Imagine removing a tumour without a scalpel. This is possible thanks to a certain type of ultrasound: strong, concentrated ultrasonic waves are directed at the patient's body in such a way that they heat up and kill individual cancer cells. Computer support is of the utmost importance.
In recent years, experts have been working hard to make cancer treatment as non-invasive as possible. As such, high-intensity Focused Ultrasound (FUS) under guidance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a well-established means for non-invasive tumour therapy, especially in the treatment of uterine fibroids and of bone metastases.
However, treating tumours in moving organs in the abdomen with FUS is still a great challenge due to several complex aspects. To perform the technique correctly, especially in moving organs, computer support developed and validated by the FUSIMO project and its successor TRANS-FUSIMO, is essential.
The FUSIMO software creates a patient-specific model of the relevant processes involved, to simulate the outcome of the therapy. This enables exact planning and a safe, effective and efficient FUS therapy of abdominal organs.
At ICT2015, the project will show the FUSIMO demonstrator which is a possible planning tool for MRgFUS in moving abdominal organs and the current stage of the treatment software. The prototypes are not market ready, but going to market is one of the project's goals.
You can find the project at ICT 2015, CONNECT area, booth C13.
