During thermal therapeutic applications such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), hyperthermia, and cryoablation, it is crucial to monitor internal tissue temperature to provide feedback on the procedure. Non-invasive MRI techniques for thermal monitoring are limited by their availability and cost. Ultrasonic thermometry is an emerging adaptable alternative due to the advantages of ultrasound in accessibility, real-time imaging, cost-effectiveness, and versatility.

UNMET NEED

An accurate, real-time and cost effective method to probe temperature-based therapeutic procedures is required.

OUR SOLUTION
Dense ultrasonic speed-of-sound shift imaging can successfully monitor the speed-of-sound shift introduced by thermal ablation or cryoablation. This technique is faster and more robust than current methods, and therefore can be used as a noninvasive, real time and cost-effective thermometry method, with high clinical applicability.

APPLICATIONS
We use dense algorithms to guarantee spatial coherence without additional image processing. The algorithm is significantly faster (x20) than current ultrasonic thermometry algorithms and can be similarly calibrated to record the change in temperature during HIFU or cryoablation procedures.

STATUS
Ready for clinical evaluation and commercialization.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
US provisional application submitted (2023).

REFERENCES
1. Grutman and Ilovitsh, Phys. Med. Biol. 68 (2023) 215004