Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with hypertension. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasonic energy precisely and accurately on renal nerves or other nervous tissues without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How it Works<\/strong> Advantages<\/strong> For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive and potentially more effective alternative to current medical management. Focused ultrasound is noninvasive, so it may be able to help lower blood pressure without the side effects of medication. It can also be repeated, if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is one clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Nanjing that is treating patients with hypertension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Suzhou that is treating patients with hypertension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Guangdong, China that is treating patients with hypertension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Foundation updates these pages regularly, but with the increasing number of clinical trials, we want to be sure that our audience has the latest information available. Therefore, we also added the website search information for the above trials. If you click here<\/strong><\/a>, it will take you to the latest information available from https:\/\/www.clinicaltrials.gov\/<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Search for a treatment center or clinical trial near you.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Focused ultrasound treatment for hypertension has the CE Mark in Europe. It has not been approved by the FDA and is not covered by medical insurance companies in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cordeanu\u00a0EM, Morisot E, Bronner F, Prinz E, Stephan D. From resistant hypertension to renal denervation: an emerging therapeutic approach\u00a0in light of\u00a0new international guidelines<\/strong><\/a>. Int J\u00a0Cardiol\u00a0Cardiovasc Risk Prev. 2025 Nov\u00a017;27:200550.\u00a0doi: 10.1016\/j.ijcrp.2025.200550.\u00a0eCollection\u00a02025 Dec. PMID: 41333717\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lopez AF, Routkevitch D, Kramer PJ, Babu NA, Jillala R, Tandri A, Soul\u00e9 Z, Baca EC, Davidar AD, Vattipally VN, Perkins PL, Krishnan S, Bohluli RS, Eberhart CG, Tyler BM, Theodore N, Thakor NV, Manbachi A. Spinal cord neuromodulation for blood pressure control using low-intensity focused ultrasound<\/strong><\/a>. Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 21;15(1):41363. doi: 10.1038\/s41598-025-25330-8. PMID: 41272077 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Zheng X, Rong S, Liao Q, Fang Q, Wang X, Lou Y, Li Q, Qian J, Wang J, Wang Y, Zhao X, Xiong B, Wang L, Li H, Yao Y, Zhu Q, Jiang Y, Yang G, Xiao L, Ma C, Huang J. Renal denervation guided and ablated by noninvasive ultrasound in canines<\/strong><\/a>. Ultrasonics. 2025 Sep;153:107666. doi: 10.1016\/j.ultras.2025.107666. Epub 2025 Apr 16. PMID: 40262440 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lea-Banks H, Chauhan N, Hynynen K. Investigating\u202fthe\u202fhypotensive\u202feffect\u202fof\u202ffocused\u202fultrasound\u202fneuromodulation\u202fand barbiturate-loaded nanodroplets in healthy and hypertensive rats.<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>Brain Stimul. 2024 Nov-Dec;17(6):1317-1327. doi: 10.1016\/j.brs.2024.12.002. Epub 2024 Dec 4.PMID:\u202f39643112\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jiang X, Yu W, Chen Z, Li C, Li X, Xu Y, Li F, Gao H, Qian J, Xiong B, Rong S, Chen G, She Q, Huang J. Low-intensity focused ultrasound combined with microbubbles for non-invasive downregulation of rabbit carotid body activity in the treatment of hypertension<\/strong><\/a>. Hypertens Res. 2024 Nov;47(11):3182-3192. doi: 10.1038\/s41440-024-01904-3. Epub 2024 Sep 19. PMID: 39300302 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Takei Y. Downregulation of carotid body activity using low-intensity focused ultrasound: a potential treatment option for refractory hypertension<\/strong><\/a>. Hypertens Res. 2024 Oct 28. doi: 10.1038\/s41440-024-01977-0. PMID: 39468315 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jiang X, Yu W, Chen Z, Li C, Li X, Xu Y, Li F, Gao H, Qian J, Xiong B, Rong S, Chen G, She Q, Huang J. Low-intensity focused ultrasound combined with microbubbles for non-invasive downregulation of rabbit carotid body activity in the treatment of hypertension<\/strong><\/a>. Hypertens Res. 2024 Sep 19. doi: 10.1038\/s41440-024-01904-3. PMID: 39300302 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Camafort M, Ihm SH, Ruilope LM. Renal denervation for the treatment of hypertension and kidney disease<\/strong><\/a>. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2023 Nov 1;32(6):544-550. doi: 10.1097\/MNH.0000000000000928. Epub 2023 Sep 13. PMID: 37706512 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Li D, Cao F, Han J, Wang M, Lai C, Zhang J, Xu T, Bouakaz A, Wan M, Ren P, Zhang S. The sustainable antihypertensive and target organ damage protective effect of transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>J Hypertens. 2023 May 1;41(5):852-866. doi: 10.1097\/HJH.0000000000003407. Epub 2023 Mar 2. PMID: 36883470 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where the beams converge, the ultrasound produces precise ablation (thermal destruction) of the nerves which cause hypertension. Much of this work has been in renal nerves, but other nerves have also been studied. Another way being pursued is to use barbiturate loaded nanoparticles, which in animal models can enhance the GABA pathway and improve hypertension control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary options for treatment of hypertension include medication, but many have side effects which limit therapy effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\nClinical Trials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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