New ultrasound technique used to treat chronic lower back pain

A new system utilising high-intensity ultrasound has been shown to help the treatment of chronic pain in the lower back.

Developed by a team from Oxford University, the system utilises an ultrasound transducer and receiver on the tip of a needle, which have the ability to communicate with an external ultrasound array fitted around the patient's body.

The modular system focuses high-intensity ultrasound on to the spine to liquefy the core of the disc, and addresses a key challenge that arises when the treatment site is deep within the body, beneath layers of bone and other tissue.

Professor Constantin Coussios at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University said: "Once the array is configured and positioned over the skin, the next challenge is to figure out how to best drive the individual elements so as to achieve optimal focusing at the intended target."

With further refinement, this could be a viable alternative to invasive spinal surgery, which can lead to complications, or partial disc replacement, which leaves a hole in the wall of the disc through which the implant can leak out.

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