Adaptive volumetric MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablations for moving organs

In this work, a method for the optimization of volumetric MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablations is presented. We propose to monitor the thermal dose in the target area to ensure a complete destruction of the tumor tissue. A trajectory of ablation points is optimized based on the thermal energy distribution measured by PRFS-based MR thermometry. The combination with a 3D motion correction technique including tracking of the focal point position allows for an effective destruction of the target tissue with minimal energy, time and damage outside the target area. The proposed method was tested successfully in an ex-vivo experiment under conditions simulating respiratory movement of abdominal organs.