Abstract: An RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed for use in a hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (or MR scanner), which comprises an MRI system and another imaging system for example in the form of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system. The RF transmit and/or receive antenna (40, 50) is provided with respect to its conductor structure such that it does not disturb or in any other way detrimentally influence the related other (i.e. HIFU) of the two systems, especially if both systems are operated simultaneously and if the RF antenna is positioned in close proximity to an object to be imaged.

Abstract: A mild hyperthermia treatment apparatus (10) includes an imager (12), which generates a planning image (34) and temperature maps (36) of a target region. An array of ultrasonic transducer drivers (52) individually drives ultrasonic transducers of a phased array of ultrasonic transducers (50). One or more processors or units receive a target temperature profile, and calculate power, frequency, and relative phase for the transducer drivers to drive the phased array of ultrasonic transducers to generate a multi-foci sonication pattern configured to heat the target region with the target temperature profile while limiting peak acoustic pressures. During treatment, the imager generates a series of temperature maps which the one or more processors or units compare with the target temperature profile and, based on the comparison, adjust the power, frequency and relative phase with which the transducer drivers drive the ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: The invention provides for medical instrument (200, 400) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202) and a high intensity focused ultrasound system (222). A processor (246) controls the medical instrument. Instructions cause the processor to control (100) the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the magnetic resonance data using a pulse sequence (254). The pulse sequence comprises an acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence (500, 600). The acoustic radiation force imaging pulse sequence comprises an excitation pulse (512) and a multi-dimensional gradient pulse (514) applied during the radio frequency excitation pulse for selectively exciting a region of interest (239) encompassing a target zone and at least a portion of the beam axis.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202) and a high intensity focused ultrasound system (202) with an adjustable focus (238). Execution of instructions causes a processor to control (100) medical instrument to sonicate the multiple sonication points while repeatedly acquire the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data. Multiple thermal maps are reconstructed using the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data and a heating center of mass is calculated for each. By comparing each of the heating center of masses to the sonication points a spatially dependent targeting correction (266) is determined. The spatially dependent targeting correction is then used to offset the adjustable focus.

Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The medical apparatus further comprises a heating system (320, 502, 601) operable for heating a target zone (321) and a processor (326). Execution of machine readable instructions causes the processor to receive (100, 200, 700, 800) a treatment plan (340). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to repeatedly: control (102, 204, 704, 804, 900, 1002) the heating system, using the treatment plan, to heat the target zone during alternating heating periods and cooling periods; acquire (104, 208, 702, 706, 802, 806, 902, 906, 1000, 1004) magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system, and modify (110, 214, 712, 812, 1008) the treatment plan using the magnetic resonance data. The instructions cause the processor to acquire the magnetic resonance data during a cooling period selected from at least one of the cooling periods.

Abstract: A medical instrument (900, 1000) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (911) comprising an ultrasound transducer (102, 104, 202, 204, 302, 407, 08) with an adjustable sonication frequency. The ultrasound transducer comprises capacitive micromachined transducers (102, 104, 202, 204, 302, 407, 508). Execution of machine executable instructions by a processor causes the processor to: receive (700, 800) a treatment plan (924) descriptive of a target zone (908) within a subject (902); determine (702, 802) a traversal distance (926) through the subject to the target zone using the treatment plan, wherein the traversal distance is descriptive of the traversal of ultrasound from the ultrasound transducer to the target zone; determine (704, 804) a sonication frequency (829) using the traversal distance for focusing the sonication volume onto the target zone; and sonicate (706, 806) the target zone using the high intensity focused ultrasound system at the sonication frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical apparatus (400, 500, 600, 700, 800) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (402) for acquiring magnetic resonance thermometry data (442) from a subject (418). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnet (404) with an imaging zone (408). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (432) for storing machine executable instructions (460, 462, 464, 466, 10, 660). The medical apparatus further comprises a processor (426) for controlling the medical apparatus, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: acquire (100, 200, 300) the magnetic resonance thermometry data from multiple slices (421, 421?, 421?) within the imaging zone by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system; and interpolate (102, 202, 204, 302, 304) a three dimensional thermal dose estimate (444) in accordance with the magnetic resonance thermometry data.

Abstract: A medical apparatus (600, 700, 800, 900) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (602) configured for generating focused ultrasonic energy (612) for sonicating within a target volume (620) of a subject (601). The high intensity focused ultrasound comprises an ultrasonic transducer (606) with a controllable focus (618). The apparatus further comprises a memory (634) containing machine executable for controlling the medical apparatus and a processor (628) for executing the instructions. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to cause (100, 200, 300, 400, 502) ultrasonic cavitations at multiple cavitation locations (622, 1002) within the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system. Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to sonicate (102, 206, 306, 402, 504) multiple sonication locations (1004) within the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system.

Abstract: A therapeutic apparatus (300, 400, 500) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (302) comprising an ultrasound transducer (306). The ultrasound transducer has an electronically adjustable focus (318). The high intensity focused ultrasound system has a beam deflection zone (322, 608, 704, 1010). The intensity of ultrasound at the electronically adjustable focus divided by the acoustic power emitted is above a predetermined threshold (606, 1008) within the beam deflection zone. The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a processor (328) for controlling the therapeutic apparatus. Execution of machine executable instructions (350, 352, 354) causes the processor to: receive (102, 202) real time medical data (342, 424, 506) descriptive of the location of a moving target (320, 802); adjust (104, 204) the electronically adjustable focus to target the moving target using the real time medical data; and sonicate (106, 206) the moving target when the moving target is within the beam deflection zone.

Abstract: A therapeutic apparatus comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (302) for sonicating a sonication volume (324) of a subject (320). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (300) for acquiring magnetic resonance thermometry data (350) within an imaging volume (316). The sonication volume is within the imaging volume. The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a controller (304) for controlling the therapeutic apparatus. The treatment plan comprises instructions for controlling the operation of the high intensity focused ultrasound system. The controller is adapted for sonicating (100) the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system. The controller is adapted for repeatedly acquiring (102) magnetic resonance thermometry data using the magnetic resonance imaging system during execution of the treatment plan.

Abstract: A catheter (700, 800, 1206) comprising: a shaft with distal (808, 906, 1004, 208) and proximal ends (1006),wherein the distal end comprises at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (308, 402, 404, 500, 512, 600, 604, 802, 008) with an adjustable focus for controllably heating a target zone (806, 1014, 1210); and a connector (1012) at the proximal end for supplying the at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers with electrical power and for controlling the adjustable focus.

Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (332) storing machine readable instructions (352, 354, 356, 358, 470, 472, 474) for execution by a processor (326). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire (100, 202) spectroscopic magnetic resonance data (334). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate (102, 204) a calibration thermal map (336) using the spectroscopic magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to acquire (104, 206) baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data (338). Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to repeatedly acquire (106, 212) magnetic resonance thermometry data (340).

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 medical apparatus (300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (301). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (330) containing instructions (350, 352, 354, 456, 458, 460) for execution by a processor (324). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to acquire (102, 202) baseline magnetic resonance data (332) and reconstruct (104, 204) a first image (334) using the baseline magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further cause the processor acquire (106, 212) undersampled magnetic resonance data (336), which is undersampled in k-space in comparison to the baseline magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further cause the processor reconstruct (108, 214) a second image (338) using the undersampled magnetic resonance data and the first image. The second image is reconstructed using an image ratio constrained reconstruction algorithm (354) and to calculate (110, 216) a temperature map (340) using the second image.

Abstract: A therapeutic apparatus (900, 1000) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (904) for heating a target zone (940, 1022). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (902). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a memory (952) containing machine executable instructions (980, 982, 984, 986, 988, 990) for execution by a processor (944). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to: generate (702, 802) heating commands (964) which cause the high intensity focused ultrasound system to sonicate the subject; repeatedly acquire (704, 804) magnetic resonance data (954) during execution of the heating commands; repeatedly calculate (706, 806) a spatially dependent parameter (970); and repeatedly modify (708, 808) the heating commands in accordance with the spatially dependent parameter such that within the target zone the spatially dependent parameter remains below a first predetermined threshold and above a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (900, 1000, 1100, 1200) for acquiring medical image data (930), the medical imaging system comprising: a tissue treating system (910, 1080, 1180, 1190, 1280, 1290) for treating a target volume (908); a computer system (918) comprising a processor (922), wherein the computer system is adapted for controlling the medical imaging system; and a memory (928) containing machine readable instructions (954, 956, 958, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970, 972, 974). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to: acquire (100, 200, 308) medical image data; reconstruct (102, 202, 310) a medical image (932) using the medical image data; receive (104, 204, 312) an image segmentation seed (600, 934) derived from a treatment plan (936), and identify (106, 210, 314) a treated volume (400, 700, 800) in the medical image by segmenting the medical image in accordance with the image segmentation seed.

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: A therapeutic apparatus comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (302) for sonicating a sonication volume (324) of a subject (320). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (300) for acquiring magnetic resonance thermometry data (350) within an imaging volume (316). The sonication volume is within the imaging volume. The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a controller (304) for controlling the therapeutic apparatus. The treatment plan comprises instructions for controlling the operation of the high intensity focused ultrasound system. The controller is adapted for sonicating (100) the target volume using the high intensity focused ultrasound system. The controller is adapted for repeatedly acquiring (102) magnetic resonance thermometry data using the magnetic resonance imaging system during execution of the treatment plan.

Abstract: An RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed for use in a hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (or MR scanner), which comprises an MRI system and another imaging system for example in the form of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system. The RF transmit and/or receive antenna (40, 50) is provided with respect to its conductor structure such that it does not disturb or in any other way detrimentally influence the related other (i.e. HIFU) of the two systems, especially if both systems are operated simultaneously and if the RF antenna is positioned in close proximity to an object to be imaged.