A magnetic resonance (MR) surgery system facilitates surgery with a focussed ultrasound transducer that selectively destroys tissue in a region within a subject. The focussed energy transducer dissipates energy at a focal point within the region of tissue to be destroyed. A non-magnetic positioning device having a vertical dimension small enough to fit easily within the bore of an MR magnet moves an energy transducer in a limited vertical space. The positioning device employs a plurality of hydraulic positioners and an inclined plane to position the ultrasound focal point under the control of an operator. An MR imaging system employing a temperature sensitive pulse sequence creates an image of the tissue and the region being heated to allow the operator to adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer so as to direct ultrasonic energy to the appropriate location.