A novel linear ultrasound technology for the ablation of cardiac tissue

A novel high intensity focused ultrasound device for creating linear cardiac lesions is presented. The device consists of an air-backed, open cylinder piezoelectric element assembled into a water-filled chamber, which is operated in continuous wave mode. The energy was applied to explanted porcine cardiac tissue at sixteen different time and power dosages. The extent of lesion damage was assessed by staining and presented here as dose-response curves. Well-developed linear lesions were created as deep as 10 mm and as quickly as 10 seconds. The results demonstrate that the device was strong potential for creating linear cardiac lesions.