Dual-Function MR-Guided Hyperthermia: An Innovative Integrated Approach and Experimental Demonstration of Proof of Principle

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2021 Feb;68(2):712-717. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2020.3012734. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Abstract

Temperature monitoring plays a central role in improving clinical effectiveness of adjuvant hyperthermia. The potential of magnetic resonance thermometry for treatment monitoring purposes led to several MR-guided hyperthermia approaches. However, the proposed solutions were sub-optimal due to technological and intrinsic limitations. These hamper achieving target conformal heating possibilities (applicator limitations) and accurate thermometry (inadequate signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR)). In this work, we studied proof of principle of a dual-function hyperthermia approach based on a coil array (64 MHz, 1.5 T) that is integrated in-between a phased array for heating (434 MHz) for maximum signal receive in order to improve thermometry accuracy. Hereto, we designed and fabricated a superficial hyperthermia mimicking planar array setup to study the most challenging interactions of generic phased-array setups in order to validate the integrated approach. Experiments demonstrated that the setup complies with the superficial hyperthermia guidelines for heating and is able to improve SNR at 2-4 cm depth by 17%, as compared to imaging using the body coil. Hence, the results showed the feasibility of our dual-function MR-guided hyperthermia approach as basis for the development of application specific setups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia
  • Hyperthermia, Induced*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Thermometry*