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 thromboembolic stroke. 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 tria<\/strong><\/a>l<\/a> <\/strong>ongoing in North Carolina using low intensity focused ultrasound to help with upper extremity motor deficits after a stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a clinical trial<\/strong><\/a> in Taiwan using focused ultrasound to help patients recover after a 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 thromboembolic stroke is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Su TY, Chang MY, Huang GT, Huang WT, Lin YL, Su C, Chan MH, Hsiao MY, Liu RS.\u00a0Deep neurotherapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke via focused ultrasound-enhanced delivery of curcumin-loaded antioxidant nanoliposomes<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0Biomater\u00a0Sci. 2026 Mar 25.\u00a0doi: 10.1039\/d5bm01596k. PMID: 41879720\u00a0<\/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<\/strong><\/a>. 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 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 Dong W, Wang G, Chai Y, Li W, Liu S, Liu H, Guo W, Li S, He X, Wan M, Li Z, Zong Y. Two-step ultrasonic cavitation controlled delivery of brain exogenous nucleic acids for ischemic stroke using acoustic-cationic-polymeric-nanodroplets<\/strong><\/a>. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2025 Mar 6. doi: 10.1007\/s13346-025-01828-6. PMID: 40048146 <\/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 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. 2024 Dec 7. doi: 10.4103\/NRR.NRR-D-24-00128. PMID: 39665828 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hong Z, Zuo Z, Zhao Y, Ai Y, Zhang L, Li L, He X, Luo J, Xu J, Yang X, Yi S, Zheng H, Tie C, Niu L, Hu X. Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation alleviates NLRP3-related neuroinflammation induced by ischemic stroke via regulation of the Nespas\/miR-383-3p\/SHP2 pathway<\/strong><\/a>. Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Nov 30;144:113680. doi: 10.1016\/j.intimp.2024.113680. PMID: 39616858 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheng R, Luo X, Wu X, Wang Z, Chen Z, Zhang S, Xiao H, Zhong J, Zhang R, Cao Y, Qin X. Artificial Microglia Nanoplatform Loaded With Anti-RGMa in Acoustic\/Magnetic Feld for Recanalization and Neuroprotection in Acute Ischemic Stroke<\/strong><\/a>. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2024 Oct 30:e2410529. doi: 10.1002\/advs.202410529. PMID: 39475454 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Savelon ECJ, Jordan HT, Stinear CM, Byblow WD. Noninvasive brain stimulation to improve motor outcomes after stroke<\/strong><\/a>. Curr Opin Neurol. 2024 Sep 3. doi: 10.1097\/WCO.0000000000001313. PMID: 39221935 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 temporary opening of the blood-brain barrier, which enables entry of stem cells into the area of the stroke. A third mechanism is neuromodulation, which can increase regional blood flow to ischemic areas. 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, intracellular hemorrhage.<\/strong><\/a>\u201d
Advantages<\/strong>
The primary options for treatment of stroke 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