A Laboratory Facility for the Controlled Exposure of Blood Vessels to High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

A laboratory facility for the controlled exposure of blood vessels to high_intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is described. The facility comprises units for fixing and positioning of the object of study, ultrasound scanning, targeting, and exposure to limited doses of HIFU. The ultrasonic unit implements the functions of targeting and ultrasonic treatment. The ultrasound generator was calibrated. The effect of HIFU exposure on the femoral veins was investigated in in vivo experiments on animals (rabbits). An ultrasound intensity of ~8.7 kW/cm 2 at the focal spot led to structural changes in all layers of the vein wall, the most significant of the changes being endothelial desquamation and the disorganization of collagen. These changes formed the basis for subsequent obliteration.