This is a non-invasive surgical application which combines high intensity focused ultrasound tissue ablation with MRI for image guidance.
Traditionally, both malignant and benign tumors as well as other abnormal growths in the body require surgical intervention where the patient is cut open and the growth is removed.
Focused ultrasound surgery is a very modern surgical method that:
- Is non-invasive – No cutting is involved
- Minimizes complications, adverse events and recovery time
- Involves no ionizing radiation
- Is easy to recover from
- Ablates targeted tissue without damaging surrounding tissue
Focused Ultrasound Surgery - Process
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an accurate, three dimensional images of the growth and surrounding area. This allows the physician to find the best and least harmful way of targeting the growth without affecting the surrounding organs and tissues.
Once the physician sees the images that he needs, the abnormal growth is targeted and subjected to a series of precise bursts of high intensity focused ultrasound waves. This ablation of the growth occurs internally and patients recover quicker because there are no incisions in the skin or muscle which causes pain and requires additional time to heal.
Focused ultrasound surgery is currently used to treat uterine fibroids.
Research is being conducted to use focused ultrasound surgery as an alternative to surgical procedures for neurology and oncology applications.
Clinical trials for pain palliation of bone metastases (CE approved), breast cancer and prostate cancer are also in progress.
