Application of low intensity pulsed ultrasound in treating urinary system diseases

Abstract

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a form of ultrasound that delivered at a much lower intensity (<3 W/cm2) than traditional ultrasound and output in the mode of pulse wave, it is typically used for therapeutic purpose in rehabilitation medicine. It has minimal thermal effects due to its low intensity and pulsed output mode, and its non-thermal effects which is normally claimed to induce therapeutic effect in tissues attracting much attentions. LIPUS have been demonstrated to have a rage of biological effects on tissues, including accelerating soft-tissue regeneration, promoting bone-fracture healing, inhibiting inflammatory responses, etc. Hopefully, LIPUS may become an effective clinical procedure for the treatment of urological diseases, such as chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). It still needs an intense effort for basic and clinical investigators to explore the biomedical applications of microenergy medicine. Key words: Urologic diseases; Ultrasonic therapy; Review