Revolutionary treatment of movement disorders using ultrasound

Bild: AKH Wien/Karin Fehringer - The treatment of movement disorders, such as tremor, is now possible at University Hospital Vienna/Medical University of Vienna without opening the brain and without general anesthesia. The tissue lesion is guided by magnetic resonance imaging and high-intensity, focused ultrasound. Transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound therapy (TK-MRgFUS) is a method of functional neurosurgery for the treatment of essential tremor. The procedure combines two technologies: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to identify the area in the brain that is responsible for the movement disorder. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is used to heat and thus destroy the identified tissue. The ultrasound device is integrated into a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Patients are mechanically immobilized for the intervention using a head ring, but are awake and responsive throughout the treatment.