Method and system for MRI-based targeting, monitoring, and quantification of thermal and mechanical bioeffects in tissue induced by high intensity focused ultrasound

US10694974B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Washington · US
• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Ari Ilkka Mikael Partanen · Bethesda, US
• Vera A. Khokhlova · Seattle, US
• Navid Farr · Seattle, US
• Donghoon Lee · Seoul, KR
• Wayne Kreider · Seattle, US
• Tatiana D. Khokhlova · Seattle, US
• Adam D. Maxwell · Seattle, US
• Yak-Nam Wang · Seattle, US
• George R. Schade · Fullerton, US
• Michael R. Bailey · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 27, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 30, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 1, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/56341
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Example embodiments of system and method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for planning, real-time monitoring, control, and post-treatment assessment of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) mechanical fractionation of biological material are disclosed. An adapted form of HIFU, referred to as “boiling histotripsy” (BH), can be used to cause mechanical fractionation of biological material. In contrast to conventional HIFU, which cause pure thermal ablation, BH can generate therapeutic destruction of biological tissue with a degree of control and precision that allows the process to be accurately measured and monitored in real-time as well as the outcome of the treatment can be evaluated using a variety of MRI techniques. Real-time monitoring also allow for real-time control of BH.