MRI–guided focused ultrasound — revolution in patient care

Focused ultrasound (FUS) provides means for localized delivery of mechanical energy deep into tissues with millimetre precision. When combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), FUS can be anatomically or functionally targeted and used to modify tissue function or to enhance delivery by releasing or activating intravenous drugs, imaging agents or even cells. The tissue interactions can be hugely enhanced when the exposures are combined with intravascular microbubbles that act as concentrators of ultrasound energy. In this talk, the progress in utilizing ultrasound phased array technology for thermal ablations and drug delivery will be reviewed. The clinical and technological progress, especially in the brain devices, will be reviewed and the further potential discussed.