Korean researchers have discovered the mechanisms behind how high-intensity ultrasound can selectively remove tumors and cancerous tissue.<br />The study is expected to pave the way for new technologies for cancer surgery.<br />Park Se-young has more.<br /><br />Focused ultrasound is often used to treat uterine fibroids by burning tumor tissues.<br />It provides an alternative to surgical interventions and has fewer side effects, …but the method has so far been limited to uterine fibroid and essential tremor treatment.<br /><br /><br />"The existing technology generates heat and strict temperature control is very difficult. The heat diffusion phenomenon also makes it hard to accurately control the treatment area."<br /><br />To address these limitations, Korean researchers have found for the first time how a boiling histotripsy works to get rid of tumor tissues.<br />High-intensity ultrasound energy can raise the temperature of the target area to boiling point in as little as a millisecond, …and the kinetic energy of the vapor bubbles at the focal point can be used to remove the desired cell tissue.<br />The researchers also developed a mathematical model that predicts the vibration and collapse of bubbles …and used the model to find out the mechanism of soft tissue removal.<br /><br /><br />"We found that the energy intensity generated by water bubbles was strong enough to kill soft tissue, but weak enough to keep blood vessels and connective tissue intact."<br /><br />Using the mathematical model, the researchers are looking to find the optimal conditions for removing tumors and particular cells without surgery.<br />Park Se-young, Arirang News. <br /><br /><br />
