Focussed ultrasound takes aim at chronic lower back pain

The technology, developed by Prof Constantin Coussios and colleagues at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University, allows the ultrasound to be focused at a precise point on the spine.

Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions worldwide. Patients can require spinal surgery, which can lead to complications.

Partial disc replacement, in which the degenerated gelatinous core of the disc is replaced by an implant, is a less invasive procedure, but leaves a hole in the wall of the disc, through which the implant can leak out.

High-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) is being considered as a potential new approach to treat the condition, in which the technology would be used to liquefy the core of the disc.

But the treatment site is deep within the body, beneath bone and layers of tissue, making it difficult to generate a focused ultrasound beam, according to Coussios.

So the researchers - including Prof Robin Cleveland - have developed a system in which an ultrasound transducer and receiver on the tip of a needle communicate with an external ultrasound array fitted around the patient’s body, he said.