April 2007: What is Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery? and more...

 

The mission of the Foundation is to shorten the time from technology development to patient treatment, develop new applications and accelerate the worldwide adoption of magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery (FUS). In pursuit of these goals, the Foundation is launching a fellowship program, a research award program and a collaborative network of focused ultrasound surgery sites. At the intersection of these efforts, the foundation will support the development of a small number of FUS Research Centers.

Low intensity ultrasound waves have long been used to pass through skin, muscle, fat and other soft tissues, revolutionizing the diagnostic process.  In focused ultrasound surgery, the intensity of this ultrasound energy is increased and focused on a small target volume, using thermal ablation to destroy the tissue. In addition to the ablation of tissue through heating, there is currently the promise of many additional important applications of focused ultrasound, including targeted drug delivery and stroke treatment. Simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging provides for precise treatment planning, real time thermal mapping during the application of energy, and immediate confirmation of treatment results.

Revenue reports for 2006 and the economic outlook for 2007 is good for many medical device companies involved in the focused ultrasound industry.

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Baptist Memorial begins phase III prostate cancer clinical trials 
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. and Urocenter urology practices in Memphis were the first in the nation to be approved for Phase III clinical trials treating prostate cancer using focused ultrasound via the ultrasound guided Sonoblate 500 system.

A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows the correlation between image intensities in T2 weighted MRI images of fibroids and successful treatments.

Pain Relief for symptomatic bone metastases with MRgFUS 
Promising results released from a study involving the treatment of symptomatic bone metastases with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS).