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 intracerebral hemorrhage. 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> There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Taiwan using focused ultrasound to help patients recover after a stroke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in China using neuromodulation to help deliver brain derived neurotrophic factor to patients after hemorrhagic stroke. <\/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>.\u202f\u202f <\/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 intracerebral hemorrhage is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lin MT, Chen SY, Lai PH, Liu YC, Chen WS, Chu PC, Liu HL, Lee BC, Yang SM, Wu CH, Lai TJ, Huang AP, Hsiao MY. Safety and neuromodulation effect of transcranial focused ultrasound for motor recovery in patients with subacute stroke<\/a><\/strong>. J\u00a0Neuroeng\u00a0Rehabil. 2026 Mar 17.\u00a0doi: 10.1186\/s12984-026-01945-4. PMID: 41845437\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guo J, He S, Yan L, Wang L, Shi X, Hu H, Li L. Therapeutic effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation on ischemic stroke in rats: An in vivo evaluation using electrical impedance tomography<\/strong><\/a>. Neural Regen Res. 2026 Mar 1;21(3):1183-1190. doi: 10.4103\/NRR.NRR-D-24-00128. Epub 2024 Dec 7. PMID: 39665828 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ho HC, Chen WS, Hsiao MY. Neuromodulation effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound in human, a systematic review focusing on motor and sensory functions<\/strong><\/a>. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025 Nov 28;22(1):254. doi: 10.1186\/s12984-025-01722-9. PMID: 41316352 <\/p>\n\n\n\n He S, Luo K, Li X, Duan J, Ding L, Chen M, Xu X, Sun X, Ao L, Feng X. A clinical case report on transcranial low-intensity focused ultrasound neuromodulation for central post-stroke pain<\/strong><\/a>. Front Neurosci. 2025 Nov 6;19:1686623. doi: 10.3389\/fnins.2025.1686623. eCollection 2025. PMID: 41278189 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Azadian MM, Kiani Shabestari S, Rajan A, Martinez PJ, Macedo N, Markarian E, Xiang Y, Yu BJ, George PM, Fame RM, Airan RD. Clearance of intracranial debris by ultrasound reduces inflammation and improves outcomes in hemorrhagic stroke models<\/strong><\/a>. Nat Biotechnol. 2025 Nov 10. doi: 10.1038\/s41587-025-02866-8. PMID: 41214344 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Shu L, Shen H, Zhou Y, Li Z, Hu Z. Harnessing the Power of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation in Stroke: Modulating Immune Response<\/strong><\/a>. Stroke. 2025 Nov 13. doi: 10.1161\/STROKEAHA.125.052307. PMID: 41230594 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gong L, Wright AR, Hynynen K, Goertz DE. Self-Sensing with Hollow Cylindrical Transducers for Histotripsy-Enhanced Aspiration Mechanical Thrombectomy Applications<\/strong><\/a>. Sensors (Basel). 2025 Sep 2;25(17):5417. doi: 10.3390\/s25175417. PMID: 40942845 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Huang Z, Charalambous CC, Chen M, Kim T, Sokhadze E, Song A, Jung SH, Shekhar S, Feld JA, Jiang X, Feng W. Low intensity focused ultrasound stimulation in stroke: A phase I safety & feasibility trial<\/strong><\/a>. Brain Stimul. 2025 Jan 20;18(1):179-187. doi: 10.1016\/j.brs.2025.01.015. PMID: 39842609 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lin BZ, Fan AC, Wang Y, Lowerison MR, Dong Z, You Q, Sekaran NVC, Llano D, Borden M, Song P. Combined Nanodrops Imaging and Ultrasound Localization Microscopy for Detecting Intracerebral Hemorrhage<\/strong><\/a>. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2025 Jan 20:S0301-5629(25)00002-X. doi: 10.1016\/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.01.002. PMID: 39837748 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi L, Wang C, Deng L, Pan JJ, Suo Q, Wu S, Cai L, Shi X, Sun J, Wang Y, Tang Y, Qiu W, Yang GY, Wang J, Zhang Z. Low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation promotes stroke recovery via astrocytic HMGB1 and CAMK2N1 in mice<\/strong><\/a>. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2024 Nov 5;9(5):505-518. doi: 10.1136\/svn-2023-002614. PMID: 38191183 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Savelon ECJ, Jordan HT, Stinear CM, Byblow WD. Noninvasive brain stimulation to improve motor outcomes after stroke<\/a><\/strong>. Curr Opin Neurol. 2024 Sep 3. doi: 10.1097\/WCO.0000000000001313. PMID: 39221935 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Li KP, Wu JJ, Zhou ZL, Xu DS, Zheng MX, Hua XY, Xu JG. Noninvasive Brain Stimulation for Neurorehabilitation in Post-Stroke Patients<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Brain Sci. 2023 Mar 6;13(3):451. doi: 10.3390\/brainsci13030451.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wang T, Lei H, Li X, Yang N, Ma C, Li G, Gao X, Ge J, Liu Z, Cheng L, Chen G. Magnetic Targeting Nanocarriers Combined with Focusing Ultrasound for Enhanced Intracerebral Hemorrhage Therapy.<\/strong><\/a> Small. 2023 Apr;19(17):e2206982. doi: 10.1002\/smll.202206982. Epub 2023 Jan 26. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Shen QR, Hu MT, Feng W, Li KP, Wang W. Narrative Review of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation<\/a>.<\/strong> Med Sci Monit. 2022 Dec 2;28:e938298. doi: 10.12659\/MSM.938298. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Raghuram H, Looi T, Pichardo S, Waspe AC, Drake JM. A robotic MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound platform for intraventricular hemorrhage: assessment of clot lysis efficacy in a brain phantom<\/a><\/strong>. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Dec 1;30(6):586-594. doi: 10.3171\/2022.8.PEDS22144. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mechanisms of action are that where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces several therapeutic effects that are being evaluated. One mechanism is the disruption of blood clots, which allows reperfusion of ischemic tissue. Another mechanism is the temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier which enables entry of stem cells into the area of the stroke that can repopulate the area. All are still in the early stage and more work is needed before this research can reach the clinic. Please note that there is another major cause of stroke, listed separately under \u201cStroke, thromboembolic<\/a>.\u201d
Advantages<\/strong>
The primary options for treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage include medications with the possible inclusion of surgery.
For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications \u2013 such as surgical wound healing or infection \u2013 at a lower cost. It can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue and is repeatable, if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nClinical Trials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find a Treatment Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Notable Papers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n