Simulating temperature distribution of high-intensity focused ultrasound during bone treatments

To help improve therapeutic results for treatment of bone tumors, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is being investigated as a non-invasive alternative to surgery and radiotherapy. HIFU ablative treatments require an imaging modality for guidance, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is currently the strongest choice as it is able to provide temperature mapping throughout the treatment process. Unfortunately, the temperature feedback that is critical to ensuring safety and optimal soft tissue ablation is often unobtainable in bone structures. As an alternative to obtaining feedback, this project is focused on developing a simulator that is capable of predicting the temperature distribution in and around bone tissue during HIFU therapy. Having such a simulation would provide a better understanding of the thermal dosages incurred by the bone during HIFU treatment of tumors.