The feasibility of tissue ablation using high intensity electronically focused ultrasound

The goal of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility of an annular array treatment system which uses high intensity electronically focused ultrasound. Computer simulations were performed to design the system required for the treatment. The relative acoustic pressure fields were calculated for different dimensions and acoustic parameters to determine relevant design criteria. Then a prototype device was constructed which includes an annular array therapy transducer, a high power RF-signal generating hardware, an ultrasound imaging system and a PC-based controller. The annular array therapy transducer consists of a spherically curved piezo-composite transducer truncated by two parallel planes and divided into 7 rings working at 2 MHz. The system has been tested and results demonstrate that the shape of the treated region can be well controlled as predicted by theoretical analysis