With HiFUS, we precisely target specific brain disorders with focused ultrasound waves – such as essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, or other movement disorders. This is done without opening the skull or damaging the surrounding tissue.
Dear readers: The information presented here is for general guidance only and is not a substitute for a personal or therapeutic consultation. Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions.
Focused ultrasound – correctly termed high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFUS) – is a modern procedure for treating brain disorders. Sound waves are focused and precisely directed to a defined region in the brain. Terms like FUS or MRgFUS (MR-guided focused ultrasound) are also used in this context – they all refer to the same procedure. Unlike traditional neurosurgical operations, this procedure does not require opening the skull.
The innovative HiFUS technology uses the energy of ultrasound waves to treat small areas in the brain with pinpoint accuracy – leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.
Focused ultrasound is used in a number of neurological conditions:
Treatment with focused ultrasound offers the following advantages compared to conventional neurosurgical procedures:
The possible side effects of MRgFUS treatment are usually mild and often temporary.
This includes:
In very rare cases, permanent side effects can occur if surrounding tissue is affected by the treatment.
Most patients do not find the treatment itself painful. Occasionally, a slight sensation of warmth may occur.
Most patients experience an improvement immediately after treatment. The full effect may develop over several weeks.
No, a complete shave of the head is required for HiFUS treatment. During the treatment, the helmet containing the ultrasound sources is filled with water. A membrane seals the helmet, allowing the water to circulate between the inside of the helmet and your head. If the hair isn't shaved, air bubbles will become trapped in the stubble. This air would weaken the ultrasound waves. cereneo offers a partner salon to address this concern; they will be happy to advise you beforehand and discuss possible alternative solutions.
HiFUS treatment typically lasts between 2 and 4 hours, a large part of which takes place in the MRI scanner, where the ultrasound treatment is monitored.
Since the treatment takes place entirely within an MRI scanner, it can be challenging for those with claustrophobia. The use of sedatives is limited, as these can affect tremors and other symptoms, complicating safe treatment. Our experienced treatment team will be happy to discuss with you individually whether solutions can be found for your specific situation.
For patients with implanted pacemakers, treatment can only be performed if both the pacemaker and the electrodes are approved for MRI scans. If you have an implanted pacemaker, you will need to send a copy of your identification along with any relevant documents.
We conduct the preliminary examinations for treatment at our cereneo Clinic . Therefore, we require documentation from you regarding any pre-existing medical conditions and medications you are currently taking. Before treatment, we perform an MRI scan of the head and a special computed tomography scan of the head. A neurological examination documents the severity of your symptoms. Should we determine that, as an alternative to focused ultrasound treatment, you have a good chance of successful treatment without any intervention, using only medication, we would discuss this with you beforehand. A neuropsychological and a psychiatric evaluation are also necessary beforehand to assess tolerability and risks.
In Switzerland, treatment is generally covered by health insurance. However, as we are a private clinic , this would need to be clarified individually with your health insurance provider.
