Title: Fast algorithm in estimating high intensity focused ultrasound induced lesions

Authors: Yufeng Zhou

Addresses: Division of Engineering Mechanics, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Laboratory of Modern Acoustics of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

Abstract: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has been emerging as a new and effective modality in non-invasive thermal ablation for cancers and solid tumours. Although a theoretical model is available for calculating thermal field and the consequent lesion production, its computation is too time-consuming (∼1 day) for HIFU treatment planning on the site. In this study, several approximations were made on the BioHeat equation to estimate HIFU-induced lesions. Experimental results, estimation and theoretical calculation were compared with each other in a good agreement. However, the computation time for 25 treatment spots was only 1 min. Altogether, the developed fast algorithm provides an accurate outcome in a timely fashion and can push the wide acceptance of HIFU technology in clinics.

Keywords: HIFU; high intensity focused ultrasound; bioheat equation; temperature elevation; approximation; non-invasive thermal ablation; cancers; solid tumours; cancer treatment; HIFU-induced lesions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCBDD.2010.038026

International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.215 - 225

Published online: 11 Jan 2011 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article