System and method for open-loop ultrasound therapy to the prostate including restricting the therapy delivered to a predetermined angular range
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Publication Number
US-11944847-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for delivering ultrasound therapy using open-loop controls comprises inserting a distal tip of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator into a patient's urethra, the distal tip including an ultrasound transducer; acquiring ultrasound images of the patient's urethra and prostate with an ultrasound imaging probe; aligning the distal tip of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator with the patient's prostate using the ultrasound images; delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to the patient's prostate, with the ultrasound transducer, according to a treatment plan, the treatment plan including a predetermined limited angular range for the therapeutic ultrasound energy that avoids the patient's rectum and neurovascular bundles, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound is delivered without temperature feedback data.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an open-loop transurethral ultrasound therapy system and a method for delivering ultrasound therapy for prostate treatment. A distal tip of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator is inserted into a patient's urethra, and the distal tip includes an ultrasound transducer for delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to the patient's prostate. The approach avoids using temperature feedback data, including MRI thermometry feedback data, during therapeutic delivery.
Ultrasound images of the patient's urethra and prostate are acquired with an ultrasound imaging probe, and the distal tip of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator is aligned with the patient's prostate using the ultrasound images. The ultrasound images are registered with a reference location on the therapeutic ultrasound applicator to provide registered ultrasound images, and a computer defines a treatment plan using the registered ultrasound images. This enables applicator alignment and treatment planning without temperature feedback data.
The treatment plan constrains the therapeutic ultrasound energy to a predetermined limited angular range that restricts delivery to only a lateral and/or an anterior direction between a left transition region of the prostate and a right transition region of the prostate. The predetermined limited angular range is configured to avoid delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy in an angular direction of the patient's rectum, neurovascular bundles, and internal organs other than the patient's prostate.
The treatment plan further includes a predetermined limited radial range that avoids a region immediately beyond the patient's prostate and a predetermined limited axial range between a base and an apex of the patient's prostate.
Claims Coverage
The only independent claim explicitly provided is a single method claim. It includes open-loop delivery without temperature feedback data, ultrasound image acquisition and alignment with image registration to the applicator, and treatment-plan constraints that limit angular, radial, and axial delivery to avoid rectum, neurovascular bundles, and internal organs other than the prostate.
Open-loop ultrasound therapy delivery without temperature feedback data
Delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to the patient's prostate with the ultrasound transducer according to a treatment plan, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound is delivered without temperature feedback data.
Ultrasound image acquisition, applicator alignment, and image registration to a reference location
Acquiring ultrasound images of the patient's urethra and prostate with an ultrasound imaging probe; aligning the distal tip of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator with the patient's prostate using the ultrasound images; registering the ultrasound images with a reference location on the therapeutic ultrasound applicator to provide registered ultrasound images.
Predetermined limited angular range constrained to lateral/anterior directions between left and right transition regions
Defining the treatment plan to include a predetermined limited angular range for the therapeutic ultrasound energy, the predetermined limited angular range restricting the therapeutic ultrasound energy to only a lateral and/or an anterior direction between a left transition region of the prostate and a right transition region of the prostate to avoid delivering the therapeutic ultrasound energy in an angular direction of the patient's rectum, neurovascular bundles, and internal organs other than the patient's prostate.
Predetermined limited radial range and axial range between base and apex
Defining the treatment plan includes setting a predetermined limited radial range for the therapeutic ultrasound energy that avoids a region immediately beyond the patient's prostate and a predetermined limited axial range for the therapeutic ultrasound energy between a base and an apex of the patient's prostate.
Across the independent method claim, the core inventive coverage centers on open-loop therapeutic delivery without temperature feedback data combined with ultrasound-image-based applicator alignment and registered treatment planning, while constraining delivery via predetermined limited angular, radial, and axial ranges to avoid directions toward the rectum, neurovascular bundles, and internal organs other than the prostate.
Stated Advantages
Increased safety.
Reduced cost/time.
Documented Applications
Open-loop transurethral ultrasound therapy for prostate treatment, avoiding MRI thermometry feedback by using ultrasound imaging for applicator alignment and image registration.
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