Brain Surgery Using Sound Waves

Brain Surgery Using Sound Waves link 
By Emily Singer
July 21, 2009

Doctors in Switzerland performed successful surgeries on 9 patients using only sound waves. Seriously. A new ultrasound device, used in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allows neurosurgeons to precisely burn out small pieces of malfunctioning brain tissue without cutting the skin or opening the skull. An experimental version of this ultrasound device is currently being tested in five medical centers around the globe. In addition to using it with Parkinson's patients and those who suffer other movement disorders, scientists plan to test the technology as a treatment for brain tumors, epilepsy, and stroke. The nine patients in the Swiss study suffered from chronic pain that couldn't be treated with medications; the ultrasound surgery successfully destroyed a small area of their thalamus, bringing relief from the pain without other, significant side effects. They hope to start testing the machine on Parkinson's patients, in an effort to bring them relief from some of the the physical side effects of that disease. But not every functional neurosurgeon will accept this new approach, because you cannot do a test before the lesion is made. Scientists are developing ways to use high-intensity focused ultrasound to modulated brain activity in a localized area, which would enable functional testing of the target area before it is destroyed. 

Oh what the implications this has! A non-invasive way to do brain surgery, absolutely incredible. And oh you could use this technology for all sorts of surgeries! This is absolutely remarkable, I hope to hear more about these advances soon.