Patent Application
20240075321
The present invention relates to diagnosis and treatment technology using ultrasound, and more particularly, to imaging and treatment technology using focused ultrasound (FUS) for image guided therapy.
The present invention is derived from research carried out as part of a study conducted as part of Collaborative Life-Cycle Medical Device R&D Project of the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety [Project number: 9991006682, KMDF_PR_20200901_0009, research project name: Development of Commercialization of Market-Leading Ultrasound Image-Guide, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment Device for Integrated Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer, research management institution: Korea Medical Device Development Fund, contribution rate: 100%, research supervising institute: IMGT. Co., Ltd., research period: Mar. 1, 2022-Dec. 31, 2022].
Ultrasound signals may be used in the treatment of biological tissues, such as cancer, tumors, lesions, and the like. Treatment with ultrasound is a method of treating a lesion by emitting ultrasound signals to the lesion of the human body. Ultrasound treatment may cause less trauma of a patient, compared to general surgical treatment or chemotherapy, and realize non-invasive treatment. Examples of the application of ultrasound treatment include liver cancer, bone sarcoma, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, soft tissue tumors, pelvic tumors, and the like.
According to an embodiment, a patient-friendly, miniaturized, and low-cost ultrasound imaging apparatus for non-invasive brain disease treatment and an ultrasound imaging and treatment method using the same are proposed.
An ultrasound imaging apparatus for brain disease treatment according to an embodiment includes an image obtainment unit which obtains a medical image of the brain of a patient captured before a procedure; a transducer unit which transmits an ultrasound signal for imaging and ultrasound focusing of the brain of the patient; an image generation unit which generates an ultrasound image on the basis of the ultrasound signal received from the brain; a position alignment unit which controls a position of the transducer unit to align a position of the generated ultrasound image with a position of the obtained medical image; an image matching unit which matches two images of which positions are aligned; and an image display unit which detects and displays a brain lesion by using a matched image.
The medical image may be an image of the brain that is any one of a magnetic resonance (MR) image, a computed tomography (CT) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, and a PET-CT image captured respectively through a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a CT device, a PET device, and a PET-CT device.
The transducer unit may include an ultrasound array transducer configured to perform both imaging of the image of the brain of the patient and ultrasound focusing of a brain lesion.
The image generating unit may generate a diagnostic ultrasound focused image on the basis of a diagnostic ultrasound signal received from the brain, and the position alignment unit may align a focal position of the generated diagnostic ultrasound focused image with a position of a lesion in the obtained medical image.
The transducer unit includes an imaging transducer configured to transmit and receive a diagnostic ultrasound signal for imaging an image of the brain of the patient, and a treatment transducer configured to transmit a focused ultrasound signal to a brain lesion.
The imaging transducer may be a phased array imaging transcranial transducer.
The image generation unit may generate a transcranial ultrasound image on the basis of a diagnostic ultrasound signal received from the brain, and the position alignment unit may align a position of the generated transcranial ultrasound image with a position of a lesion in the obtained medical image.
The position alignment unit may include a medical headset worn on the head of the patient, and the medical headset may move the ultrasound transducer unit to a predetermined position such that a position of an ultrasound image obtained through the ultrasound transducer unit coincides with a position of a lesion in the medical image.
The medical headset may include a tiltable and rotatable device and a driving unit configured to drive the device.
The position alignment unit may change an ultrasound focusing area by adjusting a focus depth through position adjustment of the ultrasound transducer unit.
According to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for brain disease treatment and an ultrasound imaging and treatment method using the same in accordance with an embodiment, it is possible to non-invasively treat brain disease using ultrasound image-guided focused ultrasound.
The ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment is patient-friendly, miniaturized, cost-effective, and thus applicable to general treatment. For example, it may be usefully used even in small- and medium-sized hospitals. In particular, since the ultrasound imaging apparatus uses pre-captured medical images such as magnetic resonance (MR) images, it is not necessary to obtain medical images through MR image capture in real-time, and thus miniaturization and cost reduction may be achieved.
The ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment matches a pre-captured medical image with a diagnostic ultrasound focus image, or a transcranial ultrasound image obtained using a transcranial transducer enabling non-invasive image diagnosis, and performs diagnosis and treatment using a matched image, thereby allowing for accurate treatment for brain disease.
By using a medical headset, the medical image may be mechanically matched with the diagnostic ultrasound focused image or the transcranial ultrasound image and the focus depth for focusing ultrasound to a treatment site may be adjusted after the matching.
The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving the advantages and features will become apparent with reference to embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein, and the embodiments are provided such that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the appended claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout this disclosure.
In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, if a detailed description of related known functions or configurations is determined to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. The terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, and these terms may be varied according to the intent or custom of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definitions of the terms used herein should follow contexts disclosed herein.
Combinations of each block of the accompanying block diagram and each step of the flowchart may be executed by computer program instructions (execution engine), and these computer program instructions are executed by a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device. Since it can be mounted, the instructions executed through the processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device create means for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flowchart.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory that can be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing device to implement functionality in a particular way, such that the computer usable or computer readable memory The instructions stored in are also capable of producing an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flow chart.
And since the computer program instructions can also be loaded on a computer or other programmable data processing device, a series of operational steps are performed on the computer or other programmable data processing device to create a computer-executed process to create a computer or other programmable data processing device. It is also possible that the instructions for performing the data processing apparatus provide steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and each step of the flowchart.
Further, each block or each step may represent a module, a segment, or a part of a code, which includes one or more executable instructions for performing specified logical functions, and it should be noted that, in some alternative embodiments, the functions described in the blocks or steps may occur out of sequence. For example, two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be substantially executed at the same time, and the two blocks or steps may also be executed in the reverse order of the corresponding function as necessary.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be realized in various forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to aid those skilled in the art in the explanation and the understanding of the present invention.
An ultrasound imaging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment is an apparatus for non-invasive treatment of brain diseases using ultrasound image-guided focused ultrasound (FUS).
Referring to
The image obtainment unit 11 obtains a medical image of the brain of a patient captured before a procedure. In this case, the medical image may be an image of the brain that is any one of a magnetic resonance (MR) image, a computed tomography (CT) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, and a PET-CT image captured respectively through a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a CT device, a PET device, and a PET-CT device. The above-described medical image may be an image of the patient captured within a preset period, and may be used as valid data because there is no significant change in data within the preset period. In addition, since there is no need to capture a medical image in real-time, cost reduction and the miniaturization of the apparatus 1 may be achieved.
The transducer unit 12 transmits an ultrasound signal for imaging and ultrasound focusing of the brain of the patient.
The transducer unit 12 according to an embodiment may be an ultrasound array transducer configured to perform both imaging of the image of the patient's brain and ultrasound focusing of a brain lesion. For example, the transducer unit 12 may both receive a diagnostic ultrasound signal and transmit a focused ultrasound signal. An embodiment of this will be described below with reference to
The transducer unit 12 according to another embodiment may include an imaging transducer and a treatment transducer completely separated from the imaging transducer. The imaging transducer transmits and receives a diagnostic ultrasound signal for imaging the image of the brain of the patient. The treatment transducer transmits a focused ultrasound signal to a brain lesion for the purpose of treatment of brain disease. In this case, the imaging transducer may be a phased array imaging transcranial transducer. An embodiment of this will be described below with reference to
The image generation unit 13 generates an ultrasound image on the basis of an ultrasound signal received from the brain. The position alignment unit 14 aligns the position of the ultrasound image with the position of the medical image obtained through the image obtainment unit 11 by controlling the position of the transducer unit 12
The image generation unit 13 according to an embodiment may generate a diagnostic ultrasound focused image on the basis of a diagnostic ultrasound signal received from the brain, and the position alignment unit 14 may align a focal position of the generated diagnostic ultrasound focused image with the position of the obtained medical image.
The image generation unit 13 according to another embodiment may generate a transcranial ultrasound image on the basis of the diagnostic ultrasound signal received from the brain, and the position alignment unit 14 may align the position of the generated transcranial ultrasound image with the position of the obtained medical image.
The position alignment unit 14 may align the positions by a stereotaxic method using a medical headset. In this case, the medical headset may move the ultrasound transducer unit 12 to a predetermined position such that a position of an ultrasound image obtained through the ultrasound transducer unit 12 coincides with the position of the medical image. To this end, the medical headset may include a tiltable and rotatable device.
The position alignment unit 14 may include a driving unit configured to change an ultrasound focusing area of the ultrasound transducer unit 12. In this case, the driving unit may change the ultrasound focusing area of the ultrasound transducer unit 12 by driving the tiltable and rotatable device. For example, the position alignment unit 14 may adjust a focus depth. An example of changing the ultrasound focusing area will be described below with reference to
The image matching unit 15 matches two images of which positions are matched through the position alignment unit 14. An embodiment of image matching will be described with reference to
The image display unit 16 detects and displays a brain lesion using a matched image.
Referring to
In detail, (a) of
The ultrasound array transducer 121 may use one transducer to perform both imaging of the image of the brain of the patient and ultrasound focusing of a brain lesion. In this case, the ultrasound array transducer 121 may both transmission Tx and reception Rx. For example, the ultrasound array transducer 121 may both receive a diagnostic ultrasound signal and transmit a focused ultrasound signal. For example, one ultrasound array transducer 121 may transmit a focused ultrasound signal of 250 kHz and a diagnostic ultrasound signal of 750 kHz, as well as receive a diagnostic ultrasound signal of 750 kHz.
The ultrasound array transducer 121 may include a plurality of sub-arrays 123, and each sub-array 123 includes an acoustic emission surface and a plurality of transducer elements. The control unit 122 may provide a driving signal to the plurality of transducer elements, and in response to the driving signal of the control unit 122, the plurality of transducer elements may emit acoustic energy from their respective acoustic emission surface areas to remove the patient's brain lesion.
In more detail, (a) of
Referring to
The position alignment unit 14 may change an ultrasound focusing area using the medical headset 141. For example, the position alignment unit 14 may adjust a focus depth 31 by position adjustment of the ultrasound transducer unit 12 through the driving unit, thereby changing the ultrasound focusing area.
Referring to
Although
Referring to
In more detail, (a) is a side view focusing on the imaging transducer in the ultrasound transducer unit, (b) is a side view focusing on the position alignment unit, and (c) is a top plan view focusing on the position alignment unit.
Referring to
The treatment transducer 123 is configured to emit focused ultrasound for treating a patient. The treatment transducer 123 may have a focused ultrasound emission surface. The treatment transducer 123 generates a focused ultrasound signal and focuses the focused ultrasound signal to a treatment site in the brain. The treatment transducer 123 may have an array structure composed of a plurality of treatment transducers and the plurality of treatment transducers constituting the array may be arranged in a random form.
The imaging transducer 124 is provided to obtain a medical image of the brain. An operator may perform ultrasound treatment using the treatment transducer 123 while checking the medical image obtained by the imaging transducer 124. The imaging transducer 124 may be configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to the patient's brain and receive an ultrasound signal reflected from the brain. For example, the imaging transducer 124 may be configured to have a piezoelectric element in a cylindrical-shaped casing.
The imaging transducer 12 may be a phased array imaging transcranial transducer as shown in
The position alignment unit 14 may be in the form of a medical headset 141 worn on the head of the patient. In this case, the position alignment unit 14 may use the medical headset 141 to move the imaging transducer 124 to a predetermined position such that the position of the ultrasound image obtained through the imaging transducer 124 coincides with the position of the medical image. To this end, the position alignment unit 14 may include a tiltable and rotatable device 142 and a driving unit (not shown) configured to drive the device 142, and the driving unit may move the position of the imaging transducer 124 by driving the device 142.
The position alignment unit 14 may change an ultrasound focusing area using the medical headset 141. For example, the position alignment unit 14 may adjust a focus depth 71 by position adjustment of the treatment transducer 123 through the driving unit, thereby changing the ultrasound focusing area.
Referring to
The position alignment unit 14 may use the medical headset 141 of
The image matching unit 15 generates a matched image 73 by matching a medical image 71 and a transcranial ultrasound image 72 whose positions are aligned through the position alignment unit 14. Although
After the matching, the position aligning unit 14 may change the ultrasound focusing area using the medical headset 141.
Heretofore, the present invention has been described by focusing on the exemplary embodiments. It can be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that the present invention can be implemented in modified forms without departing from the essential feature of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than determinative. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0175190 | Dec 2021 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2022/019444 | 12/2/2022 | WO |
