Kim Butts Pauly - US grants

technology /technique; radiology; magnetic resonance imaging; bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical resource; bioimaging /biomedical imaging;

The aim of this proposal is to improve the imaging capabilities of the 0.5 T GE Signa SP MRI scanner located at Stanford University by obtaining support for the purchase of a software and hardware upgrade including high speed gradient capabilities. The equipment will be shared by wine users. A total of nine NIH grants and one Whitaker Foundation grant will be significantly enhanced by the instrumentation purchase. The hardware technology that will greatly enhanced our imaging capabilities are scalable gradient drivers (SGDs). These amplifiers are able to drive closed bore system gradients to slew rates up to SR 150 and have become part of the standard Signa platform for new conventional closed bore systems. Our aim is to retrofit our open Signa SP interventional MRI system with these drivers. We also need the appropriate software and hardware upgrade to the Signa LX platform in order to use these drivers. Therefore, we seek to upgrade our system to both the high speed gradient capabilities and to LX. The proposed hardware and software upgrade to the Signa SP magnet at Stanford will benefit users of the system across the board. There will be marked improvements in image quality, especially signal-to-noise and temporal resolution. This upgrade will allow us to bring all applications into the real-time regime which is absolutely critical for interventional procedures.

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this project is to develop a minimally invasive treatment for cancers in the upper abdomen, including primary and metastatic tumors in the liver, and renal cell carcinoma. Specific aims of the project are to 1) design, fabricate, and evaluate handheld phased array focused ultrasound therapy probes for treating liver and renal tumors under MR guidance, 2) develop MRI imaging software to accurately map the tissue temperature in the upper abdomen, and 3) perform initial testing and evaluation of the system. Focused ultrasound is a promising technique for the next generation of non-invasive cancer therapy systems. With this technology, ultrasound energy is focused at a point deep within the body to thermally ablate targeted tissue. This can be done with minimal heat deposition at the skin surface and without skin puncture or incision. The effort proposed here addresses the main technical challenges to using focused ultrasound therapy in the upper abdomen. Techniques and systems will be developed to couple focused ultrasound treatment with Magnetic Resonance image guidance to allow precise targeting of the thermal energy to target tissues. Techniques to monitor heat deposition through accurate temperature mapping will be developed to insure that the entire target volume is being treated, and to determine if critical structures such as vessels, the gall bladder and the diaphragm remain sufficiently cool to avoid damage. Since organs in the upper abdomen move during breathing, MRI thermal imaging sequences that compensate for motion will be developed. The new techniques and systems will be developed on phantoms and tested in porcine animal models. Relevance: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women. Many of these deaths are associated with colorectal metastases to the liver. Similarly, renal cell carcinoma is an often fatal malignancy which is increasing in incidence in the US. Minimally invasive thermal therapies are showing promising results in the treatment of these conditions, but many technical challenges remain. The work proposed here addresses these challenges and if successful, will represent a major advance in the non-invasive treatment of cancer. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Grant Number: 5R01CA121163-03 Project Start: 28-SEP-2006 Project End: 31-JUL-2010 The long-term goal of this project is to develop a minimally invasive treatment for cancers in the upper abdomen, including primary and metastatic tumors in the liver, and renal cell carcinoma. Specific aims of the project are to 1) design, fabricate, and evaluate handheld phased array focused ultrasound therapy probes for treating liver and renal tumors under MR guidance, 2) develop MRI imaging software to accurately map the tissue temperature in the upper abdomen, and 3) perform initial testing and evaluation of the system. Focused ultrasound is a promising technique for the next generation of non-invasive cancer therapy systems. With this technology, ultrasound energy is focused at a point deep within the body to thermally ablate targeted tissue. This can be done with minimal heat deposition at the skin surface and without skin puncture or incision. The effort proposed here addresses the main technical challenges to using focused ultrasound therapy in the upper abdomen. Techniques and systems will be developed to couple focused ultrasound treatment with Magnetic Resonance image guidance to allow precise targeting of the thermal energy to target tissues. Techniques to monitor heat deposition through accurate temperature mapping will be developed to insure that the entire target volume is being treated, and to determine if critical structures such as vessels, the gall bladder and the diaphragm remain sufficiently cool to avoid damage. Since organs in the upper abdomen move during breathing, MRI thermal imaging sequences that compensate for motion will be developed. The new techniques and systems will be developed on phantoms and tested in porcine animal models. Relevance: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women. Many of these deaths are associated with colorectal metastases to the liver. Similarly, renal cell carcinoma is an often fatal malignancy which is increasing in incidence in the US. Minimally invasive thermal therapies are showing promising results in the treatment of these conditions, but many technical challenges remain. The work proposed here addresses these challenges and if successful, will represent a major advance in the non-invasive treatment of cancer. PI: Kim Butts-Pauly Institution: STANFORD UNIVERSITY, STANFORD, CA 94305

This project aims to develop and test controlled minimally invasive thermal ablation techniques for the treatment of cancers that are attributed to a quarter of cancer deaths. We aim to provide precise imaging, feedback, and control of the shape and size of thermal lesions to improve the treatment options for these patients. Built upon the foundation of the Stanford Schools of Medicine and Engineering, the Stanford Cancer Center, and collaborators from UCSF and HeartVista, this program brings together five projects: 1) MR-guided HIFU of soft tissue tumors, 2) Minimally Invasive MRI-Guided Management of Prostate Disease, 3) MR-Guided Precision Thermal Therapy of Retroperitoneal Tumors, 4) MRI Methods for Guiding Focused Ultrasound in the Brain and 5) MR-guided RF Ablation. The five projects have many common requirements for programmatic and infrastructure support, which have been consolidated into cores. An engineering core will support Projects 2-5 with control hardware and software, as well as improved device visualization. An in vivo study support core will assist all of the projects with post ablation assessment imaging, correlation with histology, and statistical support. The outcomes of this PPG will be 1) improved minimally-invasive treatment options, 2) an increase in the basic science understanding of tissue response to thermal treatments, and 3) advances in engineering, both hardware and software, specifically for treatment of these cancers.