4 ms·

It seems that 29 centers in the US do this type of FUS treatment commercially as listed on the FUSF website. Any focused ultrasound tech has potential to gain

It seems that 29 centers in the US do this type of FUS treatment commercially as listed on the FUSF website. Any focused ultrasound tech has potential to gain wide acceptance but it is mostly the imaging component (MRI guided in most cases) that hold it back due to costs and availability.

pstuart 7y ago
Thanks, I skimmed too quickly :-). Time to do further research, you know, for a friend.
- always_swapping 7y ago
  Best of luck for your friend. I've first hand witnessed FUS in neurological applications and believe it is a game-changer.
- stevenjohns 7y ago
  Finasteride (and other DHT inhibitors) is an option also worth looking into.
  - pstuart 7y ago
    Yes, but it also has some significant side effects too. Pro: hair growth. Con: decimated libido.
1_over_n 7y ago
Stupid question, could it be guided with something lower tech like ultrasound itself rather than MRI?
- always_swapping 7y ago
  There is work being done in the area but the interesting part is that the MRI isn't only used for its direct imaging but also the ability to use it as a very expensive thermometer[1]. Not every procedure lends well to alternative imaging modality (Brain surgery is one) but ultrasound guided FUS is really where there is potential to increase adoption. [1] http://rsl.stanford.edu/kim/Overviewpages/PRF.html http://rsl.stanford.edu/kim/Overviewpages/PRF.html
  - 1_over_n 7y ago
    Found a good paper here outlining MR vs US (see table 2). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3064817/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3064817/ The "expensive thermometer" point is interesing. Cant we develop a cheaper one?
    - always_swapping 7y ago
      Good paper, but it focuses on cancer applications but it would be a disservice to not point out the strides that HIFU is making in drug delivery[1], neurosurgery, and neuromodulation[3]. The (un)fortunate point of MRI thermometry is that is not only very effective at reading temperatures, but it can also produce thermal dosage maps that help in characterizing tissue leisioning (the exact response of HIFU ablated tissue is still be debated). On top of that you also get traditional MRI imaging essentially for free. [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25904-9 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25904-9 [2] https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurological https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurol... [3] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8925600 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8925600
      - 1_over_n 7y ago
        Thank you for this. I will read these later!

pstuart 7y ago

Thanks, I skimmed too quickly :-). Time to do further research, you know, for a friend.

always_swapping 7y ago
Best of luck for your friend. I've first hand witnessed FUS in neurological applications and believe it is a game-changer.
stevenjohns 7y ago
Finasteride (and other DHT inhibitors) is an option also worth looking into.
- pstuart 7y ago
  Yes, but it also has some significant side effects too. Pro: hair growth. Con: decimated libido.

1_over_n 7y ago

Stupid question, could it be guided with something lower tech like ultrasound itself rather than MRI?

always_swapping 7y ago
There is work being done in the area but the interesting part is that the MRI isn't only used for its direct imaging but also the ability to use it as a very expensive thermometer[1]. Not every procedure lends well to alternative imaging modality (Brain surgery is one) but ultrasound guided FUS is really where there is potential to increase adoption. [1] http://rsl.stanford.edu/kim/Overviewpages/PRF.html http://rsl.stanford.edu/kim/Overviewpages/PRF.html
- 1_over_n 7y ago
  Found a good paper here outlining MR vs US (see table 2). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3064817/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3064817/ The "expensive thermometer" point is interesing. Cant we develop a cheaper one?
  - always_swapping 7y ago
    Good paper, but it focuses on cancer applications but it would be a disservice to not point out the strides that HIFU is making in drug delivery[1], neurosurgery, and neuromodulation[3]. The (un)fortunate point of MRI thermometry is that is not only very effective at reading temperatures, but it can also produce thermal dosage maps that help in characterizing tissue leisioning (the exact response of HIFU ablated tissue is still be debated). On top of that you also get traditional MRI imaging essentially for free. [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25904-9 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25904-9 [2] https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurological https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurol... [3] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8925600 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8925600
    - 1_over_n 7y ago
      Thank you for this. I will read these later!