System for controlling ablation treatment and visualization

Abstract

A system for controlling ablation treatment and visualization is disclosed where the system comprises a tissue ablation instrument having one or more deployable stylets and a first electromagnetic sensor and an ultrasound imaging instrument which may be configured to generate an ultrasound imaging plane and further having a second electromagnetic sensor. An electromagnetic field generator may also be included which is configured for placement in proximity to a patient body and which is further configured to generate an output indicative of a position the first and second electromagnetic sensors relative to one another. Also included is a console in communication with the ablation instrument, ultrasound imaging instrument, and electromagnetic field generator, wherein the console is configured to generate a representative image of the tissue ablation instrument oriented relative to the ultrasound imaging plane and an ablation border or cage based upon a deployment position of the one or more stylets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A console of a medical system, the medical system configured to provide tissue treatment and treatment visualization, the console comprising:
 a transducer interface configured to connect with an ultrasound transducer;   a video interface configured to connect with a monitor; and   a handpiece connector configured to connect with a handheld treatment device;   wherein the console is configured to generate an image comprising an avatar of the handheld treatment device, and comprising a virtual representation of an ultrasound imaging plane associated with the ultrasound transducer, and wherein the console is configured to provide the image illustrating the avatar in a positional relationship with respect to the ultrasound imaging plane via the video interface for display by the monitor; and   wherein the console is configured to provide a proximity meter via the video interface for display by the monitor, the proximity meter indicating a position of the handheld treatment device relative to the ultrasound imaging plane.   
     
     
         2 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide bars of the proximity meter in one of three pre-determined colors for display by the monitor, depending on whether a tip of the handheld treatment device is in front of, behind, or on, the ultrasound imaging plane. 
     
     
         3 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide bars of the proximity meter in a first color for display by the monitor if a tip of the handheld treatment device is in front of the ultrasound imaging plane. 
     
     
         4 . The console of  claim 3 , wherein the console is configured to provide the bars of the proximity meter in a second color for display by the monitor if the tip of the handheld treatment device is behind the ultrasound imaging plane, the second color being different from the first color. 
     
     
         5 . The console of  claim 4 , wherein the console is configured to provide the bars of the proximity meter in a third color for display by the monitor if the tip of the handheld treatment device is on the ultrasound imaging plane, the third color being different from the first color and from the second color. 
     
     
         6 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide the proximity meter and the avatar of the handheld treatment device in a side-by-side configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide the proximity meter as a part of the image that comprises the avatar of the handheld treatment device and the ultrasound imaging plane. 
     
     
         8 . The console of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound depth adjustment control for adjusting an ultrasound depth to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference depths. 
     
     
         9 . The console of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-determined reference depths comprise two or more of: 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, or 9 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The console of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound frequency adjustment control for adjusting an ultrasound frequency to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference frequencies. 
     
     
         11 . The console of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-determined reference frequencies comprise two or more of: 5 MHz, 6 MHz, 9 MHz, or 12 MHz. 
     
     
         12 . The console of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound focus adjustment control for adjusting an ultrasound focal depth to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference focal depths. 
     
     
         13 . The console of  claim 12 , wherein the pre-determined reference focal depths comprise two or more of: 0.2 cm, 0.4 cm, 0.7 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.4 cm, 1.8 cm, 2.3 cm, 3.0 cm, 4.0 cm, 5.0 cm, 6.0 cm, or 8.0 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual representation of the ultrasound imaging plane comprises a three-dimensional view of the ultrasound imaging plane. 
     
     
         15 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to update the image in real-time as the handheld treatment device and/or the ultrasound transducer change position. 
     
     
         16 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to update the proximity meter in real-time as the handheld treatment device and/or the ultrasound transducer change position. 
     
     
         17 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity meter is two-dimensional. 
     
     
         18 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity meter comprises a scale. 
     
     
         19 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the console is configured to provide a menu in response to a selection of a menu button, the menu allowing adjustment of sound volume, a coagulation power level, an ablation size, or an ultrasound mode. 
     
     
         20 . The console of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity meter comprises a plurality of bars arranged with spaces therebetween for indicating the position of the handheld treatment device relative to the ultrasound imaging plane. 
     
     
         21 . The console of  claim 20 , wherein at least some of the plurality of bars are spaced apart unequally. 
     
     
         22 . A console of a medical system, the medical system configured to provide tissue treatment and treatment visualization, the console comprising:
 a transducer interface configured to connect with an ultrasound transducer;   a video interface configured to connect with a monitor;   a handpiece connector configured to connect with a handheld treatment device;   an ultrasound depth adjustment button for adjusting an ultrasound depth associated with the ultrasound transducer to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference depths;   an ultrasound frequency adjustment button for adjusting an ultrasound frequency associated with the ultrasound transducer to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference frequencies; and   an ultrasound focus adjustment button for adjusting an ultrasound focal depth associated with the ultrasound transducer to one of a plurality of pre-determined reference focal depths;
 wherein the console is configured to generate an image representing the handheld treatment device oriented relative to an ultrasound imaging plane associated with the ultrasound transducer, and wherein the console is configured to provide the image via the video interface for display by the monitor.