Ultrasound Strain Imaging for Verification of Prostate Thermal Therapy

Abstract

Thermal (heat) therapy, such as thermal ablation, using catheter-based devices with ultrasound for treatment of prostate cancers is becoming a minimally invasive option to surgery, especially when combined with MRI thermal imaging to ensure accurate treatment delivery. The main hurdles to implementing this technology on a regular basis are the cost, resources, and requirements associated with MRI imaging. This project proposes a new treatment-monitoring technique that uses ultrasonic strain imaging to replace MRI thermal imaging. The basis of this proposed monitoring technique is that significant changes in the physical and mechanical characteristics of tissue occur during any thermal ablation treatment. The scope of this project involves developing strain- imaging algorithms and testing on data collected from phantom and ex vivo tissue, mimicking the setup used in clinical scenarios.