. 2010, 28(21): 95-100.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a new type of physical therapy, consistent with the concept from invasive to noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment. The relationship between HIFU dose and biological effects is important and is difficult to determine, but also is one of the keys for the clinical application of HIFU technology. This paper presents a review of HIFU, including the therapy principle, system's basic structure, core technology and characteristics, especially the damages from thermal heat, mechanical and cavitations effect. Based on the assessment of HIFU technology, domestic and international research trends on therapeutic dosimetry are discussed and the key links between the dose-effect relationship and frequency, sound power, radiation time, treatment methods, treatment depth, biological characteristics and acoustic environment of the organization are highlighted. Three major issues are stressed: monitoring system, sound channels and the "double standards" of dose- effect relationship, and proposals are given about developing dose study and HIFU technology. With the development and improvement of HIFU technology, the features of high efficiency, safety, noninvasive, and real-time monitoring will become more prominent, and it will play a more and more important role in the field of medicine.