HIFU Pulse Generator Motion Compensation for Thyroid Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current HIFU devices fail to accurately synchronize ultrasound pulse delivery with patient movements, particularly swallowing, during thyroid and parathyroid tissue treatment, leading to potential misalignment and side effects.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a first sensor for detecting swallowing motion and a second sensor for detecting thyroid/parathyroid position, coupled with a microprocessor-controlled HIFU pulse generator that adjusts and ceases pulse generation during motion, ensuring precise targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If HIFU therapy is applied to thyroid and parathyroid tissue, then treatment efficacy is improved, but misalignment due to patient movement causes side effects and reduced precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors patient movement using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, position sensors) and feeds this information back to the HIFU generator. The control system adjusts the HIFU beam direction and focal point in real-time based on detected movement, maintaining precise targeting despite patient motion. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures both high precision and reliability throughout the treatment procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The HIFU system transitions from a static targeting approach to a dynamic one that continuously adapts to patient movement. The system incorporates real-time motion compensation by adjusting beam direction and focal position dynamically during treatment. This dynamic adaptation maintains targeting precision even as the patient moves, resolving the contradiction between precision and reliability.
2Productivity
If HIFU pulses are delivered continuously, then treatment productivity is improved, but patient movement causes energy deposition in wrong tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time motion sensors to monitor patient position and provides continuous feedback to the HIFU control system. This feedback enables the system to maintain precise energy deposition accuracy even during continuous treatment, eliminating the need to pause for movement correction while preserving targeting precision throughout the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The HIFU system implements dynamic beam steering and focal point adjustment that operates continuously during treatment. Rather than pausing to correct for movement, the system dynamically tracks and compensates for patient motion in real-time, maintaining both high productivity and precise energy deposition throughout the entire treatment duration.
3Manufacturing precision
If sensors are added to detect movement and position, then targeting accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into unified components. For example, ultrasound transducers serve both as imaging sensors for detecting thyroid/parathyroid position and as HIFU generators for treatment. Position sensors and motion detectors are integrated into the existing treatment apparatus rather than added as separate external systems. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high targeting accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables precise and safe delivery of HIFU energy to thyroid or parathyroid tissues, minimizing side effects and maintaining treatment efficacy despite patient movement, thereby improving treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The use of ultrasound, including high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for therapeutic purposes has received significant attention in the medical community. During treatment, a portion of the mechanical energy from these high intensity sound waves is converted at the targeted location into thermal energy.
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the mechanical energy from these high intensity sound waves is converted at the targeted location into thermal energy. The amount of thermal energy converted can be sufficiently intense to cauterize tissue, or to cause tissue necrosis (by inducing a temperature rise to beyond 70° C).
Implementation Method 3
a first sensor for detecting a swallowing motion in a subject
Implementation Method 4
a second sensor for detecting a thyroid and/or parathyroid in the subject
Implementation Method 5
controlling means for controlling the HIFU pulse generator based on signals from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor... when the first sensor detects movement of a patient, the controlling means stops pulse generation from the HIFU pulse generator
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment device and methods for HIFU treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders are provided. The treatment method comprises identifying a treatment zone and directing high intensity focused ultrasound energy towards the treatment zone. The treatment device comprises the first sensor for detecting swallowing motion and the second sensor for tracking the motion of the thyroid and parathyroid tissue with ultrasound imaging. Thus, the treatment device allows for safe and non-invasive use of HIFU on thyroid and parathyroid tissue of patients by synchronizing HIFU pulse delivery with patient swallowing and/or directing the applicator of HIFU energy to follow the appropriate tissue when the patient moves.