A portable high-intensity focused ultrasound device for noninvasive venous ablation

The ultrasound device is 14 × 9 × 4 cm and weighs 650 g. The diameter of the transducer is 3 cm.

Diagrammatic representation of ultrasound system and transducer probe shows the three ultrasound energy standoffs. The shorter the transducer standoff, the deeper the ultrasonic energy penetration and focal ablation region; the longer the standoff, the less penetration of energy.

The skin-muscle-vein model is shown (left) before ultrasound treatment and (right) after ultrasound treatment. Note the lack of coagulation necrosis of the skin, the minimal area of coagulation necrosis on the surface of the muscle that had been in direct contact with the vein (arrow), and the distinct contraction of the vein.

Skin-fat-vein model is shown (left) before ultrasound treatment and (right) after ultrasound treatment. Note the lack of coagulation necrosis of the skin (left) and fat (middle), and the distinct contraction of the vein (right).

A segment of vein in skin-fat-vein model filled with heparinized rat blood is shown (left) before and (right) after treatment with the high-intensity focused ultrasound device.

A section of vein is shown that (left) had not been treated with the high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device and (right) which had been treated with HIFU. Treatment resulted in a 96% reduction in luminal area. Hematoxylin and eosin staining at original magnification ×40.