Illustration of focused ultrasound targeting a placenta.

Can Ultrasound Zap Away Dangerous Placenta Problems?

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Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores non-invasive ways to treat placental vessel issues, potentially revolutionizing prenatal care and fetal health."


Pregnancy can come with a host of complications, and sometimes those complications involve the placenta. The placenta is critical for fetal development, supplying oxygen and nutrients while removing waste. When things go wrong with the placental blood vessels, serious problems like twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) can arise. Current treatments can be invasive and risky, underscoring the need for safer, less invasive solutions.

Now, imagine a future where doctors can address these placental issues without surgery, using focused ultrasound waves to precisely target and correct problematic blood vessels. Recent research is bringing that future closer to reality. Scientists have been exploring the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to occlude placental blood vessels non-invasively.

This article dives into a groundbreaking study where researchers successfully used HIFU to block blood flow in placental vessels in a sheep model, all without making a single incision. We'll explore how this technology works, why it's a game-changer for prenatal care, and what hurdles remain before it can be widely used in human pregnancies.

How Does Focused Ultrasound Help?

Illustration of focused ultrasound targeting a placenta.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) isn't new. It's already used to treat various conditions, like uterine fibroids and even some cancers. The idea is simple: focus high-energy ultrasound waves onto a specific point, generating heat and causing targeted tissue damage. In this case, the target is placental blood vessels.

The real challenge is getting those ultrasound waves to the right spot without harming surrounding tissues. That's why researchers are working on techniques to deliver HIFU through the skin, avoiding the need for surgery. This study marks a significant step forward, showing that it's possible to occlude placental vessels through the abdominal wall.

  • Non-Invasive Approach: HIFU is delivered through the skin, eliminating the risks associated with surgery.
  • Targeted Precision: Ultrasound imaging guides the HIFU, ensuring only the problematic vessels are affected.
  • Reduced Complications: By avoiding surgery, the risk of infection, bleeding, and preterm labor are minimized.
In the study, researchers used pregnant sheep as a model. They carefully targeted placental vessels with HIFU and monitored the results with color Doppler ultrasound, which shows blood flow. The results were impressive: HIFU successfully blocked blood flow in 91% of the targeted vessels, and this blockage persisted for the duration of the study (20 days).

The Future of HIFU in Pregnancy

While the sheep study is promising, it's important to remember that there are still hurdles to overcome before HIFU can be widely used in human pregnancies. One concern is the potential for skin burns, which occurred in some of the sheep. Researchers are working on refining the technique to minimize this risk.

Another key area of focus is ensuring the long-term safety and effectiveness of HIFU. More research is needed to understand how HIFU affects fetal development and placental function over the long term.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of non-invasive HIFU for treating placental vessel problems are enormous. It offers a glimmer of hope for safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies, marking a significant leap forward in prenatal care.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1038/s41598-018-31914-4, Alternate LINK

Title: Trans-Abdominal In Vivo Placental Vessel Occlusion Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Scientific Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Caroline J. Shaw, Ian Rivens, John Civale, Kimberley J. Botting, Gail Ter Haar, Dino A. Giussani, Christoph C. Lees

Published: 2018-09-11

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is the placenta and why is it important?

The placenta is essential for fetal development, providing oxygen and nutrients and removing waste. When the placental blood vessels experience issues, severe complications such as twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) may arise. These complications emphasize the critical importance of the placenta in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

2

What is High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and how was it used?

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a technology that focuses high-energy ultrasound waves onto a specific point to generate heat and cause targeted tissue damage. In the context of the study, HIFU was used to occlude placental blood vessels non-invasively. The study demonstrated that HIFU could successfully block blood flow in placental vessels in a sheep model.

3

How did the researchers conduct the study?

The study used pregnant sheep as a model to test the efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). Researchers targeted placental vessels with HIFU and monitored the results using color Doppler ultrasound, which shows blood flow. This approach allowed them to assess whether HIFU could successfully block blood flow in the targeted vessels without causing harm to surrounding tissues.

4

What are the main advantages of using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)?

The key advantages include a non-invasive approach, targeted precision, and reduced complications. HIFU, delivered through the skin, eliminates the need for surgery, reducing risks like infection, bleeding, and preterm labor. Ultrasound imaging guides HIFU, ensuring only problematic vessels are affected, and minimizing harm to surrounding tissues. These advantages highlight the potential of HIFU to revolutionize prenatal care.

5

What are the challenges and future directions for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in pregnancy?

While the sheep study shows promise, there are still hurdles. One significant concern is the potential for skin burns, which occurred in some of the sheep. Researchers are working to refine the technique to minimize this risk and improve the safety and effectiveness of HIFU for use in human pregnancies.

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