title: Tissue ablation using an acoustic waveguide for high-intensity focused ultrasound.
abstract: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been shown capable of selective tissue destruction in humans, with promise as a tool for ablation of tumors, although one practical problem is reflection of sound at gas or bony interfaces within the body. We evaluated a water-filled cylindrical metal tube as a waveguide for HIFU, since such a general technique might be useful for ablation of otherwise inaccessible tumors in the body. Our studies indicate that such a waveguide is capable of propagating HIFU from a piezoelectric source, with resultant heating of tissue specimens to greater than 80 degrees C, causing focal tissue destruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sumanaweera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water