MR-guided focused ultrasound at Shanghai International Medical Center expands noninvasive options for neurological disorders

The Shanghai International Medical Center has established itself as one of the world's leading providers of non-invasive brain disease treatment for patients suffering from long-term tremors.

It is the city's only medical center that provides MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) to treat nervous system disorders such as essential tremor or Parkinson's disease in a quick, safe, precise and non-invasive manner.

So far, around 200 medical facilities in the world have such services, with 11 of them in China.

Tremors typically appear in middle age or later, and the majority of people who suffer have a family history. The condition affects more than 10 million people in China, reducing their quality of life significantly.

Essential tremors usually develop in middle age or later, and most people with the condition have a family history of it. The condition affects more than 10 million people in China, reducing their quality of life significantly.

Every year, the Shanghai International Medical Center treats around 300 to 400 patients, including international patients who travel to Shanghai for its competitive price.

"Compared to the traditional treatment of surgery, the non-invasive treatment is a significant reform," said Dr Sun Bomin, director of the institute's brain disorder treatment center. "The new technology has been widely employed on patients with mobility disorders, and the control effects on tremor and stiffness are greater than 90 percent. Many patients get to see the results quickly after treatment."

MRgFUS is a new generation of neuromodulation medical equipment that combines therapeutic acoustic ultrasound waves with continuous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance to guide physicians to accurately visualize, plan, guide, monitor and control treatment while the ultrasound acoustic energy destroys the targeted tissue in the brain via thermal ablation.

In addition to local patients, the facility has received patients from Russia, Japan and Malaysia.

The treatment costs around 160,000 yuan (US$22,276) in Shanghai and more than 250,000 yuan abroad.

If you go

You can contact the center's brain disease treatment center at 158-0217-4888.

The medical center is covered by commercial medical insurance.