No Surgery Required with the Sonablate® 500
The Sonablate® is the only HIFU device that has the ability to treat up to a 45cc prostate without needing an invasive procedure, such as a TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), prior to HIFU. The Ablatherm® device requires that a TURP, an invasive surgical procedure, be performed prior to HIFU for any prostate larger than 24cc. Due to the design of the probe and the focal lengths of the transducer, the Sonablate® has a 90-degree therapy zone that gives the physician immediate access to the entire prostate gland without having to move or reposition the probe. Sonablate® 500 has Superior Imaging The benefit of real-time and reference images that are unique to the Sonablate® 500 is that the physician can get immediate feedback for maximum precision. The images are used as guidelines to customize and plan the HIFU treatment. During HIFU these images are continuously monitored and evaluated to show treatment progression and precision. The Sonablate® 500 also incorporates 3-Dimensional imaging for more accurate treatment planning. 
Preserving Potency
The Sonablate® 500 has integrated hardware and software built into the device which identifies the blood flow through the neurovascular bundles (in these bundles run the nerves in charge of the sexual potency). This means that as the physicians acquires real-time images of the prostate, he/she is also able to locate the exact position of the nerves bundles responsible for preserving potency. HIFU treatment is planned by the physicians based on these images. Since the doctor can clearly identify the location of the blood flow, he/she can easily avoid causing damage to the nerves, thus fewer patients treated with the Sonablate® 500 have problems with erectile dysfunction. Click on the image to enlarge the screen shot of the neurovascular bundle detection. The Ablatherm® is not capable of identifying or monitoring blood flow through the neurovascular bundles during HIFU at all. Therefore, the Ablatherm® has a much higher statistical incidence of erectile dysfunction associated with outcomes. Hands-On Physician Control 
Using the Sonablate® 500, the physician controls the position and the placement of the probe and can adjust it for optimal outcomes and comfort. Probe movement with the Ablatherm® is limited because it is fixed on the treatment table and not directly controlled by the physician hands –on. Dynamic Power Adjustment The Sonablate® 500 features dynamic power adjustment during HIFU to account for tissue response to the delivery of energy. Additionally, the physician has the ability to adjust power levels near vital areas such as around nerve bundles and near the rectum. This feature adds safety and further allows for customization of treatment. The Ablatherm® has three pre-set power levels and it does not have the ability to adjust based on tissue response. Therefore all patient treated with the Ablatherm® are treated with the same power level, as if they were all equal, which is not ideal. 
The Most Precise Treatment Available
The Sonablate® 500 is designed to treat the prostate in multiple overlapping zones. Ultrasound is focused on a small point within the focal zone creating a small lesion where the tissue is heated and destroyed. These lesions are placed side by side until all the tissue has been destroyed. The Sonablate® 500 produces small lesions that are so precise, 12mm in length, that the physician is able to be place them at the prostatic apex while monitoring the rectal wall. The Ablatherm® produces a larger lesion, 19-24mm at the focal point with a 1.7mm diameter which must be placed 5-8mm behind the apex. This could leave some prostatic tissue outside of the treatment zone, which is undesirable and increase the chance for cancer recurrence. 
HIFU Treatment
Process
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