Adaptive, closed-loop ultrasound therapy
Inventors
Vortman, Kobi • Levy, Yoav • Prus, Oleg • Vitek, Shuki
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11806496-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various approaches to focusing an ultrasound transducer includes causing the ultrasound transducer to transmit ultrasound waves to the target region; causing the detection system to indirectly measure the focusing properties; and based at least in part on the indirectly measured focusing properties, adjusting a parameter value associated with at least one of the transducer elements so as to achieve a target treatment power at the target region.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a focused-ultrasound system that indirectly measures a focusing property at a target region using acoustic signals from an exogenous agent or microbubbles, or an ARFI imaging system. A controller uses the measured property, including acoustic pressure or peak acoustic intensity, to adjust transducer parameters such as frequency, phase, power level, or amplitude so as to achieve target treatment power.
The disclosed feedback uses measurements from multiple transducer regions and repeats measurement and adjustment until a stopping condition is met. The system also describes selecting frequency based on target-region energy absorption and introducing an exogenous agent or microbubbles when absorption is below a predetermined value. The problem identified in the background is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The relevant claims identify three independent claims covering three principal inventive features concerning indirect measurement and adjustment of ultrasound focusing, microbubble cavitation, and agent introduction based on target-region energy absorption.
Indirect measurement using acoustic signals from an exogenous agent or microbubbles
Independent claim 1 recites two or more acoustic-signal detectors that measure signals from an exogenous agent or microbubbles at two or more regions of the transducer elements to indirectly measure acoustic pressure or peak acoustic intensity at the target region. The controller adjusts a frequency, phase, power level, or amplitude associated with those regions to achieve target treatment power.
Microbubble cavitation and reflector behavior
Independent claim 7 recites a detection system comprising an ARFI imaging system or an acoustic-signal detector to indirectly measure a focusing property at the target region. The controller adjusts a transducer-element parameter to achieve target treatment power and to cause cavitation of microbubbles, which during cavitation behave as half-wavelength or quarter-wavelength rigid-sphere reflectors.
Agent introduction based on target-region energy absorption
Independent claim 9 recites indirectly measuring a focusing property and adjusting a transducer-element parameter to achieve target treatment power. The controller compares target-region energy absorption inferred from the measured property to a predetermined value and, when the amount is smaller, causes an administration device to introduce an exogenous agent or microbubbles to the target region.
The three independent claims cover detector-based indirect measurement and transducer adjustment, adjustment that causes microbubble cavitation with specified reflector behavior, and agent or microbubble introduction when inferred target-region energy absorption is below a predetermined value.
Stated Advantages
The system adjusts transducer parameters to avoid damage to non-target tissue.
Documented Applications
Closed-loop focused-ultrasound therapy that adjusts transducer parameters to achieve target treatment power at a target region.
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