Patent ID: 8998889
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a prostate, comprising: determining a target boundary defining a target treatment volume within the prostate; inserting a multi-element ultrasonic thermal therapy applicator at least partially within said target treatment volume; applying controlled driving signals to a plurality of elements of said applicator so as to controllably raise a temperature of a portion of said target treatment volume including in a region proximal to an active face of said applicator and along a direction radially emanating therefrom; imaging said target treatment volume using an imaging modality to determine a current temperature distribution within said target treatment volume; determining a future temperature distribution in a portion of said target treatment volume based at least on the current temperature distribution in and proximal to that portion using a thermal response model; controlling said driving signals to the plurality of elements of the applicator based at least on the determined future temperature distribution; and generating an alarm condition in the event that a temperature excursion is predicted to occur in said future temperature distribution according to a pre-programmed threshold for said alarm condition.