CPC A61B 18/20 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00274 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00547 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00636 (2013.01); A61B 2090/376 (2016.02); A61B 2090/378 (2016.02); A61N 7/02 (2013.01)] |
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT: |
The patentability of claims 1-16 is confirmed. |
1. An imaging system in combination with a laser ablation device for differentiating between malignant and non-malignant tissues within the prostate region and for guided delivery of energy from an interstitially positioned laser ablation device acting as tissue removal instrumentation to and within the malignant tissues of the prostate, the imaging and ablation device comprising:
a) an MRI device for providing real-time, non-invasive imaging data by generating a series of axial MR images through the prostate that differentiates between malignant tissues within the prostate region and for guided delivery of the laser ablation device and guiding delivery of energy;
b) a processor receiving the generated MR image data and executing a software program on the received generated MR image data to provide an indication of differentiation between malignant and non-malignant tissues of prostate by steps comprising:
i) inputting variable “a” to represent the presence of malignant tissue and variable “b” to represent the absence of malignant tissue in accordance with T2 weighted, diffusion weighted and dynamic contrast enhanced images further acquired by the MRI device spanning the prostate tissue; and
ii) using a T1 weighted pulse sequence to obtain at least one additional dynamic contrast enhanced image;
c) generating an apparent diffusion coefficient map (ADC) on the MRI device;
d) administering an intravenous contrast agent;
e) generating a permeability map sing a modified Brix pharmacokinetic model; and
f) automatically generating a value, by weighting pre-determined regions of the permeability map, to determine the size, location and orientation of the malignant and non-malignant tissue of the prostate represented on an image display;
g) an energy source for the laser ablation device;
h) the laser ablation device for interstitial deposition of ablative energy into the malignant prostate tissue being connected to the energy source for the ablation device;
i) a control system for quantifying the ablation energy interstitially delivered from the laser ablation device into the tissue; and
the processor is further configured to provide a real-time plan in memory for the energy to be focally delivered interstitially by the laser ablation device to the malignant tissue of the prostate based upon the output information relating to size, location and orientation of the malignant tissue.
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