Control System for MRI Monitored Thermal Therapies

描述(逐字摘自申请人摘要)：我们建议开发、实施和验证MR监控的计算机化控制系统的使用 热疗(组织间激光热疗和冷冻疗法)，即 安装在我们的0.5T开放式介入性磁共振扫描仪上。这个 系统将利用3D MRI信息，提供听觉和视觉上的预先 在治疗终点处的警告信号和警报信号。我们的目标是直接 满足肿瘤治疗临床对精确三维时空的需求 异质组织中肿瘤热疗的监测和控制， 目前超出了人的能力范围，在保证患者安全的同时优化 治疗效果。我们提议的系统将提供可识别的事前 到达终点之前的警告信号，以及 当热疗终点发生时的实例，因为热暴露 水平或治疗边界达到或超过预定义的3D边界或安全性 极限。具体地说，我们的项目包括：(1)整合专门的 将计算机硬件配置到我们的介入式磁共振扫描仪电子设备中； (2)三维监控软件包和用户界面的开发 和控制基于医生指定的热消融治疗 治疗量边界和暴露限值；(3)初始离线系统测试 使用凝胶模体和治疗后的人类患者MRI数据；以及，(4)充分 在我们的肿瘤热疗过程中进行在线实时验证测试 介入性磁共振扫描仪。软件将被开发或集成到 系统提供最先进的监控和预测能力 不断演变的治疗利润率和热暴露。在软件模块1中， 开发基于三维光流的监控系统， 以前在我们医院被证明是临床有用的。在软件方面 模块二，将结合现有的预测路径创建并行预测路径 快速三维数据分割和热传导建模软件。在试验阶段 一是离线(非实时)凝胶和虚拟患者测试 执行并获取对照病例数据。稍后，在试验第二阶段，实时 验证试验将在临床治疗病例期间进行，以研究 系统结果的准确性、有用性和及时性 选择用于实施的特定计算机硬件。

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from Applicant's Abstract): We propose to develop, implement, and validate use of a computerized control system for MR-monitored thermal therapies (interstitial laser thermal therapy and cryotherapy) that is to be attached to our 0.5T open configuration interventional MR scanner. The system will utilize 3D MRI information, providing audible and visual prior warning signals and an alarm signal at the therapy endpoint. We aim to directly answer the cancer treatment clinical need for accurate 3D spatial-temporal monitoring and control of tumor thermal therapies in heterogeneous tissue, currently beyond human capability, to guarantee patient safety while optimizing therapy effectiveness. Our proposed system will provide recognizable prior warning signals before the endpoint is reached, and an alarm signal at the instance when the thermal therapy endpoint occurs, as the thermal exposure level or therapy boundary meets or exceeds pre-defined 3D boundaries or safety limits. Specifically, our project consists of: (1) the integration of specially configured computer hardware into our interventional MR scanner electronics; (2) the development of a software package and user-interface for 3D monitoring and control of a thermal ablation therapy based on a physician-specified therapy volume boundary and exposure limit; (3) initial off-line system testing using gel phantoms and posttreatment human patient MRI data; and, (4) fully on-line real-time validation testing during tumor thermal therapies on our interventional MR scanner. Software will be developed or integrated into the system to provide state-of-the-art capability for monitoring and predicting evolving therapy margins and thermal exposure. In Software Module One, a monitoring and control system will be developed based on 3D optical flow, previously demonstrated as clinically useful in our hospital. In Software Module Two, a parallel predictive pathway will be created combining existing fast 3D data segmentation and heat conduction modeling software. In Trial Phase One, off-line (not in real-time) gel and 'virtual' patient tests will be performed and control case data acquired. Later, in Trial Phase Two, real-time validation trials will take place during clinical therapy cases, to study the accuracy, usefulness and timeliness of the system results when executing on the specific computer hardware chosen for implementation.