Design and Characterization of an Ultrasound Transducer for Combined Histotripsy-Thrombolytic Therapy

Chronic thrombi of the deep veins of the leg are resistant to dissolution or removal by current interventions and can act as thrombogenic sources. Histotripsy, a focused ultrasound therapy, uses the mechanical activity of bubble clouds to liquefy target tissues. In vitro experiments have shown that histotripsy enhances thrombolytic agent recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in a highly retracted clot model resistant to lytic therapy alone. Although these results are promising, further refinement of the acoustic source is necessary for in vivo studies and clinical translation. The source parameters for use in vivo were defined, and a transducer was fabricated for transcutaneous exposure of porcine and human iliofemoral deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) as the target. Based on the design criteria, a 1.5-MHz elliptical source with a 6-cm focal length and a focal gain of 60 was selected. The source was characterized by fiber-optic hydrophone and holography. High-speed photography showed that the cavitation cloud could be confined to dimensions smaller than the specified vessel lumen. The source was also demonstrated in vitro to create confined lesions within clots. The results support that this design offers an appropriate clinical prototype for combined histotripsy-thrombolytic therapy.