Robotic High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Manipulator System for Critical Systems for Trauma and Transport (CSTAT)

It has been demonstrated that High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) can be employed to rapidly and non-invasively induce hemostasis in severed, hemorrhaging organs. A need exists to use this technology in current and future Critical Systems for Trauma and Transport (CSTAT) systems to improve battlefield medicine to save lives. For this purpose, a robust and easy to use CSTAT-compatible hemostatic HIFU system is proposed that consists of a robotic manipulator, detachable end-effector, and a HIFU therapy planning and control strategy. The manipulator (or field medic) places the end-effector in the appropriate location on the patient. The end-effector then attaches to the patient and is detached from the manipulator. Diagnosis and treatment are then performed by the end-effector under local or remote control. It includes a 2D dynamically steerable HIFU beam applicator array for hemostasis, a 2D ultrasound imaging/Doppler array for treatment localization and monitoring, a formable fluid interface for coupling to skin, and mechanisms for precisely moving the HIFU applicator to cauterize internal wounds. Upon completion of the treatment, the end-effector detaches from the patient and is retrieved by the manipulator. Video cameras on the manipulator and end-effector complement the ultrasound imaging data for effective remote control operation.