Blog - Page 183 of 209 - Focused Ultrasound Foundation

Patient Expresses Appreciation for Foundation’s Efforts

Published: 25 June 2012

In a recent email, Sherilyn Conn of Arlington, Texas wrote: “As a perfectly healthy female, who found it necessary to retire as media director of a major Texas school district because of essential tremor, I am thrilled every time I read of the progress of Focused Ultrasound Surgery through the work of its foundation. I watch and pray in hope of what this will mean to my sons, one whom now exhibits the beginning systems of ET, and for my young grandsons, who may face these problems in their adult years knowing there is a solution! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your newsletters. They literally thrill my soul!”

Blog Spotlights National Center for Image-Guided Therapy at Brigham & Women’s Hospital

Published: 22 June 2012

HealthHub, a blog from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, recently profiled the institution’s National Center for Image-Guided Therapy. The blog acknowledged the center’s Co-Principal Investigators Ferenc Jolesz, MD and Clare Tempany, MD for their pioneering work in MR-guided focused ultrasound. Also acknowledged was Nathan McDannold, PhD, leader of a research program that is studying focused ultrasound in treating brain tumors, chronic pain and tremors and in opening the blood-brain barrier to facilitate drug delivery. The center’s is also investigating focused ultrasound treatments for breast and bone tumors and cardiac arrhythmias. READ BLOG

American Urologists Express Increased Interest in Focused Ultrasound

Published: 22 June 2012

Recent comments by executives of EDAP TMS and US HIFU indicate that interest in focused ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer is increasing among members of the American Urological Association. Marc Oczachowski, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP TMS, said that the company “experienced record attendance and exceptional enthusiasm from U.S. urologists” at its exhibit booth at the AUA meeting, which was held May 19–23, 2012 in Atlanta. He noted that “awareness levels are building” as the company prepares for to submit its Ablatherm-HIFU filing to the US FDA later this year. Mike Klein, US HIFU Chief Executive Officer said, “We have an unprecedented number of meetings scheduled at AUA.” He added that the company, which is conducting US clinical trials of its Sonoblate system, was “actively seeking insight from urologists to guide the development of HIFU technologies to further enhance the safety and efficacy and identify areas of interest to focus studies and clinical trials for a wide range of applications.” READ PRESS RELEASE

Liver Tumor Experts Create FUS Clinical Trial Roadmap

Published: 22 June 2012

During a June 9 workshop hosted by the Foundation’s Liver and Pancreas Program, 20 experts in the usage and research of focused ultrasound for liver ablation met to solidify views and formulate treatment recommendations. Attendees, who included clinicians, scientists and industry representatives, developed a definition of “the clinical unmet need in the management of liver tumors.” They also mapped out recommended structures for pilot and pivotal clinical trials and technical specifications for a liver treatment device. This information is expected to be published as either a white paper or a peer-reviewed article.

ISTU Meeting Includes Six Talks by Foundation Team Members and Funded Researchers

Published: 20 June 2012

Foundation-funded brain research is featured at ISTU meeting Data from a pilot clinical trial and three preclinical studies – all funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s Brain Program – were presented at the June 10-13, 2012 meeting of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound. In addition, the Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Director Arik Hananel, MD presented an overview on the foundation activities, programs and vision during the meeting’s “Shaping the Future of MR-guided focused ultrasound” session. Hananel also participated in a lively debate on the topic: Will MRgFUS ever be widely used?