Current State and Future of Clinical Focused Ultrasound Devices in Neuro-Oncology

This review provides a comprehensive account of the current state and future directions in clinical Focused Ultrasound devices, highlighting their transformative potential in neuro-oncology. Focused ultrasound is a versatile, early stage, therapeutic approach with multiple modes of action for neuro-oncology guided by MRI or ultrasound imaging. The choice of the optimal device depends on what physical effects (thermal, cavitation) are sought, what the size and the location of the target area is, presence of the skull, and the associated physiological, (bio)chemical, molecular, and cellular mechanisms. Different therapeutic applications like Blood-Brain-Barrier Opening for Drug Delivery, Immune Stimulation, Sonodynamic Therapy, Radiotherapy Sensitization, and Tissue Ablation, require different device specifications.