The ICS Cancer Treatment Delivery System takes high intensity ultrasound and uses a curved transducer (see Figure 1) to focus the ultrasound to a point (the focus ellipse) about the size of a grain of rice. The extremely high energy levels found at the focus can be used for all sorts of interesting applications.
Multiple Ultrasound Platforms
Ultrasound for imaging and ultrasound for HIFU use different frequencies and intensities and have very different effects on the body. Both uses of ultrasound are combined in our image-guided therapy devices. What is unique about these systems is that they allow us to both view and target the location that we are treating and perform the treatment - all using ultrasound. Figure (ii) below shows an image-guided therapy setup with a HIFU transducer attached to an imaging probe to create an all-in-one therapeutic device. As an acoustic wave propagates through the tissue, part of it is absorbed and converted to heat. With focused beams, a very small focus can be achieved deep in tissues. When hot enough, the tissue is thermally coagulated. By focusing at more than one place or by scanning the focus, a volume can be thermally ablated. Figure (i) above.
Mechanisms of Tissue Destruction Induced By The ICS System
Thermal Effect Tissue temperature within the local region is instantly elevated to 65-90ยบ C within 1 second of HIFU exposure; coagulation necrosis is, therefore, immediately induced in the tumour.
Cavitation Due to the depression caused by the negative part of the ultrasound wave, intercellular water may enter the gaseous phase, which would lead to the development of micro bubbles. When they reach the size of resonance, these bubbles suddenly collapse and produce high pressure shock waves, destroying tumour tissue
Damage to Tumour Blood Vessels Small tumour blood vessels, of diameter less than 2mm, can be completely destroyed by the ICS System, resulting in secondary effects of ICS on the target tumour, in effect starving it.
Immunological Method of Use In ICS therapy, ultrasound beams are focused on diseased tissue, and due to the significant energy deposition at the focus, temperature within the tissue rises to 6O0 C, destroying the diseased tissue by coagulation necrosis. Each sonication of the beams treats a precisely defined portion of the targeted tissue. The entire therapeutic target is treated by moving the applicator on its robotic arm in order to juxtapose multiple shots, according to a protocol designed by the physician. This technology can achieve precise ablation of diseased tissue, therefore being called "Non-invasive HIFU surgery". General Anesthesia is usually not required. The treatment can be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy
Indications
Breast cancer - Malignant bone tumour - Liver cancer - Sarcoma of soft tissue - Kidney cancer - Carcinoma of bladder - Tumour in pelvic cavity - Retroperitoneal tumour - Pancreatic cancer - Tumour metastasis - Palliative treatment for advanced malignancy - Recurrence of solid tumour after conventional surgery - Residual tumour after failed surgery,
which is not suitable for a repeat surgical procedure - Superficial tumours - Uterine fibroid - Benign breast neoplasm - Benign tumours of solid tissues
Contraindications
Tumours in air-containing viscera, such as lung, stomach, and bowel - Mediastinal tumours - Spinal tumours