{"id":3002,"date":"2021-12-08T20:49:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T00:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fusfoundation.org\/?post_type=sw_disease_condition&p=3002"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:17:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:17:36","slug":"epilepsy","status":"publish","type":"sw_disease_condition","link":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/diseases-and-conditions\/epilepsy\/","title":{"rendered":"Epilepsy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Find a Treatment Site or Clinical Trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 epilepsy. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it Works<\/strong>
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces two therapeutic effects that are being evaluated. One mechanism is thermal ablation, which heats and destroys the targeted tissue. Another is the use of neuromodulation, where focused ultrasound is able to lower the impact of epileptic impulses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Current treatments for epilepsy include medication, surgery, radiofrequency or laser ablation, deep brain stimulation, and stereotactic radiosurgery, all of which have limitations and side effects. Focused ultrasound has the potential to provide an alternative to invasive surgery or to replace radiosurgery for treatment of medication refractory epilepsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Noninvasive – no incisions, no risk of infection or bleeding, less pain, and rapid recovery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Image-guided – precision targeting with minimal damage to surrounding tissue<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Real time target confirmation – using sub-ablative treatment parameters, the target can be tested for location accuracy prior to ablation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Safe, temporary and repetitive opening of the blood brain barrier (BBB) – enhancing the delivery of therapeutics directly to the brain target site<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fractionated ablation – ability to treat in a step-wise fashion in order to preserve tissue<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • No ionizing radiation – fewer side effects and can be safely repeated<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Conformal – treatment confined within the boundaries of the entire targeted volume<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Regulatory Authorizations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Focused ultrasound is not approved by any regulatory bodies worldwide as a treatment for epilepsy, nor is the treatment reimbursed by medical insurance providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Clinical Trials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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