Thermal Tagged Motion Tracking for Medical Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion tracking methods in medical procedures, such as HIFU therapy, face challenges with tissue motion caused by cardiac and respiratory forces, leading to inaccuracies in targeting due to non-translational motion like rotation, scaling, or deformation, which can result in incomplete treatment and longer treatment times.
Innovation Solution
A method involving thermally-tagged motion tracking, where a pattern of elevated temperature is created in tissue using ultrasound, allowing for the detection of temperature changes over time to determine tissue motion, enabling continuous and precise dosing adjustments during periodic cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tissue-based motion estimation is used, then motion tracking is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to errors from non-translational motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal markers as an intermediary substance injected into the tissue. These markers serve as reliable reference points that move with the tissue during physiological cycles. By tracking the thermal markers' position changes through temperature mapping, the system achieves accurate motion tracking without being affected by non-translational motion artifacts that plague direct tissue-based estimation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes temperature changes (thermal signal) as a detectable property to track tissue motion. By injecting thermal markers and monitoring their temperature distribution over time, the system creates a visualizable thermal map that shifts with tissue movement. This thermal signature provides reliable tracking data even when traditional ultrasound-based methods fail due to rotation, scaling, or deformation.
2Manufacturing precision
If respiratory gating is used, then treatment accuracy is improved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous treatment delivery by real-time tracking of thermal markers throughout the respiratory cycle. Instead of interrupting treatment for breath-hold commands or respiratory gating, the system continuously monitors marker position and dynamically adjusts beam positioning to follow the moving tissue. This maintains continuous useful action (treatment delivery) while preserving accuracy through active motion compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring the thermal markers' position during respiration and using this information to dynamically adjust the treatment beam positioning. The feedback loop real-time data from temperature mapping → determines marker displacement → updates beam target position → delivers continuous treatment. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for treatment interruption while maintaining precision.
3Productivity
If motion compensation is implemented, then treatment continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the thermal marker system multi-functional: the same thermal markers used for treatment delivery also serve as motion tracking references. The temperature mapping capability serves dual purposes - monitoring treatment effects and tracking tissue motion. This universality reduces the need for separate dedicated tracking systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving continuous motion-compensated treatment.
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 effectively compensates for tissue motion, ensuring continuous and efficient treatment by accurately tracking tissue position throughout physiological cycles, thereby reducing treatment time and improving targeting accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasound is transmitted to a plurality of locations in a pattern in tissue within a patient. The tissue is heated in the pattern in response to the transmitting.
Implementation Method 2
An imaging system scans the tissue of the patient after the heating. A first spatial distribution of temperature in the tissue at a first time is detected.
Data Source
AI summary
Motion tracking is performed with a thermal pattern within a patient. A pattern of different temperature is created in tissue, such as warming up tissue in a checkerboard pattern. The temperature pattern is used over time to track motion of the tissue. The tracked motion may be used to treat the tissue throughout at least part of a periodic cycle.