In-vivo sonothrombolysis with a forward-viewing ultrasound balloon catheter in a swine deep vein thrombosis (DVT) model

Thrombosis has emerged as one of the foremost global causes of death. However, the currently available thrombolysis techniques, such as fibrinolytic agent administration and mechanical thrombectomy, are associated with prolonged treatment duration and an increased risk of hemorrhage. Here we present our development of a novel 9 Fr intravascular forward-viewing sonothrombolysis balloon catheter and initial in-vivo testing in a swine DVT model. The balloon was designed to expand during treatment, improving transducer alignment with the clot and enhancing catheter visualization under ultrasound guidance. The forward-viewing configuration enables thrombolysis of both partial and completely occluded clots, which created a flow channel of 2-2.5 mm diameter through all four completely occluded acute clots of ~2cm long in 30 minutes in-vivo.