Focused US Featured at European Conference

The NESA meeting was held January 2006 in Berlin (Germany), and the presentations emphasized the global use of MRgFUS as a new, non-invasive surgical treatment for a variety of benign and cancerous tumors.

MRgFUS combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize tissue in the body, plan and monitor the treatment and outcome in real time, and high intensity focused ultrasound energy to thermally ablate (destroy) tissue. MR thermal feedback, provided uniquely by the system, allows the clinician to control and adjust the treatment to ensure that the targeted tumor is fully treated and other tissue is avoided.

The technology used in these studies was the ExAblate 2000, developed by InSightec, Ltd. (Haifa, Israel). It is the only MRgFUS system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a non-invasive, outpatient procedure to treat uterine fibroids. The device also has the European CE mark and ISO 9001. Over 1,500 women have been treated worldwide for symptomatic uterine fibroids with the system.

The company has begun clinical trials to study the technology's use in other indications including breast, bone, liver, and brain tumors. Clinical trials are currently being performed for metastatic bone and liver tumors at Charite Hospital in Berlin and St. Mary's Hospital in London, UK.

The four papers presented at NESA Days 2006 included the use of FUS on malignancies, focused ultrasound therapy, uterine fibroids, and treatment of bone and liver tumors with MR-guided focused ultrasound.





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