Transforming ultrasound basic research in to clinical systems

In late 1960s, Robert F. Heimburger, MD, Chief of Neurosurgery at Indiana University School of Medicine, started collaborating with William J. Fry and Francis J. Fry at Interscience Research Institute (IRI) in Champaign, IL. and treated brain cancer patients with HIFU. In 1970, Dr. Heimburger and Indiana University School of Medicine (IUMS) invited IRI to join IUMS and Indianapolis Center For Advanced Research, Inc. (ICFAR). In 1972, a dedicated Fortune Fry Research Laboratory (FFRL) was inaugurated to advance ultrasound research relevant for clinical use. In the ‘70s, an automated computer controlled, integrated B-mode, image-guided HIFU system (“the candy machine”) was developed that successfully treated brain cancer patients at IUMS. HIFU was found to be safe for the destruction of brain tumors. Later a second-generation brain HIFU device was developed to work with CAT or MR images. In 1974, the FFRL developed a first cardiac real-time, 2-D ultrasound scanner. Prof. H. Feigenbaum pioneered this imaging...