Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Abstract: A therapy system includes a therapy module to perform successive deposits of energy in a target zone. The therapy system further includes a control module configured to, prior to deposits of energy, produce an a priori estimate of the induced heating. A thermometry module is configured to measure temperature in a measurement field. The induced heating may be derived based on a tissue model from the settings of a therapy module. The therapy module includes a high-intensity focused ultrasound transmitter. A magnetic resonance examination system configured for thermometry is employed as the thermometry module.

Abstract: A medical apparatus including an ultrasound transmitter and receiver system for acquiring ultrasound data descriptive of the speed of ultrasound along at least two paths. The medical apparatus further includes a medical imaging system for acquiring medical image data and a memory containing instructions that causes the processor to acquire the medical image data. The instructions further cause the processor to acquire the ultrasound data. The instructions further cause the processor to segment the medical image data into at least two tissue types. The instructions further causes the processor to determine at least two distances corresponding to the at least two paths in the subject. The instructions further cause the processor to calculate the speed of ultrasound in the at least two tissue types.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic system which comprises an ultrasound therapy unit (1, 518) arranged to insonify at least a portion of a body (2, 508) of a patient with high intensity ultrasound and a MR imaging unit (3, 500) arranged to acquire MR signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to reconstruct a thermographic MR image from the MR signals. It is an object of the invention to enable MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, in which temperature values within critical anatomic regions containing fat can be monitored. The invention proposes that the therapeutic system further comprises an ultrasound diagnostic unit (5, 518) which is arranged to acquire ultrasound signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to derive at least one local temperature value from the ultrasound signals.

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 medical apparatus (400) comprising an ultrasound transmitter (444, 602) and receiver (446, 604) system (600) for acquiring ultrasound data (476) descriptive of the speed of ultrasound (304, 306) along at least two paths (606, 1114). The medical apparatus further comprises a medical imaging system (402) for acquiring medical image data (468) and a memory (464) containing instructions (490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504) that causes the processor to acquire (100, 200) the medical image data. The instructions further cause the processor to acquire (102, 202) the ultrasound data. The instructions further cause the processor to segment (104, 204) the medical image data into at least two tissue types (434, 436, 610, 612, 708, 710). The instructions further causes the processor to determine (106, 206) at least two distances corresponding to the at least two paths in the subject. The instructions further cause the processor to calculate (108, 208) the speed of ultrasound in the at least two tissue types.

Abstract: A therapy system includes a therapy module, e.g., a high-intensity-focused ultrasound transmitter, to perform successive deposits of energy in a target zone. The successive deposits being separated by a cool down period. The therapy system further includes a thermometry module, e.g. by a magnetic resonance examination system, configured for thermometry to measure temperature in a measurement field. A control module regulates the cool down period in dependence of the measured off-focus maximum temperature during the energy deposit preceding the cool down period.

Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic system which comprises an ultrasound therapy unit (1, 518) arranged to insonify at least a portion of a body (2, 508) of a patient with high intensity ultrasound and a MR imaging unit (3, 500) arranged to acquire MR signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to reconstruct a thermographic MR image from the MR signals. It is an object of the invention to enable MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, in which temperature values within critical anatomic regions containing fat can be monitored. The invention proposes that the therapeutic system further comprises an ultrasound diagnostic unit (5, 518) which is arranged to acquire ultrasound signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to derive at least one local temperature value from the ultrasound signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic system which comprises: an ultrasound therapy unit (1) arranged to insonify at least a portion of a body (2) of a patient with high intensity ultrasound, wherein the ultrasound therapy unit (1) comprises an ultrasound applicator (10) attached to a patient table (9) carrying the body (2) of the patient, and a MR imaging unit (3) arranged to acquire MR signals from the portion of the body (2) and to reconstruct a MR image from the MR signals, wherein the MR imaging unit (3) comprises a RF receiving antenna (14) for receiving the MR signals. It is an object of the invention to provide a therapeutic system which facilitates a good image quality close to the ultrasound applicator and improves the usability of the therapeutic system. To this end, the invention proposes that the RF receiving antenna (14) is integrally incorporated into the patient table (9).

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 therapy system comprising a therapy module, e.g. a high-intensity- focused ultrasound transmitter, to perform successive deposits of energy in a target zone, the successive deposits being separated by a cool down period. The therapy system being provided with a thermometry module, e.g. by a magnetic resonance examination system configured for thermometry to measure temperature in a measurement field. A control module regulates the cool down period in dependence of the measured off-focus maximum temperature during the energy deposit preceding the cool down period.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising a resonant pickup circuit (102) arranged to pick up a magnetic resonance signal, an analog-to-digital converter (105) arranged to convert the magnetic resonance signal to digital data, and a frequency converter arranged to convert a primary band of frequencies of the digital data. By upshifting the frequency of the transmitted bit-stream, it is possible to RF-trap the transmission channel (109) by simple high-pass filtering techniques. In case the transmitted bit pattern has frequency components that approach the resonance frequency, an encoding technique like Manchester encoding can be used to eliminate unwanted signals.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising a resonant pickup circuit (102) arranged to pick up a magnetic resonance signal, an analog-to-digital converter (105) arranged to convert the magnetic resonance signal to digital data, and a frequency converter arranged to convert a primary band of frequencies of the digital data. By upshifting the frequency of the transmitted bit-stream, it is possible to RF-trap the transmission channel (109) by simple high-pass filtering techniques. In case the transmitted bit pattern has frequency components that approach the resonance frequency, an encoding technique like Manchester encoding can be used to eliminate unwanted signals.

Abstract: An interface system is provided for planning a surgical procedure for inserting an object into a patient along a surgical planning trajectory from an entry point on the patient to a target point within the patient. Using an imaging device, a first scan of the patient is performed to generate a first image volume data set of a first area of the patient. A first sectional image of the patient is displayed on a human-readable display device associated with the imaging device. The first sectional image is based on the first image volume data set. Using an operator interface device, a second planning image of the patient is defined by placing a plurality of graphical point symbols in the first sectional image of the patient displayed on the display device. The plurality of graphical point symbols define a second area of the patient to be subject of display as a second sectional image of the patient.

Abstract: A phantom (50) is positioned on a patient support couch (16) of a diagnostic imaging scanner (10). The phantom includes a plurality of diagnostically imageable elements (52) which are mounted in a fixed relationship such that when projections are made along three orthogonal axes, the projections of the diagnostically elements along each axis are non-overlapping. At least three markers (56) on the phantom are monitored by infrared sensitive cameras (30, 32) or other pick-up devices and the location of the markers in image guided surgery (IGS) space is determined (36). From a priori information about the structure of the phantom, the geometric centers of the imageable elements is determined and projected (64) along the coordinate system axes of IGS space. The phantom is imaged by the diagnostic imaging system to generate projections of the diagnostically imageable elements along each of three coordinate axes of diagnostic image space.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging suite is sheathed with plates (32, 34, 36) of iron or other ferrous material. The plates define projections (42, 44, 54, 54', 68) in alignment with each other on opposite ceiling and floor or wall surfaces. A pair of magnetic pole pieces (10, 10'; 50, 50'; 60, 60') are surrounded by superconducting electromagnetic coils (12, 12'; 52, 52'; 62, 62'). The pole pieces are positioned between the ferrous plates in axial alignment. When current flows through the electromagnetic coils, magnetic flux flows between the pole pieces. The ferrous wall sheathing or other ferrous constructions define a flux return path. The pole pieces are magnetically attracted toward each other and are each magnetically mirrored in and attracted toward the adjacent ferrous flux return path.