A New System for Brain Histotripsy

Published:

Key Points

  • A research team at the University of Michigan designed and tested a transcranial, MR-guided histotripsy system for use in various brain surgery applications.
  • The large animal study was successful in delivering transcranial histotripsy with a 700-kHz, 128-element phased-array transducer in the MR environment.
  • MR imaging was used to evaluate treatment outcome, which showed well-confined lesions within the targeted volume and no bleeding or edema outside of the ablation zones.

Transcranial MR-guided Histotripsy for Brain Surgery – Preclinical InvestigationXu Lab Histotripsy Array sm

A research team led by Zhen Xu, PhD, at the University of Michigan designed and tested a transcranial, MR-guided histotripsy system for use in various brain surgery applications. Results from the preclinical feasibility study evaluating the system have now been published. The large animal study was successful in delivering transcranial histotripsy with a 700-kHz, 128-element phased-array transducer in the MR environment. MR imaging was used to evaluate treatment outcome, which showed well-confined lesions within the targeted volume. No edema or bleeding was observed outside of the ablation zones, and the team found sharp treatment margins that matched the radiographic treatment zones.

When asked about next steps, Dr. Xu said, “We have designed and constructed a 700kHz, 360-element transcranial histotripsy system for human brain applications, which is being tested in human cadavers, and that work is being funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.”

See Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology >