Blog

Meeting Report: Focused Ultrasound Symposium in Rome

Published:
By Joy Polefrone, PhD, Focal Drug Delivery Program Director Inspired by the FUS Foundation’s symposia in 2008 and 2010, the Sapienza University of Rome organized the 1st European Symposium on Focused Ultrasound Therapy. Held from September 22-23, the meeting was a great success with more than 200 people present. Program content was excellent and covered current and future applications of both MR-guided and ultrasound-guided focused ultrasound technology. The agenda included three invited presentations by FUS Foundation staff members and spotlighted some of our funded researchers as well. 
Read More ...

Philips Launches New Sonalleve Platform at CIRSE

Published:
By Neil Glossop, FUS Foundation Consultant Held in Munich, Germany from September 10 to 14, the 2011 meeting of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) brought together researchers and clinicians in interventional applications from all over the world. The strength and commitment of this community was signified by the number of delegates in attendance – 6,164, a new record – and the number of abstracts submitted – 1,413.
Read More ...

Preliminary Results Show Focused Ultrasound Holds Promise as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Essential Tremor

Published:
The FUS Foundation-funded clinical trial at the University of Virginia attained a new milestone this month when its principal investigator, W. Jeffrey Elias, MD, presented preliminary study findings at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons meeting in Washington, DC. Results to date show that the study’s first 10 patients had a 78 percent improvement in tremor scores in their hand, as assessed with the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Their functional activities scores improved by 92 percent, as measured in the ‘Disability’ subsection of the CRST. Elias said that outcomes and complications were comparable to other procedures for tremor, including stereotactic thalamotomy and deep brain stimulation.
Read More ...

Fibroid Relief Unveils New Website, Physician Videos

Published:
Fibroid Relief, the FUS Foundation’s patient support initiative, has launched a renovated web site to improve its ability to educate women about MR-guided focused ultrasound as a non-invasive treatment option for uterine fibroids. In October of 2008, the Foundation launched Fibroid Relief to fill an information void for patients with uterine fibroids. Through public events and its website, this initiative has become a vital and respected source of information about uterine fibroid treatment options, including MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Read More ...

Mayo Clinic, Duke Conducting FIRSTT Study Comparing FUS with Uterine Artery Embolization

Published:
Patient enrollment is underway for the first US-based study comparing MR-guided focused ultrasound and uterine artery embolization (UAE) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. The study, called The Fibroid Interventions: Reducing Symptoms Today and Tomorrow (FIRSTT) trial, is now open at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and at Duke University in Durham, NC. Study participants will be randomly assigned for treatment with either FUS or UAE. Expected to provide important insights regarding the benefits and potential drawbacks of newer non-surgical treatment approaches for uterine fibroids, the study will follow patients for three years. Its goal is to assess how effective treatments are in symptom relief, side effects, impact on women’s quality of life, need for additional treatment, potential for future fertility and even the costs associated with each approach.
Read More ...
FUSF's First Center of Excellence Is Making a Mark on Focused Ultrasound Field MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Will Be Topic at TEDMED 2011 Facility Dedicated to Leading-edge Personalized Medicine Offers MR-guided focused Ultrasound Research on Focused Ultrasound and Fertility Receives International Honor Focused Ultrasound Pioneer, Wladyslaw Gedroyc, MD, Named Honorary President of FUS Foundation’s 2012 International Symposium