Functional Neurosurgery

The Medical Centre in Ostermundigen, in partnership with the Inselspital Bern, offers a modern, highly precise therapy for the treatment of certain neurological conditions: MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (abbreviated MRgFUS or HIFU, from the English high-intensity focused ultrasound).

This form of therapy provides a non-invasive alternative to conventional neurosurgical procedures for certain movement disorders and chronic pain.

What is MRgFUS?

MR-guided Focused Ultrasound System (MRgFUS) is a functional neurosurgical technique that does not require opening the skull or the use of an implant. This means that no incision is made. In this procedure, high-frequency ultrasound waves are precisely focused through the skull onto an exactly defined point in the brain.

Within this target area, the thermal effect deliberately destroys the diseased tissue (thermal ablation). The treatment is carried out under continuous monitoring by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allowing both the position of the ultrasound waves and the temperature to be tracked in real time.

For which patients is MRgFUS suitable?

MRgFUS is a treatment option for selected neurological conditions in which conventional approaches are not sufficiently effective or are not suitable.

Essential tremor: involuntary shaking, particularly of the hands
Tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease: especially when medication does not provide adequate control
Neuropathic pain, for example:
- Phantom pain after amputation
- Pain following spinal cord injury or stroke
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Pain associated with polyneuropathy or plexus lesions

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

Treatment procedure

The preliminary assessment and treatment are carried out at the Medical Centre in Ostermundigen, where SIFUS AG is based under the direction of PD Dr med. Marc Gallay, an experienced specialist in functional neurosurgery.

Preliminary examination at the Medical Centre in Ostermundigen

Neurological and neurosurgical assessment at SIFUS AG
Imaging using MRI and supplementary CT to assess skull thickness
Clarification of general suitability and risk factors

Treatment without incision

The head is fixed in a stereotactic frame to ensure maximum precision.
The patient remains awake throughout the entire procedure.
The target area is located using MRI and initially warmed slightly as a test.
The tissue is then gradually heated to achieve targeted ablation.

Discharge and follow-up care

After the procedure, the patient will remain in the neurosurgery ward at Inselspital Bern or at the Siloah Private Clinic for a short period of 1–2 nights for observation, depending on your insurance coverage.
Follow-up appointments are scheduled at 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years after the procedure.

Why patients choose SIFUS?

SIFUS combines precision neurosurgery, individualised care, and extensive clinical experience. Its patient-centered model limits the number of treatments per year, allowing for rigorous case selection and tailored therapy.
Each case undergoes critical review of the indication, individualised planning, and close follow-up in a trusted clinical setting. Patients from Switzerland and abroad choose SIFUS for its reputation, transparency, and innovation.

Benefits of MRgFUS

No incision or penetration of the skull, which avoids the risk of infection and reducing bleeding risk
No implanted hardware
Extremely precise treatment, accurate to within 1 millimetre
No general anaesthesia and no exposure to radiation

MRgFUS for Essential Tremor

Essential Tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, usually affecting the hands but also the head, voice, or legs. It often becomes disabling, interfering with daily activities such as eating, writing, or speaking.
SIFUS offers MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), an incisionless option for patients with therapy-resistant ET, considered when medication is ineffective or poorly tolerated.
Eligibility is based on clinical and radiological evaluation, including confirmed ET diagnosis, favorable skull density (CT), and preserved cognition. Tremor severity and laterality help decide between unilateral or staged bilateral treatment.
MRgFUS targets either the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) or cerebellothalamic tract (CTT), key nodes in the tremor network. Focused lesioning often provides rapid and substantial relief, with symptom reduction exceeding 80% in most cases.

MRgFUS for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurological disorder. When medication becomes ineffective or produces intolerable side‑effects, Magnetic Resonance‑guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) can offer an incisionless alternative to Deep Brain Stimulation.

Key results from over 10 years of experience and research:

Tremor control averaging 80-90% of patients
Rigidity and slow movements reduced by about 70%
Involuntary movements on the treated side are almost 100% stopped.
Up to 89% relief from Parkinson’s-related pain.
Durable benefits documented for more than 12 months and up to 10 years
Staged bilateral treatment possible when clinically indicated

Who is a good candidate?

Advanced PD with severe tremor, rigidity (muscle stiffness), or slow movement that don’t respond to medication.
Skull density suitable for ultrasound treatment (assessed by CT scan).
No major cognitive impairment or MRI restrictions.
Ability to lie inside an MRI machine for about 2 hours.

The emotional and psychological aspects of Parkinson’s are carefully assessed. If needed, personalised psychosocial support is provided before starting MRgFUS treatment.

MRgFUS for Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to nerves or injury to the spinal cord or brain. It can result from conditions such as phantom pain after amputation, nerve compression, spinal cord injury, stroke-related pain (thalamic syndrome), trigeminal neuralgia, pain following a herniated disc, and other nerve-related disorders.

Using MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Central Lateral Thalamotomy (MRgFUS CLT) target the part of the brain responsible for amplifying pain signals. This incisionless procedure reduces or stops the pain by interrupting these signals, without affecting normal brain functions. Many patients experience significant and lasting pain relief, often with less need for pain medications.

Partnership between Swiss Medical Network and Inselspital Bern

Treatment is based on close cooperation between Swiss Medical Network and the Insel Group. The therapy itself is carried out at the Medical Centre Ostermundigen, with medical management provided by SIFUS AG under PD Dr. Marc Gallay. Inpatient care and follow-up treatment are provided by Inselspital Bern with an interdisciplinary team from the fields of neurology and neurosurgery.

This close cooperation ensures that patients benefit from a high level of professional expertise, modern technical facilities and continuous care.

Research and future prospects

The partnership also provides a framework for scientific advancement. Studies on the application of MRgFUS for various neurological indications are continuously being conducted and developed. The aim is to expand the therapeutic range, further improve effectiveness, and systematically record long-term outcomes.