Trial of MR-guided Focused Ultrasound for Treatment of Refractory Major Depression

Focused Ultrasound allows for non-invasive thermal ablation of soft tissue virtually anywhere in the body. Treatment begins by acquiring a series of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the target tissue. The physician then reviews the images on the system workstation, identifies the target, delineates treatment contours, and reviews the treatment plan. Therapy planning software calculates the parameters required to effectively treat (e.g. ablate) the defined region. During treatment, the patient wears a helmet equipped with multiple sources of ultrasound which generate a point of focused energy, called a sonication. The sonication raises the tissue temperature within a well-defined region, causing a thermal coagulation effect.