BWH Becomes Home to First Dedicated Focused Ultrasound Treatment Center in North America
On Thursday, June 20, BWH entered into a new partnership with InSightec Ltd., a company partly owned by General Electric Medical Systems, in an effort to expand the hospital’s ability to perform non-invasive, image guided surgical procedures. In collaboration with InSightec, BWH will now be home to the first MR Image Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound therapeutic center, combining an advanced diagnostic imaging system with a therapeutic focused ultrasound system. This leading center, the first in North America, will allow BWH researchers to advance ongoing clinical trials in the non-invasive treatment of various tumors.
“The capabilities of the focused ultrasound system will culminate in some of the hospital’s largest research ventures,” said Ferenc Jolesz, MD, director of BWH’s Image Guided Therapy Program, describing how InSightec’s technology allows for the “ideal” surgery because there are no incisions or needles necessary, and there is no damage to non-diseased, normal tissue. “This is a revolutionary treatment modality that has multidisciplinary applications ranging from women’s health to the treatment of brain tumors.”
A team of investigators at BWH, led by Elizabeth Stewart, MD, and Clare Tempany, MD, have been conducting clinical trails using focused ultrasound to successfully treat uterine leiomyomas since last year. The Center is scheduled to open at BWH by the end of the year.