Current status and challenges of minimally invasive ultrasound thermal ablation technology.

Journal: Physics in medicine and biology
Published Date: Jun 12, 2025

Abstract

Image-guided minimally invasive ultrasound thermal ablation has been widely studied for disease treatment due to its unique advantages, such as large treatment volumes and conformal delivery of ablation energy. This review presents the state-of-the-art of this technology and highlights the challenges. Ultrasound applicator designs, common image guidance methods, and treatment sites are first summarized. The recent decade has shown that despite the continuous development of this technology, only limited clinical translations have succeeded. To push this technology forward, challenges regarding the advancement of applicators, precise and real-time imaging guidance methods, and the validation of the clinical effectiveness of potential treatment sites are described. Finally, future directions are discussed. It is envisioned that future development of artificial intelligence-powered applicators with conformal ablation ability and multi-modal image guidance will enable surgeons to perform precise, visible, customizable treatment.

Authors

  • Shengrong Lin
    College of computer science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
  • Kang Chen
    Institute of Intelligent Control and Robotics, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
  • Jianming Wen
    The Key Laboratory of Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Technology & Equipment for Urban Rail Transit of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Precision Machinery and Smart Structure, College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P. R. China.

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