and conform to the shape of the skin surface. The spacing between the triangular elements is neither parallel nor orthogonal to the length dimension of the matrix so that a blood vessel will not be aligned with a space between transducer elements when the matrix is affixed across the location of a blood vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic system comprising: a MR imaging unit arranged to acquire MR signals from a body (10) of a patient positioned in an examination volume, a thermal treatment unit (19, 20) for the deposition of thermal energy within tissue of the body (10). It is an object of the invention to enable continuous temperature monitoring based on MR thermometry even in a situation in which the focus of the thermal treatment is moved.

Abstract: A control apparatus (106) for controlling a therapeutic apparatus (100), wherein the control apparatus comprises: —an ultrasound control interface (110) for controlling a therapeutic ultrasound system (102), —a magnetic resonance control interface (112) for controlling a magnetic resonance apparatus (104) adapted for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject and for acquiring magnetic resonance spectroscopy data from a subject (244), —an image processing module (124, 126, 128) for generating at least one magnetic resonance imaging image (500) from the magnetic resonance imaging data and for generating at least one magnetic resonance spectroscopy map (502, 514, 516, 518, 520) from the magnetic resonance spectroscopy data, —a planning module (120) adapted for receiving the magnetic resonance imaging image and the magnetic resonance spectroscopy map and for outputting planning data (732), —a control module (122) adapted for controlling the therapeutic ultrasound system using the ultrasound control

Abstract: An ultrasound ablation system can include an imaging device (50) for capturing first imaging of a region of interest, a processor (75) for receiving a selection of a planned target volume using the first imaging, and an ultrasound transducer (170) for performing first ultrasound ablation on the planned target volume. The processor can select ultrasound ablation shapes from a library of ultrasound ablation shapes. The ultrasound transducer can apply energy to the planned target volume based at least in part on the selected ultrasound ablation shapes. The imaging device can capture second imaging of the region of interest after application of the first ultrasound ablation. The processor can select other ultrasound ablation shapes from the library of ultrasound ablation shapes based at least in part on the second imaging.

Abstract: A system and method for treating tissue, such as treating prostate diseases, using an ultrasound therapy system. An ultrasonic applicator (100) has at least one transducer element (102). The steering and focusing of ultrasound beams uses at least one variable focus lens, which may be a fluid focus lens (10), attached to each transducer element so that focus of the variable focus lens is controlled by a voltage signal. A treatment controller (122) receives input from an imaging means (124) and controls the voltage applied to the variable focus lens (10). The treatment controller controls the lens voltage signals, at least partially determined by the input from the imaging means, and directs an ultrasonic treatment beam (26) emitted by the transducer element. Fine adjustment of the therapy beam is achieved to deliver therapy for various prostate sizes and shapes while avoiding damage to critical structures such as the rectal wall and nerve bundles.

Abstract: A phased ultrasound array for an ultrasound generating device. In one embodiment, the array includes a plurality of ultrasound elements arranged symmetrically about a point or dividing line in the array with respect to element size, shape and/or element location. In another embodiment, a majority of larger elements of the ultrasound array are arranged on a first portion of the array and a majority of smaller ultrasound elements are arranged on a second portion of the array. The first portion is closer to a preferred direction of steering than the second portion. Another method includes selecting randomly sized ultrasound elements and arranging the ultrasound elements symmetrically on the array. An additional method includes selecting randomly sized ultrasound elements and arranging the ultrasound elements wherein the larger ultrasound elements are arranged on a first portion of the array and smaller ultrasound elements are arranged on a second portion of the array.

Abstract: Described is a method for the delivery of a therapeutic agent to a mammal, particularly a human person, comprising (i) the administration of ultrasound particles that undergo a physical change when subjected to ultrasound; (ii) the administration of the therapeutic agent in an ultrasound dosage form allowing release of the therapeutic agent to be affected by the application of ultrasound, (iii) the application of ultrasound so as to affect a physical change in at least some of the ultrasound particles, and (iv) the application of ultrasound so as to stimulate release of the therapeutic agent. According to the invention the ultrasound particles are subjected to detection of their acoustic responses via echoes and/or emissions. The information thus obtained is processed and the processed information is used to adapt or adjust the ultrasound-mediated delivery of the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of three-dimensional ultrasound imaging and therapy comprising a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging array of transducer elements having an image signal transmitter and receiver that forms, steers and selectively focuses ultrasound beams to a three-dimensional moving or stationary spatial volume; one or more two-dimensional ultrasound therapy arrays of transducer elements, each array having a therapy signal transmitter that forms, steers and selectively focuses and delivers ultrasound therapy to the volume; wherein the location of the array of imaging and therapy transducer elements are known relative to one another; and a controller that controls the image transmitter and receiver to provide three-dimensional images of the volume and simultaneously independently controls each of the one or more therapy transmitters to deliver therapy to the volume.

Abstract: A method and system of magnetic hyperthermia control using ultrasound thermometry, the method comprising: acquiring a reference set of ultrasound data corresponding to a tissue of interest (121); applying a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles (210) at the tissue of interest (121); applying an electromagnetic field based on a set of operating parameters to initiate the hyperthermia; acquiring another set of ultrasound data corresponding to the tissue of interest (121); and determining a temperature change based on the reference set of ultrasound data and the other set of ultrasound data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for medical ultrasound diagnostics use time multiplexing of ultrasonic transducers of a multi-transducer array (108) disposed upon or in an application pad. Embodiments of the invention facilitate low excitation power and low wire count electrical interfaces (106, 306, 406) to the transducers and reduce electromagnetic interference between the transducers, as well as increase reliability and accuracy of positioning the application pad on the body of a patient. In one exemplary application, the invention facilitates assessment of blood perfusion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a highly automated puncture system for inserting a cannula or a needle into a blood vessel of a person or an animal. The puncture system has an acquisition module that allows for determining at least a location of a blood vessel underneath of the surface of a skin and is further enabled to determine an optimal puncture location that is potentially suitable for inserting a cannula into the blood vessel. Further, the puncture system has tissue analysis means to analyse the skin surface in the proximity of the puncture location to check whether the skin is suitable for punctuation. This prevents puncturing the skin at locations where scars, wound and the like can be found.

Abstract: An ultrasound method and apparatus for detecting and/or measuring the pulse and/or blood flow of a subject calculates a Doppler signal spectrum from an ultrasound signal backscattered from the blood in an artery of the subject. Indicia of flow behavior are calculated for several frequency slices within the Doppler signal spectrum and these indicia may be used to determine pulsatility and/or blood flow, as well as other parameters of flow behavior. Because of the robust nature of the calculated indicia, the ultrasound method and apparatus has particular use in an Automated or Semi-Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for determining whether to defibrillate a patient.