Therapy Apparatus Motion Correction via Bubble Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current therapy methods that use waves or radiation to treat organs or tissues face challenges in accurately correcting for internal movements caused by respiratory and cardiac activities, as existing motion correction methods require additional imaging modalities and contrast agents, making precise and targeted treatment difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method that produces bubbles within or at the object using energy from waves such as ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, or chemical reactions, which are then detected and used to estimate the movement of the object, allowing for precise repositioning of the focal point to compensate for organ movements during treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional imaging modalities and contrast agents are used for motion correction, then measurement precision of organ movement is improved, but device complexity and loss of substance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The histotripsy ultrasonic probe itself performs the motion detection function by recording tissue movements and bubble positions, eliminating the need for separate imaging modalities. The probe serves dual purposes: therapeutic histotripsy and motion correction monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The motion correction capability is extracted from complex external imaging systems and integrated into the histotripsy probe, removing the dependency on additional imaging equipment and contrast agents while maintaining measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If additional imaging modalities and contrast agents are used for motion correction, then measurement precision of organ movement is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses naturally occurring tissue bubbles and endogenous contrast mechanisms that are already present during histotripsy treatment, eliminating the need for exogenous contrast agents while maintaining the ability to track organ movement precisely
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue disruption and bubble formation that are side effects of histotripsy treatment are converted into useful motion tracking markers, allowing the treatment process itself to provide the contrast needed for motion correction
3Measurement precision
If bubbles are produced in the object using wave energy, then movement detection precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The histotripsy ultrasonic waves that are already being applied for treatment serve dual purposes: delivering therapeutic energy and generating bubbles for motion tracking, eliminating the need for separate energy input dedicated solely to motion detection
Solution Approach 2:
The therapeutic histotripsy energy delivery and motion detection functions are merged into a single energy input process, where the same ultrasonic waves perform both treatment and monitoring functions simultaneously
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
Enables accurate and precise movement correction of organs or tissues during therapy by using bubbles to infer object movement, allowing for precise targeting and minimizing tissue damage, without the need for additional imaging or contrast agents, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of treatments like histotripsy and lithotripsy.
Implementation Method 1
bubbles (for example gas, vapor or vacuum bubbles) are produced in or at the object... bubbles may appear as a result of vaporization of tissue fluid. Alternatively, however, they may also appear as a result of negative pressure, as is the case in histotripsy. In this case, vacuum cavitations are formed
Implementation Method 2
waves may also be acoustic waves that are directed at the object. It is also possible for example here that ultrasound waves are used to act on the object
Implementation Method 3
The imaging transducer of the histotripsy instrument may be used to record tissue movements and/or organ movements by ultrasound
Implementation Method 4
a movement of the bubbles is recorded... an estimated value for the movement of the object is obtained from the movement of the bubbles
Data Source
AI summary
The movement of an object, in particular of an organ during histotripsy treatment is determined specifically for repositioning purposes. This is done by producing bubbles in or at the object. The bubbles are detected, and their movement is recorded. The movement of the object is estimated from their movement. If applicable, a focal point of a therapy apparatus may be repositioned in accordance with the movement of the object.