Image-guided acoustic therapy

The potential role of therapeutic ultrasound in medicine is promising. Curr ently, medical devices are being developed that utilize high-intensity focu sed ultrasound as a noninvasive method to treat tumors and to stop bleeding (hemostasis). The primary advantage of ultrasound that lends the technique so readily to use in noninvasive therapy is its ability to penetrate deep into the body and deliver to a specific site thermal or mechanical energy w ith submillimeter accuracy. Realizing the full potential of acoustic therap y, however, requires precise targeting and monitoring. Fortunately, several imaging modalities can be utilized for this purpose, thus leading to the c oncept of image-guided acoustic therapy. This article presents a review of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy, including its mechanisms of acti on, the imaging modalities used for guidance and monitoring, some current a pplications, and the requirements and technology associated with this excit ing and promising field.