Histotripsy, a non-invasive cancer treatment

The procedure can be used for multiple applications, including treating newborn infants with heart defects, prostate patients and potentially diseases such as breast cancer.

Michigan Engineering Professor Charles Cain outlines a new technique called “Histotripsy,” which is a non-invasive ultrasonic approach for the treatment of benign disease and cancer. Cain says the knifeless surgical approach generates energetic microbubbles that oscillate very rapidly, almost like a “nano-blender.” The procedure can be used for multiple applications, including treating newborn infants with heart defects, prostate patients and potentially diseases such as breast cancer.

ABOUT THE PROFESSOR: Professor Cain is the Founding Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan and the Richard A. Auhll Professor of Engineering. He and his research team have been developing the histotripsy technique for the last five years.