Patient benefits of Ablatherm® HIFU

Non-invasive treatment that allows speedy resumption of normal life

Ablatherm® HIFU is a non-invasive treatment, meaning that no incisions are made (and consequently there are no scars). The impact on neighboring organs such as the urinary sphincter (incontinence) and erector nerves is limited. The Ablatherm® HIFU treatment probe is inserted into the rectum, enabling very easy access to the prostate, which is located immediately behind the rectum wall.

Repeatable radiation-free treatment

Unlike radiotherapy rays, ultrasound waves are quite harmless. They are used in a range of applications including ultrasound imaging during pregnancy. With HIFU technology, the same harmless waves are produced at a higher intensity and focused to produce a therapeutic effect for prostate cancer treatment.

Custom treatment – “radical” or “focal” approach

With the Ablatherm® HIFU, the urologist is able to provide personalized treatment, taking into account the anatomy of the prostate, the patient's preferences and any other treatments already received.
The urologist may decide to treat only the diseased part of the prostate (in a "focal" strategy) rather than treating the complete prostate ("radical" strategy), in order to maintain maximum quality of life by limiting the impact on the surrounding tissue.

Robotized treatment for maximum precision and safety

The urologogist plans the Ablatherm® HIFU treatment and the machine then executes the instructions to the letter, with movements that are accurate to within a millimeter, which is not possible when working by hand.
The Ablatherm® HIFU is equipped with many automatic safety features and the treatment parameters can be monitored in real time for maximum safety and effectiveness.

Last update 1 June 2010.

Talking about HIFU

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Glossary

Ablatherm® HIFU: Medical appliance that uses HIFU* to treat prostate cancer.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): Medical technique that treats tumors by using focused ultrasound pulses to generate heat.
Non-invasive: Describes medical procedures that do not require an incision to be made in the skin.
Prostate: Gland in the male genital system that plays a role in semen production.
Rectum: Final section of the large intestine, ending at the anus.
Sphincter: Ring of muscle around a natural orifice, allowing the orifice to open and close. - The urinary sphincter, located at the prostate outlet, controls the retention and release of urine. - The anal sphincter controls the retention and release of stools.
Ultrasound: Painless medical imaging examination performed using an ultrasound scanner.
X-rays: Invisible rays that pass through certain components of the human body. This property is harnessed for X-ray examinations and scanner imaging, for example.

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