How it works

Hundreds of ultrasound beams are focused to converge on a single point, raising its temperature enough to ablate tissue while sparing everything the beams pass through. MRI provides the targeting and real-time MR thermometry, measuring temperature during treatment so the operator sees the ablation forming and keeps it controlled. No incision, no radiation.

Established uses

• Essential tremor & tremor-dominant Parkinson’s: thalamotomy of the Vim nucleus, often with immediate reduction in hand tremor. It is an alternative to deep brain stimulation for selected patients.
• Uterine fibroids: non-invasive ablation as an alternative to surgery/embolisation in suitable cases.
• Painful bone metastases: palliation of pain when other options are limited.

Research is active in prostate, breast and neurological applications.

Practical notes

Suitability depends on target location and the acoustic window (e.g. skull density ratio for brain treatment; fibroid position and bowel in the beam path for uterine).