Neurosurgery typically requires craniectomy and meticulous dissection to achieve sufficient
exposure for subsequent surgical intervention. This highly invasive process requires
hours of operating time, long recovery periods and leaves patients with visible surgical
scars. Non-invasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has shown some promise
yet remains challenged by the attenuation of ultrasonic waves while passing through
the skull. Consequently, the clinical impact of this technology remains limited, particularly
in the treatment of neuro-oncology. In order to compensate for acoustic attenuation,
excessive use of power for HIFU devices has been investigated, although it is undesirable
from a regulatory and patient safety standpoint. Here, we report the design and development
of a novel HIFU device prototype for neurologic lesion ablation. This device concept
is envisioned to access the ventricular space via a minimally invasive ventriculostomy,
allowing ultrasound to reach targets deep in the brain, while eliminating the need
for high power to penetrate the skull.
