A new method for uniform local heating deep in body using ultrasound phased-array system

A new method for targeted heating of deep tissue was developed by using an ultrasound phased-array system which can generate various multiple foci patterns by electronically changing its amplitude or phase pattern. This method involves using a technique of combining switching and rotating of multiple foci patterns to create a uniform temperature over tissue volumes in various size. Using this method, the target tissue deep in the body can be heated to a specified temperature, which gives conditions for thermo-sensitive liposomes release. A simulation study for a 108-element, spherically sectioned array was performed to determine an optimal heating scheme from a set of multiple focus fields which were produced by inputting different combinations of phases and amplitudes. Comparisons of a static multiple foci field, the switched fields and the switched-rotated fields indicated that the technique of combining switching and rotating of multiple foci patterns has advantages of both lowering the peak temperature and evening the temperature distribution. The simulation results also show that the therapeutic heating zones in various size employing the combined method. These results offer significant data for designing thermotherapy equipment for tumor-specific drug release with thermo-sensitive liposomes.