IP Library Granted Patent US 12,115,381
Granted Patent B2
US 12,115,381 · App. 17/109,918 · Granted Oct 15, 2024

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for optimizing transducer array placement

Inventors: Noa Urman (Haifa, IL); Reuven Ruby Shamir (Haifa, IL); Zeev Bomzon (Haifa, IL); Eduard G. Fedorov (Haifa, IL); Yoram Wasserman (Haifa, IL)
Assignee: Novocure GmbH
A61N1/40A61B34/10G16H20/40G16H50/20A61B2034/105
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,115,381
App. No.
17/109,918
Granted
Oct 15, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for optimizing placement of transducer arrays on a patient.

Claims (46)

1. A computer-implemented method for determining one or more candidate transducer array layout maps, comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, a region-of-interest (ROI) within a 3D model of a portion of a subject's body, wherein the 3D model is configured to determine distribution of an externally applied electric field throughout the portion of the subject's body;

determining, by the one or more processors and based on a center of the ROI, a plane that transverses the portion of the subject's body, wherein the plane comprises a plurality of pairs of positions along a contour of the plane;

adjusting, by the one or more processors and based on an anatomical restriction of the 3D model of the portion of the subject's body, one or more positions of the plurality of pairs of positions to generate a modified plane;

determining, by the one or more processors and for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions on the modified plane, a simulated electric field distribution of the 3D model of the portion of the subject's body;

determining, by the one or more processors and based on the simulated electric field distributions, a dose metric for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions;

determining, by the one or more processors, one or more sets of pairs of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions that satisfy an angular restriction between pairs of transducer arrays; and

determining, by the one or more processors and based on the dose metrics and the one or more sets of pairs of positions that satisfy the angular restriction, one or more candidate transducer array layout maps.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting a simulated orientation or a simulated position for at least one transducer array at least one position of the one or more candidate transducer array layout maps; and

determining, based on adjusting the simulated orientation or the simulated position for the at least one transducer array, a final transducer array layout map.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical restriction comprises an anatomical feature of the portion of the subject's body.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angular restriction comprises an orthogonal angle between the plurality of pairs of transducer arrays.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angular restriction comprises a range of an angle between the plurality of pairs of transducer arrays.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions on the modified plane, the simulated electric field distribution comprises:

simulating, at a first position, a first electric field generated by a first transducer array;

simulating, at a second position opposite the first position, a second electric field generated by a second transducer array; and

determining, based on the first electric field and the second electric field, the simulated electric field distribution.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

simulating, at a third position, a third electric field generated by the first transducer array;

simulating, at a fourth position opposite the third position, a fourth electric field generated by the second transducer array; and

determining, based on the third electric field and the fourth electric field, the simulated electric field distribution.

8. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

determine a region-of-interest (ROI) within a 3D model of a portion of a subject's body, wherein the 3D model is configured to determine distribution of an externally applied electric field throughout the portion of the subject's body;

determine, based on a center of the ROI, a plane that transverses the portion of the subject's body, wherein the plane comprises a plurality of pairs of positions along a contour of the plane;

adjust, based on an anatomical restriction of the 3D model of the portion of the subject's body, one or more positions of the plurality of pairs of positions to generate a modified plane;

determine, for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions on the modified plane, a simulated electrical field distribution of the 3D model of the portion of the subject's body;

determine, based on the simulated electrical field distributions, a dose metric for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions;

determine one or more sets of pairs of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions that satisfy an angular restriction between pairs of transducer arrays; and

determine, based on the dose metrics and the one or more sets of pairs of positions that satisfy the angular restriction, one or more candidate transducer array layout maps.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

adjust a simulated orientation or a simulated position for at least one transducer array at least one position of the one or more candidate transducer array layout maps; and

determine, based on adjusting the simulated orientation or the simulated position for the at least one transducer array, a final transducer array layout map.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anatomical restriction comprises an anatomical feature of the portion of the subject's body.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the angular restriction comprises an orthogonal angle between the plurality of pairs of transducer arrays.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the angular restriction comprises a range of an angle between the plurality of pairs of transducer arrays.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, for each pair of positions of the plurality of pairs of positions on the modified plane, the simulated electrical field distribution comprise processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

simulate, at a first position, a first electrical field generated by a first transducer array;

simulate, at a second position opposite the first position, a second electrical field generated by a second transducer array; and

determine, based on the first electrical field and the second electrical field, the simulated electrical field distribution.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

simulate, at a third position, a third electrical field generated by the first transducer array;

simulate, at a fourth position opposite the third position, a fourth electrical field generated by the second transducer array; and

determine, based on the third electrical field and the fourth electrical field, the simulated electrical field distribution.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2024
From: NOVOCURE GMBH (SWITZERLAND)
To: BIOPHARMA CREDIT PLC
Reel/Frame 067315/0399 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2021
From: URMAN, NOA; SHAMIR, REUVEN RUBY; BOMZON, ZEEV; FEDOROV, EDUARD; WASSERMAN, YORAM
To: NOVOCURE GMBH
Reel/Frame 056967/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: URMAN, NOA; SHAMIR, REUBEN RUBY; BOMZON, ZEEV; FEDOROV, EDUARD; WASSERMAN, YORAM
To: NOVOCURE GMBH
Reel/Frame 055633/0241 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62942595 · Dec 2, 2019
Related Publication 20210162228A1 · Jun 3, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,633,051