System and method for integrated biopsy and therapy
Inventors
Xu, Sheng • Kruecker, Jochen • Wood, Bradford Johns
Assignees
Koninklijke Philips NV • US Department of Health and Human Services
Publication Number
US-10980508-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
2030-05-14
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Abstract
A system and method for integrating diagnosis and treatment for internal tissues includes imaging (202) at least a portion of an internal organ of a subject using a first technology capable of differentiating tissue types, and targeting (205) and accessing biopsy sites using images of the first technology fused with images of a second technology capable of real-time image updates. Treatment of a biopsy site is planned (207) using the images of the first technology. Instruments for treating the biopsy site are guided (210) by fusing (208) the images of the first technology with the images of the second technology.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for integrating diagnosis and treatment of internal tissues by combining imaging technologies that differentiate tissue types, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with real-time imaging technologies like ultrasound. This integration includes fusing images from these modalities to guide biopsies and therapy more accurately. The system allows biopsy sites identified on high-detail static images to be targeted and accessed using real-time images fused with those static images. Treatment planning is then performed based on the static images and biopsy pathology, and therapy is guided using the fused images.
The problem addressed is that conventional prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy suffer from limitations due to the lack of effective image guidance. Blind sextant biopsies using only ultrasound have high false-negative rates and do not target cancer specifically, while therapy often involves whole-gland treatment that results in significant side effects. MRI alone, while sensitive, may miss lesions and is not usually compatible with real-time procedural guidance. As a result, diagnosis and therapy are separate, leading to difficulty in precisely targeting treatment to the cancer location identified by biopsy.
The invention solves this by providing a workflow that bridges the gap between biopsy and focal therapy using the same diagnostic MRI. It combines a tracked sextant biopsy with MRI-targeted biopsy, registers biopsy sites onto MRI images using MRI-ultrasound fusion, plans focal therapy on the MRI images informed by biopsy pathology, and guides therapy using the fused real-time and MRI images. This approach increases biopsy yield, detects lesions not visible on MRI alone, enables targeted therapy reducing side effects, and integrates diagnosis and treatment into a seamless process applicable beyond prostate cancer.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims define three primary inventive features relating to a method and system for integrating diagnosis and treatment through multi-modality imaging fusion and tracked intervention.
Integration of static and real-time imaging for biopsy and treatment
A method that images an internal organ using a first technology capable of differentiating tissue types to obtain static images, while simultaneously acquiring real-time images from a tracked probe using a second technology. The method fuses these images, identifies biopsy sites on the fused images, targets and accesses biopsy sites, obtains positional information, and transforms it to static image coordinates for planning treatment and guiding therapy using fused images.
Fusing MRI with ultrasound for prostate biopsy and focal therapy
A method specifically utilizing MRI as the first technology and ultrasound as the second technology for imaging a prostate. The method includes MRI-ultrasound fusion for biopsy targeting—including sextant and MRI-tracked biopsies—using tracking systems, planning treatment based on biopsy positions and pathology, and guiding focal therapy with fused MRI-ultrasound images.
System combining imaging scanners, tracking, and processing for integrated biopsy and therapy
A system comprising scanners to image an internal organ, a tracking system to monitor interventional instruments for biopsy and therapy, and a processor configured to generate fused static and real-time images. The system identifies biopsy sites, targets and accesses them with positional tracking, transforms biopsy site positions into static image coordinates, plans treatment based on pathology, and guides therapy instruments using fused images, including volumetric ultrasound reconstruction and re-registration for alignment.
The claims collectively cover methods and systems for fusing static images with real-time tracked imaging to integrate biopsy identification, site localization, treatment planning, and therapy guidance, with a strong focus on MRI-ultrasound fusion for prostate cancer procedures but applicable to other soft-tissue organs and therapies.
Stated Advantages
Improves accuracy of biopsy and focal treatment by combining detailed MRI with real-time ultrasound guidance.
Increases biopsy yield and detects lesions not visible by MRI alone by combining targeted and sextant biopsies.
Reduces side effects of therapy by enabling targeted focal treatment instead of whole-gland approaches.
Bridges gap between biopsy and therapy by using biopsy site positional information for precise treatment planning and delivery.
Allows multiple biopsies and therapies over time to be integrated and optimized through image registration and treatment site tracking.
Documented Applications
Prostate cancer diagnosis and targeted focal therapy combining MRI and transrectal ultrasound imaging.
Biopsy and treatment integration for any soft-tissue organ or cancer where imaging fusion and tracked intervention can be employed.
Focal therapies including ablative therapy, radiation-based therapy, photodynamic therapy guided by fused imaging.
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