title: In vitro ablation of cardiac valves using high-intensity focused ultrasound.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using high-intensity focused ultrasound (US), or HIFU, to create lesions in cardiac valves in vitro. Calf mitral valves and aortic valves were examined. Focused US energy was applied with an operating frequency of 4.67 MHz at a nominal acoustic power of 58 W for 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 s at 4-s intervals. Mitral valve perforation was achieved with 20.8 +/- 3.7 exposures of 0.2 s, 15.4 +/- 2.1 exposures of 0.3 s or 11.2 +/- 2.3 exposures of 0.4 s. Aortic valve perforation was achieved with 13.3 +/- 2.4 exposures of 0.2 s, 10.3 +/- 2.2 exposures of 0.3 s or 8.4 +/- 1.8 exposures of 0.4 s. The mean diameter of the perforated area was 1.09 +/- 0.11 mm. The lesions were slightly discolored and coagulation of tissue around the perforation was observed. HIFU was successful in perforating cardiac valves. With further refinement, HIFU may prove useful for valvulotomy or valvuloplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. otsukaryo@aol.com
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujikura
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pulerwitz
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.forename: Takeki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sciacca
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marboe
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burkhoff
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.forename: Frederic L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lizzi
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D002417:Cattle; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D014159:Transducers; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*