MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ASSISTED CRYOSURGERY

摘要

Methods and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assisted cryosurgery. Optimal probe placements and cooling parameters are calculated prior to cryosurgery using MRI data. An MRI compatible probe (370) and a stereotactic probe positioning device (300) are provided. The resolution of the MR images is enhanced by mounting a radio frequency MR coil on the intracorporeal end of a cryoprobe. During cryosurgery, the temperature distribution in the frozen region is determined by solving the heat equation for the known boundary conditions. The temperature distribution in the unfrozen region is determined by T1 measurements. The process of freezing is controlled using information from the solution of the energy equation and temperature measurements in the unfrozen region. The extent of tissue damage may be ascertained using a special coil set on the cryoprobe.