06.07.2026

MRgFUS Technology Explained

Understanding the technology behind MRI‑guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is key to appreciating why this therapy has become a leading option in modern neurosurgery. In this video, Dr. Gallay breaks down MRgFUS in approachable terms, explaining how MRI and focused ultrasound work together in clinical practice.

What Makes MRgFUS Unique?

MRgFUS combines two powerful medical technologies: focused ultrasound waves, which can be tightly controlled to heat small target zones deep inside the body, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which constantly tracks both the ultrasound focus and the tissue response.

Instead of cutting into tissue, MRgFUS uses hundreds to thousands of intersecting ultrasound beams, all harmless in isolation but converging at precise coordinates to raise temperature and ablate problematic areas. The MRI scanner guides this process in real time, ensuring safety and precision

Clinical Significance in Functional Neurosurgery

Dr. Gallay explains that this MRI guidance is especially important in treating movement disorders like essential tremor, where the targeted region in the brain is just a few millimetres wide. Functional neurosurgery demands the highest precision to avoid unintended effects.

Practical benefits of MRgFUS include:

No incisions or implants
Outpatient or short‑stay treatment
Rapid recovery
Minimal pain and risk

These features make MRgFUS an attractive alternative to conventional surgical therapies or deep brain stimulation.
Unlike other ablative techniques, MRgFUS allows neurosurgeons to monitor both the temperature and anatomical targeting during the entire intervention, significantly enhancing safety and clinical confidence.

Dr. Gallay’s explanation underlines that MRgFUS is not only technologically sophisticated but also highly patient‑friendly, translating into better outcomes for individuals with neurological conditions in Bern, Ostermundigen and across Switzerland.

Would you like to learn more?

Would you like more information or to arrange for a preliminary examination? We would be pleased to welcome you to SIFUS AG at the Medical Centre in Ostermundigen.

Do not hesitate to contact us at:

franziska.rossi@sifus.ch

For international patients, please contact our International Department directly at:

gps@swissmedical.net

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