Image Guided Therapy Systems

This title provides a global survey of the rapidly growing field of image-guided therapy. You find detailed coverage of a wide range of key topics, from MRI-guided surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, and brachytherapy and hyperthermia for cancer treatment ... to modern procedures in neurosurgery, laser cosmetic therapy, and ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy for non-invasive tumor treatment. You learn the fundamentals of imaging and therapeutic modalities and their capabilities and constraints in implementation of image-guided therapy systems.

Image-guided therapy (IGT) uses imaging to improve the localization and targeting of diseased tissue and to monitor and control treatments. During the past decade, image-guided surgeries and image-guided minimally invasive interventions have emerged as advances that can be used in place of traditional invasive approaches. Advanced imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) entered into operating rooms and interventional suites to complement already-available routine imaging devices like X-ray and ultrasound. At the same time, navigational tools, computer-assisted surgery devices, and image-guided robots also became part of the revolution in interventional radiology suites and the operating room. Intraoperative Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy explores the fundamental, technical, and clinical aspects of state-of the-art image-guided therapies. It presents the basic concepts of image guidance, the technologies involved in therapy delivery, and the special requirements for the design and construction of image-guided operating rooms and interventional suites. It also covers future developments such as molecular imaging-guided surgeries and novel innovative therapies like MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery. IGT is a multidisciplinary and multimodality field in which teams of physicians, physicists, engineers, and computer scientists collaborate in performing these interventions, an approach that is reflected in the organization of the book. Contributing authors include members of the National Center of Image-Guided Therapy program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and international leaders in the field of IGT. The book includes coverage of these topics: - Imaging methods, guidance technologies, and the therapy delivery systems currently used or in development. - Clinical applications for IGT in various specialties such as neurosurgery, ear-nose-and-throat surgery, cardiovascular surgery, endoscopies, and orthopedic procedures. - Review and comparison of the clinical uses for IGT with conventional methods in terms of invasiveness, effectiveness, and outcome. - Requirements for the design and construction of image-guided operating rooms and interventional suites.

Responding to the growing demand for minimally invasive procedures, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the current technological advances in image-guided surgery. It blends the expertise of both engineers and physicians, offering the latest findings and applications. Detailed color images guide readers through the latest techniques, including cranial, orthopedic, prostrate, and endovascular interventions.

Intraoperative imaging technologies have taken an ever-increasing role in the daily practice of neurosurgeons and the increasing attention and interest necessitated international interaction and collaboration. The Intraoperative Imaging Society was formed in 2007. This book brings together highlights from the second meeting of the Intraoperative Imaging Society, which took place in Istanbul-Turkey from June 14 to 17, 2009. Included within the contents of the book is an overview of the emergence and development of the intraoperative imaging technology as well as a glimpse on where the technology is heading. This is followed by in detail coverage of intraoperative MRI technology and sections on intraoperative CT and ultrasonography. There are also sections on multimodality integration, intraoperative robotics and other intraoperative technologies. We believe that this book will provide an up-to date and comprehensive general overview of the current intraoperative imaging technology as well as detailed discussions on individual techniques and clinical results.

This cross-disciplinary book documents the key research challenges in the mathematical sciences and physics that could enable the economical development of novel biomedical imaging devices. It is hoped that the infusion of new insights from mathematical scientists and physicists will accelerate progress in imaging. Incorporating input from dozens of biomedical researchers who described what they perceived as key open problems of imaging that are amenable to attack by mathematical scientists and physicists, this book introduces the frontiers of biomedical imaging, especially the imaging of dynamic physiological functions, to the educated nonspecialist. Ten imaging modalities are covered, from the well-established (e.g., CAT scanning, MRI) to the more speculative (e.g., electrical and magnetic source imaging). For each modality, mathematics and physics research challenges are identified and a short list of suggested reading offered. Two additional chapters offer visions of the next generation of surgical and interventional techniques and of image processing. A final chapter provides an overview of mathematical issues that cut across the various modalities.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy presents key image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) technologies for external beam radiotherapy. The book explores the decades-long technological developments that have occurred in the realm of image-guided conformal, customized radiation treatment. Expert authors, all of whom have actively participated in the development or implementation of IGRT, imaging, and enabling technologies, share their first-hand experiences on the science, clinical uses, and impact of these technologies. They describe kilovoltage and megavoltage imaging as well as radiological, ultrasound, and optical technologies for determining and validating target and patient positioning. The book examines how anatomical and biological imaging using CT and PET has contributed to the understanding of target volume boundaries and biological behavior. It also explores such innovations as 4D PET/CT and digital tomosynthesis. Advancing patient care, this book focuses on a wealth of hybrid IGRT technologies and devices for coupled imaging and treatment inside the radiation treatment room. It thoroughly covers the modalities, software tools, and imaging treatment geometries that constitute IGRT.

Image-Guided Cancer Therapy: A Multidisciplinary Approach provides clinicians with in-depth coverage of the growing, dynamic field of interventional oncology. Combining the knowledge of expert editors and authors into one powerhouse reference, this book looks at tumor ablation, HIFU, embolic therapies, emerging technologies, and radiation therapy throughout the body (liver, bone, breast, gynecologic and prostate cancers, to name just a few) , and includes discussion of different imaging modalities. In the words of Peter Mueller, MD, author of the book’s Foreword: “... The senior authors are all world renowned experts in interventional oncology, which is another example of the high quality authorship and experience that is brought to this book. The later chapters discuss therapies that are simply not covered in any other source. Everyone who is doing or wants to do ablation therapies and interventional oncology will face a time when they will be asked to use their expertise in less used and less investigated areas. There is nowhere else where the reader can get information on the prostate, breast, and gynecologic areas, and especially pediatrics....This book is an outstanding contribution to the literature and will become a ‘must read’ for all physicians who are interested in Interventional Oncology.”

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is a true revolution in the field of radiation oncology. IGRT provides the unprecedented means of conforming does to the shape of the target tissues in 3-dimensions reducing the risk of complications thereby improving the quality of life of irradiated patients. Moreover, IGRT provides the means to deliver higher than conventional doses thus improving the chance of cure in these patients. Despite its established benefits, several barriers exist to the widespread clinical implementation of IGRT. In the past, great concerns existed regarding the large capital outlay needed for both software and hardware. This barrier is less relevant today given the increased reimbursements possible with IGRT. Today, the most significant barrier is education. IGRT is a fundamentally new approach to both treatment planning and delivery. Adoption of the IGRT approach entails new ways of thinking in regard to patient selection, treatment planning and quality assurance measures. Unfortunately, apart from a few University-based short courses, limited resources are available for the physician and physicist interested in learning IGRT.