Factors Related to Successful Energy Transmission of Focused Ultrasound through a Skull : A Study in Human Cadavers and Its Comparison with Clinical Experiences.

Objective: Although magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been used as minimally invasive and effective neurosurgical treatment, it exhibits some limitations, mainly related to acoustic properties of the skull barrier. This study was undertaken to identify skull characteristics that contribute to optimal ultrasonic energy transmission for MRgFUS procedures.

Methods: For ex vivo skull experiments, various acoustic fields were measured under different conditions, using five non-embalmed cadaver skulls.

Non-thermal focused ultrasound induced reversible reduction of essential tremor in a rat model.

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders of adults, characterized by postural and kinetic tremor. With drug treatment only partially efficient, new treatments are being developed.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of non-thermal focused-ultrasound (FUS) to induce tremor-suppression in an ET rat model.

Focused Ultrasound-Induced Suppression of Auditory Evoked Potentials in Vivo.

The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of focused ultrasound-based neuromodulation affecting auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in animals. Focused ultrasound-induced suppression of AEPs was performed in 22 rats and 5 pigs: Repetitive sounds were produced, and the induced AEPs were recorded before and repeatedly after FUS treatment of the auditory pathway. All treated animals exhibited a decrease in AEP amplitude post-treatment in contrast to animals undergoing the sham treatment.