Systems and methods for optimizing transskull acoustic treatment

1 . A method for transskull ultrasound treatment with optimized focusing properties at a target region, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one image of a patient's skull;

computationally determining a plurality of local parameters, each local parameter representing structural characteristics of a local skull region on a beam path from one of a plurality of transducer elements to the target region, being calculated for each respective beam path, and representing a measure of anatomical variation along the beam path, determined from the at least one image and indicative of structural inhomogeneity affecting acoustic energy transmission to the target region; and

activating at least some of the plurality of transducer elements with transmission powers determined in accordance with the local parameters associated therewith to improve focusing effectiveness of the ultrasound treatment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmission power from each transducer element correlates inversely with the associated local parameter.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the transmission power from each transducer element satisfies an equation:

Power

i

=

total

⁢

applied

⁢

power

×

1

/

LP

i

∑

i

=

1

N

LP

i

,

where Power i denotes transmission power of a transducer element i, N denotes a number of activated transducer elements, total applied power denotes a total power applied by the activated transducer elements, and LP i denotes the local parameter associated with the transducer element i.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local parameter comprises a local skull density ratio.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the local skull density ratio is determined based on an intensity profile of the at least one image.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transducer elements are activated if the local parameter associated therewith is above a threshold.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold is empirically determined based on a retrospective study on skulls of patients who have undergone ultrasound treatment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the images are acquired using at least one of a computer tomography (CT) device, a magnetic resonance imaging device, a positron emission tomography (PET) device, a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) device, or an ultrasonography device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a position of the target region in the images;

determining positions of the plurality of transducer elements relative to the target region for transmitting ultrasound energy to the target region; and

determining the beam path from each transducer element through the skull based on the positions of the transducer element and the target region.

10 . A system for transskull ultrasound treatment with optimized focusing properties at a target region, the system comprising:

an imaging system for obtaining at least one image of a patient's skull;

a controller, operably coupled to the imaging system, configured to:

identify a position of the target region in the at least one image;

computationally determine a plurality of local parameters, each local parameter representing structural characteristics of a local skull region on a beam path from one of a plurality of transducer elements to the target region, being calculated for each respective beam path, and representing a measure of anatomical variation along the beam path, determined from the at least one image and indicative of structural inhomogeneity affecting acoustic energy transmission to the target region; and

drive circuitry, coupled to the controller, for activating at least some of the plurality of transducer elements with transmission powers determined in accordance with the local parameters associated therewith to improve focusing effectiveness of the ultrasound treatment.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the drive circuitry is configured to drive each transducer element with a transmission power correlating inversely with the associated local parameter.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the transmission power from each transducer element satisfies an equation:

Power

i

=

total

⁢

applied

⁢

power

×

1

/

LP

i

∑

i

=

1

N

LP

i

,

where Power i denotes transmission power of a transducer element i, N denotes a number of activated transducer elements, total applied power denotes a total power applied by the activated transducer elements, and LP i denotes the local parameter associated with the transducer element i.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the local parameter comprises a local skull density ratio.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the local skull density ratio based on an intensity profile of the at least one image.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the drive circuitry is configured to activate transducer elements if the local parameter associated therewith is above a threshold.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to empirically determine the threshold based on a retrospective study on skulls of patients who have undergone ultrasound treatment.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the imaging system comprises at least one of a computer tomography (CT) device, a magnetic resonance imaging device, a positron emission tomography (PET) device, a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) device, or an ultrasonography device.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine positions of the plurality of transducer elements relative to the target region for transmitting ultrasound energy to the target region; and

determine the beam path from each transducer element through the skull based on the positions of the transducer element and the target region.