Abstract
A parametric study was performed to design a device capable of treating small targeted regions within the prostate using high intensity focused ultrasound, while sparing the surrounding organs and minimizing the number of elements. The optimal focal length (L), operating frequency (f), element size (a) and central opening radius for lodging an imaging probe (r) of a device that would safely treat tissue within the prostate were obtained. Images from the Visible Human Project were used to determine simulated organ sizes and treatment locations. Elliptical tumors were placed throughout the simulated prostate and their lateral and axial limits were selected as test locations. Using graphics processors, the acoustic field and Bio-Heat Transfer Equation were solved to calculate the heating produced during a simulated treatment. L, f, a and r were varied from 45 to 75 mm, 2.25 to 3 MHz, 1.5 to 8 times the wavelength and 9 to 12.5 mm, respectively. The resulting optimal device was a 761-element concentric-ring transducer with L = 68 mm, f = 2.75 MHz, a = 2.05λ and r = 9 mm. Simulated thermal lesions showed that it was possible to treat target tumors consistent with reported locations and sizes for prostate cancer.
Highlights
Trans-rectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is currently used in clinic as a minimally-invasive approach for prostate cancer treatment [1]
The acoustic field and Bio-Heat Transfer Equation were solved to calculate the heating produced during a simulated treatment
This causes some associated morbidity resulting on partial or total loss of potency (43.2% of patients), stress incontinence (5.7%), urinary tract infections (7.1%), pelvic pain (5.7%) and rarely rectourethral fistula (2.2%) [2,3,4,5,6]. This morbidity is usually attributed to the ablation of nerves and structures within the prostate, and it could be significantly reduced by treating only the affected areas and reducing the amount of ablated tissue. This can be achieved by using a phasearray device capable of dynamically focusing the energy to limit the treatment to target tumor masses within the prostate
Summary
Trans-rectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is currently used in clinic as a minimally-invasive approach for prostate cancer treatment [1]. The standard treatments performed using these systems ablate the entire prostate This causes some associated morbidity resulting on partial or total loss of potency (43.2% of patients), stress incontinence (5.7%), urinary tract infections (7.1%), pelvic pain (5.7%) and rarely rectourethral fistula (2.2%) [2,3,4,5,6]. This morbidity is usually attributed to the ablation of nerves and structures within the prostate, and it could be significantly reduced by treating only the affected areas and reducing the amount of ablated tissue. This can be achieved by using a phasearray device capable of dynamically focusing the energy to limit the treatment to target tumor masses within the prostate
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