Large scale phased array and system for treatment of deep seated tissue

A custom built 512 channel system was designed to drive therapeutic ultrasound phased arrays. The system was used to drive a newly constructed 256 element phased array in a series of MR guided in vivo porcine experiments to coagulate deep seated tissue in the thigh, kidney, and liver. Thermal coagulation lesions greater than 5 cm/sup 3/ in thigh and greater than 2 cm/sup 3/ in the liver were generated using a single 20 second sonication. The feasibility of MR guided phased array ultrasound surgery to coagulate in vivo liver tissue in a large animal model has been shown.