Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of facet joint pain: summary of preclinical phase.

Study Design: A phantom experiment, two thermocouple experiments, three in vivo pig experiments, and a simulated treatment on a healthy human volunteer were conducted to test the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for treating facet joint pain.

Objective: The goal of the current study was to develop a novel method for accurate and safe noninvasive facet joint ablation using MRgFUS.

Summary Of Background Data: Facet joints are a common source of chronic back pain.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS). Four ablation treatments of a single canine hepatocellular adenoma.

Background: Canine hepatocellular adenomas are benign, well-differentiated, primary hepatic tumors. Surgical resection is technically demanding and is considered a major procedure with relatively high morbidity rates. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) uses focused ultrasonic energy to non-invasively create a heat-coagulated lesion deep within the body.

A new MRI method, tested in vitro for the assessment of thermal coagulation and demonstrated in vivo on focused ultrasound ablation.

A new MRI method is described. It is implemented for the assessment of thermal coagulation after thermal treatment. The method does not require injection of a contrast agent.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery using an enhanced sonication technique in a pig muscle model.

The Purpose Of This Study: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an enhanced magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) emission protocol that results in more extensive treatment by increasing the volume of each focal ablation using the same energy.

Materials And Methods: Six pigs were treated with an MRgFUS system combined with real-time MR, for imaging and temperature mapping, with 102 "enhanced" and 97 "regular" focal ablations performed on both buttock muscles. Real-time imaging, temperature mapping, and acoustic reflected spectrum data enabled immediate evaluation of the results.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS): ablation of liver tissue in a porcine model.

Background: Liver surgery is technically demanding and is considered a major procedure with relatively high morbidity rates. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) uses focused ultrasonic energy to create a heat coagulation lesion, which can be achieved in a totally controlled, very accurate manner (<1 mm). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and accuracy of non-invasive focal ablation of liver tissue achieved by consecutive MRgFUS sonications.

Divalent cation levels in serum and preovulatory follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization embryo transfer.

In this controlled clinical study, we determined the serum and follicular fluid concentrations of the biologically active fractions of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in 39 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer (ET). Serum levels of ionized Ca (Ca2+) and ionized Mg (Mg2+) were measured during day 3 of the IVF cycle, on the day of ovum pickup and 12 days following ET. Follicular fluid levels were measured on the day of ovum pickup.