Prostate / TULSA-Pro

TULSA-PRO Prostate Treatment

Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation for Prostate Cancer and BPH

Broader than Focal, Less than Total

TULSA-PRO is a customizable, predictable, and incision-free procedure that allows the doctor to tailor the ablation to each patient.

Icon Real Time Imaging

Real-Time Imaging

Icon Directional Thermal Ultrasound

Directional Thermal Ultrasound

Icon Closed Loop Feedback

Closed-Loop Temperature Feedback

Transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA-PRO) can more easily cover a wider area than laser focal therapy (LFT) / focal laser ablation (FLA). For patients who have a relatively larger cancer, or somewhat diffuse cancer within the prostate, TULSA-PRO can cover almost the entire prostate gland in many patients.

Advantages of TULSA-PRO

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Decreased Risk of Side Effects

TULSA-PRO has a decreased risk of erectile and urinary side effects compared to whole gland therapy.1

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Same-Day Outpatient Procedure

TULSA-PRO is performed in a single session that takes a few hours.

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Keep Your Options Open

If you are in need of future prostate care, you may either have a repeat TULSA procedure, or choose any other type of prostate therapy to address your prostate needs.2

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Advanced Image Guidance

Directional thermal ultrasound and MR imaging with active heat monitoring.

Icon Personalized Treatment Plan

Customizable Treatment Plans

TULSA-PRO is customizable and personalized based on your situation and goals.

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Shared Decision Making

Before your TULSA procedure, you will decide with your physician on a treatment plan.

1 Hatiboglu G, Popeneciu V, Bonekamp D, Burtnyk M, Staruch R, Distler F, Radtke JP, Motsch J, Schlemmer HP, Pahernik S and Nyarangi-Dix J (2021) Single-Center Evaluation of Treatment Success Using Two Different Protocols for MRI–Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation of Localized Prostate Cancer. Front. Oncol. 11:782546. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.782546  |  2 Nair, S.M., Stern, N., Dewar, M. et al. (2020). Salvage open radical prostatectomy for recurrent prostate cancer following MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) of the prostate: Feasibility and efficacy. Scandinavian Journal of Urology, 54(3), 215-219. doi: 10.1080/21681805.2020.1752795

How it Works

TULSA-Pro for Prostate Cancer

The Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) Procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that uses directional ultrasound to produce very high temperatures to ablate (destroy) targeted prostate tissue. There are no incisions or radiation.

The procedure is performed in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) suite and uses the TULSA-PRO® system to ablate prostate tissue from the ‘inside-out’. The procedure combines real-time MRI with robotically-driven, directional thermal ultrasound to deliver predictable, physician-prescribed ablation of whole gland or partial prostate tissue.

TULSA-Pro for BPH

BPH is not prostate cancer, but TULSA-PRO has proven to successfully treat BPH with no incisions, radiation, and with a lower risk of side effects.

TULSA-PRO is an effective option for men with BPH as it destroys enlarged prostate tissue while avoiding damaging vital structures. The procedure is completed in one treatment session and performed under general anesthesia.

Tulsa Prostate Ablation Tulsa Prostate Diagram

Individualized Elements

After the placement of the device and initial MRI scanning, the physician enters a treatment plan. The TULSA-PRO system then individually controls ten separate elements, allowing for broad tissue destruction while fine tuning each treatment area. This is all performed under the watchful eye of the physician who can make adjustments as appropriate.

The device actively protects the urethra and rectum with cooling during treatment. This cooling maintains a safe temperature for these critical structures to prevent damage.

Performing the TULSA Procedure

The thermal ultrasound energy is delivered in a sweeping motion — similar to a clock hand sweeping around a dial — which enables the physician to shape the ablation to the treatment plan and cover a wider area with precision.

Controlled and Predictable

TULSA-PRO produces real-time temperature maps, enabling the physician to see the increasing temperature of the prostate tissue and surrounding structures every 5-7 seconds during treatment. This visibility allows the physician to actively monitor tissue heating.

The physician can make adjustments to the plan if necessary, enabling the procedure to be very controlled and predictable.

Tulsa Imaging on two monitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the TULSA procedure (TULSA-PRO) perform partial and whole gland ablation?

Our physicians can customize the procedure to ablate a specific area of the prostate or almost the entire prostate, depending on your needs and functional outcome goals.

Can the TULSA Procedure (TULSA-PRO) treat a median lobe (growth of the prostate into the bladder)?

Generally, yes. The physician can customize the procedure to ablate specific areas of the prostate based on the patient’s needs.

What are the side effects?

As with many procedures, there are side effects associated with the TULSA procedure. The most common side effects include pain/discomfort in the procedure area, blood in urine, urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. According to the TACT: TULSA® Ablation Clinical Trial conducted by Profound Medical (the makers of TULSA), the study found patients had a 2.6% urinary incontinence risk and 25% erectile dysfunction risk.

Who qualifies for TULSA-PRO?

Whether a patient qualifies for the TULSA procedure will be determined by the treating physician on a case by case basis. In general, patients should have low to intermediate risk disease which is confined to the prostate. Generally, the patient should have a PSA of less than 20. If a patient has significant calcifications within the prostate (as determined by a CT scan), then they are not a candidate for TULSA, because the calcifications will block sound waves. Patients should be relatively healthy and able to undergo general anesthesia. Contact us if you would like more information.

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Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment

Screening

PSA, PSA density, liquid biopsy, and mpMRI for comprehensive early detection.

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Diagnosis

MRI-guided biopsy for a precise, accurate prostate cancer diagnosis.

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Laser Focal Therapy*

Minimally invasive focal laser ablation for prostate cancer, invented by Bernadette M. Greenwood, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), PhD(c) and refined at HALO.

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Active Surveillance

Confident monitoring of slower-growing cancers with mpMRI.

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BPH Treatment

Precision treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

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Prostate Program Overview

Early detection and the HALO PathWay™ for prostate.

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*International experts agree that most focal therapy techniques remain investigational and should be performed under IRB-approved protocol and/or contribute to an IRB-approved registry – the HALO way.

Early detection saves lives. Let’s start with yours.

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