Ultrasound Lesion Characterization via Elastographic Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive HIFU treatments for cancerous tumors face challenges in controlling therapeutic margins due to the lack of a non-invasive imaging method that is strictly representative of cell death, making it difficult to ensure complete treatment of the targeted area without resorting to complex and expensive imaging systems or algorithms.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the acquisition of characterization images after ultrasound treatment, detecting a contrast border to determine the extension of the ultrasound lesion, and calculating a margin rate by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment images using a toroidal or pseudo-cylindrical geometry ultrasound probe, which allows for visualization of the lesion using conventional ultrasound imaging without complex processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging is used to visualize the target zone, then the imaging system is simple and cost-effective, but the biological lesion produced is not visible and therapeutic margins cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from conventional B-mode to elastographic imaging, which measures tissue elasticity changes induced by ultrasound heating. This parameter change enables visualization of the biological lesion and control of therapeutic margins while maintaining relative system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces elastographic imaging as an intermediary mechanism between the ultrasound treatment and the imaging system. The elastographic signal acts as a mediator that translates the physical effects of ultrasound heating into visible contrast, enabling margin control without requiring complex additional imaging hardware
2Measurement precision
If new ultrasonic imaging modalities such as elastographic imaging are used to visualize tissue lesions, then therapeutic margins can be controlled, but the imaging system becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ultrasound imaging system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both conventional B-mode imaging and elastographic imaging. The same ultrasound system can switch between visualizing the target zone and characterizing the biological lesion, eliminating the need for separate expensive imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the ultrasound imaging mode to achieve elastographic imaging. By changing the imaging parameter from conventional B-mode to elastographic mode, the system can visualize tissue elasticity changes without requiring fundamental hardware changes, thus reducing system complexity
3Measurement precision
If computer tools such as multimodal image fusion are used to confirm positioning, then therapeutic margins can be controlled to some extent, but the method is not strictly representative of cell death and requires wide therapeutic margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastographic imaging as an intermediary that directly visualizes the biological lesion and its evolution. This intermediary provides a reliable link between the ultrasound treatment and the actual tissue changes, enabling accurate positioning confirmation and therapeutic margin control without relying on indirect methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by enabling real-time or near-real-time visualization of the biological lesion's evolution during and after treatment. The elastographic imaging provides feedback on the actual tissue changes, allowing for accurate assessment of therapeutic margins and positioning 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
Enables effective characterization of ultrasound lesions using conventional ultrasound imaging, providing a cost-effective and universally deployable method to control therapeutic margins and confirm the extent of tissue destruction, thereby improving the accuracy of HIFU treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The absorption of ultrasonic energy by biological tissues leads to a significant increase in temperature which causes immediate and irreversible necrosis of the tissues at the focal point of the ultrasonic beam
Implementation Method 2
detecting in the image the presence of a contrast border, and from the contrast border, to determine the extension of the ultrasound lesion
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for characterising an ultrasound wound (T) in organic tissues, caused by the application of focused, high-intensity ultrasounds delivered by a probe having an emission surface with a toric geometry. Said method involves: obtaining, after a delay of at least two days from the end of the application of the ultrasounds, at least one image for characterising (le) the organic tissues; detecting the presence of a contrast line (16) in the characterisation image (le); and determining the extent of the ultrasound wound on the basis of the contrast line (16).