Using ultrasonic energy to produce lesions in the brain is an idea with old roots. A focus of ultrasonic waves on a single locus can produce thermal ablation or with lower energy, can produce structural changes. Essentially, ultrasonic waves are vibrations above the threshold of audible sound (>20 Hz) which cause molecules to oscillate, and ultimately, cause damage to a material. Ultrasound energy can be applied with single or multiple beams, the latter of which can result in multiple low energy beams producing a single focus of high thermal energy.
The neurological applications of magnetic-resonance guided focused ultrasound are broad and varied. Depending on the mode of use, from low intensity, to high intensity pulsed, to high intensity continuous, focused ultrasound has shown promise in basic and clinical neuroscience. At low intensity, neuromodulation can be used to study behavior and psychiatric illness, at high intensity pulsed applications the BBB can be disrupted improving therapeutic delivery for brain tumor and other neurological disease treatment, and at high intensity continuous application, thermal ablation can be produced to alter motor circuits for the treatment of movement disorders. As a precise and non-invasive technology, MRgFUS has a promising future. Although there are numerous current and emerging applications of this technique, this presentation will focus mainly on ablative application of HIFU for the treatment of thalamic and basal ganglia targets.
At the end of this session, the attendees will be able to:
1. Understand the mechanism of lesion production with HIFU.
2. Gain an understanding of central targets in the thalamus and basal ganglia for the treatment of movement disorders and neuropathic pain.
3. Gain an insight into safety and efficacy of HIFU for the treatment of essential tremors, Parkinson’s disease and Neuropathic pain.

Acknowledgements

No acknowledgement found.