HIFU - High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy

HIFU is a cutting edge minimally invasive/non-invasive treatment that results in necrosis of cancer tissue and can be used repeatedly.

HIFU: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy

This system has the ability to deliver high-intensity focused ultrasound from an external source deep into the tissues.

Transducer

Frequency = 1.1 MHz
Aperture diameter = 37 cm
Radius of curvature = 25.5 cm
251 element array
Configuration was chosen to reduce the risk of skin burns

The focus is oval in shape and is around 10 mm wide and 3 mm in diameter, with an 80 degrees convergence angle. The tissue temperature reaches over 60°C within seconds, causing coagulative necrosis of the cancer cells within the next few seconds.

Ultrasound cavitation

HIFU therapeutic effects to tissues include 2 biological actions: thermal and non-thermal. The thermal effect of HIFU involves the generation of a temperature of >60°C (140°F) in a small targeted area.
The non-thermal effect of HIFU involves the generation of microbubbles in the treatment area, called cavitation.