Was wird gemacht

2. Planung

The TULSA-PRO system is connected to the MRI machine (Figure 3). This enables the physician to use high-precision MR imaging to determine the exact areas of the prostate that will be ablated. Using these MR images, the physician draws out the boundary lines to create the patient’s customized procedure plan, tailored to their individual prostate shape, size and disease, while avoiding important nerve bundles and critical structures around the prostate.

Using high-precision MR imaging, the physician can see the prostate in the axial view (Figure 4a), sagittal view (Figure 4b), and coronal view (Figure 4c). Using these images, the treating physician draws the boundary lines around the prostate section that corresponds to each ultrasound element. For example, in Figure 5, a specific ablation boundary line is drawn for transducer element 4.

If the physician is preparing for a whole-gland ablation, they will continue to draw separate ablation boundary lines for the rest of the transducer elements, until the entire targeted prostate tissue region is selected (Figure 6).

If the patient receives a partial gland ablation (for example a hemi ablation), the treating physician can customize the ablation area by drawing boundary lines around only sections of the prostate, and for only a subset of the transducer elements (Figure 7).

Some patients may be suitable for a nerve sparing plan, and the treating physician can accommodate this using the TULSA Procedure. The treating physician would adjust the ablation boundary lines so they are further away from the neurovascular bundles (Figure 8).

The treating physician has the control and flexibility to adjust each boundary line depending on the patient’s anatomy (size and shape of prostate), their needs, and where the diseased prostate tissue is.

Now that the boundary lines have been drawn, the treatment team is now ready to begin prostate ablation.

3. Delivery

During prostate ablation, the UA rotates within the urethra, creating a sweeping heating pattern that is directional and ablates the prostate tissue using an inside-out approach.

During the procedure, the TULSA-PRO system automatically carries out the ablation instructions outlined by the physician, ablating only within the prescribed boundary lines using real-time thermal images. The TULSA-PRO system carries out the physician’s treatment plan, which helps ensure precise prostate ablation and minimizes the risk of human error.

TULSA PRO’s connection to the MRI machine creates a closed-loop thermal feedback system and allows for the physician to see MRI thermometry images in real-time. The real-time MRI thermometry images show the changing temperature of the prostate tissue and surrounding structures every 6 seconds. This visibility allows the physician to actively monitor tissue heating and make changes to the treatment delivery if necessary, making the TULSA Procedure controlled and predictable.

Once ablation is complete, the physician can always go back and deliver additional ablation to the prostate if necessary.

4. Bestätigung

Using MR imaging, the physician will confirm the intended areas of the prostate that have been ablated successfully. Once the TULSA Procedure is complete, the patient will be catheterized and monitored during a brief recovery period. Patients are typically able to leave the same day, and resume daily activities.