Indian Institute of Technology Madras researchers have developed an ultrasound-based temperature tracking for treatment monitoring. Unlike other imaging modalities, ultrasound combines several advantages such as safety (non-ionizing), real-time capability and portability, among others.
The IIT Madras research team was awarded the ‘SITARE—Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Appreciation 2020’ for this project. This solution involves obtaining diagnostic ultrasound signals from the tissue region of interest inside the body, where heating is applied non-invasively from outside either through microwave applicator or High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and process these signals, specifically, using prior knowledge from physics of wave interaction with the tissue medium.
Thermal Therapy using HIFU is already in use for treating solid tumours (both cancerous and benign). The current state-of-the-art technology monitors treatment using MRI (MR-guided HIFU). A popular clinical case is for treating Uterine Fibroids. The Technology developed by IIT Madras Researchers will be Ultrasound-based Monitoring, instead of MRI, thus making it accessible and affordable.