Time reversal acoustic focusing with a catheter balloon.

The ability to deliver configurable myocardial lesions was noted as a critical factor to the success of atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. This article considers the implementation of time reversal acoustics (TRA) principles for ultrasound focusing using an AF cardiac catheter developed for pulmonary vein isolation. Experiments conducted with a single transmitting channel demonstrated that a catheter balloon could be used as an acoustic reverberator to enable focusing and steering of ultrasound short pulses in the TRA mode.

Focused ultrasound ablation of the epididymis with use of thermal measurements in a canine model.

Objective: To explore the epididymis as an alternative anatomical target to the vas deferens for noninvasive male sterilization using therapeutic focused ultrasound.

Design: Controlled preclinical study.

Setting: Canine animal model in an academic research environment.