Simplified GUI Toolkits for High Fidelity Simulations of Therapeutic Ultrasound A

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Weidlinger Associates Inc (WAI) proposes to develop a simple yet powerful suite of Graphical User Interface (GUI) based simulation tools for simulation studies of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) transducers and systems. HIFU is a rapidly growing field that offers non-invasive surgical ablation of targeted tissues, such as tumors, with great precision and minimal side effects. These GUI Toolkits will be based on WAI's own proprietary PZFlex software technology as their core computation engine. PZFlex is a state-of-the-art Finite Element (FE) computer simulation software package used for over 15 years in high fidelity medical ultrasound imaging and therapeutic applications. The Toolkits will allow quick and effective study of the consequences of system changes (such as transducer shape, materials, dimensions, tissue type etc) on key performance characteristics such as beam pattern, intensity levels, nonlinearity and so on. From these rapid assessments, the researcher can dramatically reduce development costs and time to create new HIFU transducers and strategies. Multiple 'Toolkits' will be produced, each addressing the specific needs of a single type of HIFU system. This rapid yet detailed analysis will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of radically new concepts or new materials in the replacement of existing designs or procedures. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Weidlinger Associates Inc (WAI) will produce simple to use Graphical Simulation Toolkits to significantly reduce the training required for medical researchers to simulate new therapeutic ultrasound devices and therapies, while expanding the range of information available. Improvement of these non-invasive surgical techniques will significantly reduce patient hospital stays, pain and trauma, moving surgeries from in- patient to out-patient, and allowing treatment of conditions that would otherwise be inoperable.