Method and system for monitoring ablation of tissues

Abstract

A method of monitoring heat damage to a tissue during a heat ablation procedure is disclosed. The method comprising: providing images of the tissue, extracting at least one parameter being indicative of a biological response to heat, and using the parameter(s) for determining the heat damage to the tissue.

1 . A method of monitoring heat damage to a tissue during a heat ablation procedure, the method comprising:
 providing images of the tissue, extracting at least one parameter being indicative of a biological response to heat, said biological response comprising heat convection via body liquid flow or lack thereof; and   using said at least one parameter for determining the heat damage to the tissue.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said images are selected from the group consisting of ultrasound images, magnetic resonance images, X-ray images and gamma images. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a neighboring tissue to a tissue being heat ablated during said heat ablation procedure. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a tissue being heat ablated during said heat ablation procedure. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological response comprises changes in blood circulation viability. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said determination of the heat damage to the tissue comprises defining a damage-onset when said changes in said blood circulation viability are above a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological response comprises accumulation of bubbles near the tissue, while the heat ablation is at a substantial constant rate. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said determination of the heat damage to the tissue comprises defining a damage-onset when said accumulation of said bubbles near the tissue is above a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological response comprises disappearance of bubbles along a non-random pattern, while the heat ablation is at a substantial constant rate. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining that the tissue is viable if said disappearance of said bubbles along said non-random pattern occurs. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said determination of the heat damage to the tissue comprises defining a damage-onset when a rate of said disappearance of said bubbles along said non-random pattern is below a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one parameter comprises at least one ultrasound parameter. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one ultrasound parameter comprises echogenicity variations. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said echogenicity variations comprise temporal echogenicity variations. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said echogenicity variations comprise temporal echogenicity variations and spatial echogenicity variations. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said echogenicity variations comprise spatial echogenicity variations. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said determination of the heat damage to the tissue comprises defining at least one damage criterion based on said echogenicity variations, and defining a damage-onset when said at least one damage criterion is met. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one damage criterion comprises a substantial rise of an echogenicity of the tissue over a predetermined time-period. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one damage criterion comprises a moderate or no decrease of an echogenicity of the target tissue over a predetermined time-period while the heat ablation is at least temporarily ceased. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one damage criterion comprises at least an exponential rise of an echogenicity of the tissue while the heat ablation is at a substantial constant rate. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one damage criterion comprises a random echogenicity gradient over a region of the ultrasound image while the heating is at least temporarily ceased. 
   
   
       22 . A method of destructing a target tissue, the method comprising:
 delivering energy at a predetermined rate so as to heat the target tissue;   executing the method of  claim 1  for determining a damage to a neighboring tissue to the target tissue; and   if said neighboring tissue is damaged then ceasing said delivery of said energy.