Bubbles and acoustic image-guided high intensity focused ultrasound

Abstract

Clinical diagnostic ultrasound (US) can be used to target and to monitor in real-time high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy. In our system, the HIFU transducer (3.5 MHz, 35 mm aperture, 55 mm radius of curvature) and US scan head (several were tested, center frequencies 3–8 MHz) are fixed with the HIFU focus in the imaging plane. HIFU and US are either synchronized real time to relegate interference to the image fringe or HIFU and US are interlaced for nearly real-time imaging. HIFU produces a localized hyperechoic region visible on B-mode US. Coagulatively necrosed lesions produced have similar size, shape, and location to measurements made from the corresponding US images. Thresholds are also comparable. However, in vivo, if HIFU is turned off as soon as hyperecho appears, no lesion is seen (the tissue was fixed within four hours of treatment). Thus, a short HIFU burst can be used to target treatment. Bubbles appear to be largely but perhaps not entirely responsible for the increase in echogenicity. Times for dissipation of the hyperecho and dissolution of a bubble as a function of hydrostatic pressure compare well. Significant overpressure (50 bar) can suppress hyperecho produced by HIFU. [Work supported by NSF, NSBRI, DARPA/ONR, and NIH SBIR.]