METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF TISSUE
A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the success of a proposed HIFU Treatment, of an ongoing HIFU Treatment, and/or of a completed HIFU Treatment. An energy density of a given HIFU Treatment may be used as a comparison factor between the given HIFU Treatment and other HIFU Treatments and as a predictor of the success of the given HIFU Treatment. One exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the volume of the treatment region. Another exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the pre-treatment mass of the treatment region. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of focal hyperechoic features and non-focal hyperechoic features. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of an acoustic obstruction.
1 - 32 . (canceled)
33 . A method of providing treatment to a treatment region of tissue with a HIFU Treatment, the HIFU Treatment including the provision of HIFU Therapy at spaced apart intervals to a plurality of treatment sites within the treatment region, the method comprising the steps of:
driving the HIFU Treatment to generate a focal hyperechoic feature for a given treatment site; and
maintaining the HIFU Treatment at a level to maintain the generation of subsequent focal hyperechoic features at subsequent treatment sites.
34 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of pausing the HIFU Treatment if a non-focal hyperechoic feature is generated.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of reducing the total acoustic power for subsequent treatment sites of the HIFU Treatment if a non-focal hyperechoic feature is generated which migrates from the respective focal zone.
36 . A method of providing treatment to a treatment region of tissue with a HIFU Treatment, the HIFU Treatment including the provision of HIFU Therapy at spaced apart intervals to a plurality of treatment sites within the treatment region, the method comprising the steps of:
distinguishing between a focal hyperechoic feature and a non-focal hyperechoic feature;
continuing the HIFU Treatment upon the observance of the focal hyperechoic feature; and
pausing the HIFU Treatment upon the observance of the non-focal hyperechoic feature.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the step of distinguishing between a focal hyperechoic feature and a non-focal hyperechoic feature includes the steps of:
generating a post-treatment image of a first treatment site;
comparing a region of interest of the treatment region in the post-treatment image to the region of interest of the treatment region in a pre-treatment image;
classifying the region of interest as containing a hyperechoic feature based on the comparison of the region of interest of the treatment region in the post-treatment image and the pre-treatment image; and
comparing a location of the region of interest to a location of the treatment site, wherein the hyperechoic feature is classified as a focal hyperechoic feature if the location of the region of interest generally coincides with the location of the treatment site.
38 . An apparatus for treating tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a probe including an acoustic membrane covering at least a portion of the probe and a transducer positioned behind the acoustic membrane, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasound energy and to sense ultrasound energy; and
a controller operably coupled to the transducer, the controller being configured to operate the transducer in an imaging mode wherein at least one image of the tissue is obtained from ultrasound energy sensed by the transducer and in a therapy mode wherein a plurality of treatment sites are treated with a HIFU Therapy with the transducer; the controller being further configured to detect the presence of an acoustic obstruction adjacent the acoustic membrane by detecting a repetitive pattern based on the at least one image of the tissue.
39 . The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the controller is further configured to prevent operation of the transducer in therapy mode based on a detection of an acoustic obstruction.
40 - 47 . (canceled)