Ultrasound Phased Array Rib Bypass for Noninvasive Thermal Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Focused ultrasound therapy for treating liver tumors is hindered by chest ribs, which cause skin burns, energy absorption, and phase aberrations, often requiring partial surgical removal to avoid these issues, thus compromising the noninvasive nature of the treatment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a three-dimensional chest-rib distribution reconstruction and an ultrasound phased array to selectively activate or deactivate elements, avoiding energy absorption and reflection by ribs, allowing for focused ultrasound therapy through intact ribs by calculating the acoustic emission direction and controlling the phased array elements' activation status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If focused ultrasound therapy is applied through the chest ribs, then the treatment can be performed noninvasively, but the ribs cause energy absorption, reflection, and skin burns
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasound transducer is divided into multiple independently controllable elements arranged in a phased array. Each element can be selectively activated or deactivated based on its position relative to the ribs, allowing the system to segment the ultrasound beam and bypass rib structures while maintaining noninvasive treatment capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different elements of the phased array are assigned different activation states based on their local anatomical context. Elements positioned to avoid ribs are activated, while those that would direct energy through ribs are deactivated, creating localized quality variations in the ultrasound beam to prevent skin burns and energy absorption
2Object-affected harmful factors
If partial surgical removal of ribs is performed to avoid energy absorption, then skin burns and energy absorption are prevented, but the noninvasive nature of the treatment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation state of each phased array element based on real-time anatomical information from medical images. This dynamic control allows the ultrasound beam to adapt to the patient's unique rib structure, preventing energy absorption and skin burns while maintaining the noninvasive nature of the treatment by eliminating the need for surgical rib removal
3Use of energy by moving object
If all elements of the ultrasound phased array are activated, then maximum acoustic energy is delivered to the target, but rib interference causes phase aberrations and reduces treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the harmful influence of ribs by selectively deactivating phased array elements that would direct ultrasound energy through rib structures. This extraction of problematic beam paths eliminates phase aberrations caused by ribs while maintaining maximum acoustic energy delivery through the remaining activated elements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses medical images (CT, MRI, or ultrasound) to obtain three-dimensional distribution information of the ribs and target, then feeds this information back to the control system to determine the optimal activation pattern of phased array elements. This feedback loop ensures that elements causing rib interference are deactivated while maintaining effective energy delivery to the target
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 approach prevents skin burns, reduces rib damage, increases acoustic energy deposition at the target, and eliminates the need for partial rib removal, enhancing the noninvasive nature of focused ultrasound therapy by optimizing energy delivery and minimizing risks.
Implementation Method 1
applying ultrasound waves on a target point beyond the subject's ribs by selectively activating and/or deactivating one or more elements of an ultrasound phased array
Implementation Method 2
Focused ultrasound thermal ablation can be used to focus energy onto soft tissues noninvasively and induce a localized temperature elevation (e.g., 30-55° C.) within a few seconds
Implementation Method 3
The resulting high temperature can generate irreversible tissue necrosis at the target region
Implementation Method 4
avoid ultrasonic energy absorption and/or reflection by an intervening rib based on a calculation of a relationship between the three-dimensional chest-rib distribution and an acoustic emission direction
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system and method for treating a disorder of a subject by thermal ablation, e.g., focused ultrasound thermal ablation, are provided. The method includes obtaining medical images that include at least one image of subject's chest and ribs to reconstruct a three-dimensional chest-rib distribution; and applying ultrasound waves on a target point beyond the subject's ribs by selectively activating one or more elements of an ultrasound phased array to avoid ultrasonic energy absorption or reflection by an intervening rib based on a calculation of a relationship between the three-dimensional chest-rib distribution and an acoustic emission direction.