How does HIFU work? The HIFU probe is inserted into the rectum under anaesthesia. A crystal within the probe vibrates at a specific frequency when an electric current passes through it, and this produces ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves pass through tissue and some of the waves are reflected back to the crystal eventually producing an image of the prostate and its surrounding structures on a screen, which can be viewed by the Urologist. At the same time, by increasing the intensity of the ultrasound waves and focusing the waves on a single point (like a magnifying lens), high energy is delivered to the prostate tissue. This will raise the temperature to 70-100 C and cause permanent tissue ablation (cell death) of the prostate cancer. Dead tissue then sloughs out and is passed with urine.   Click Here to view a video on the process. Please note: Windows Media Player 11 is required to play this video. copyright © 2008 administrator privacy policy