Elastification of the arterial wall by high-intensity low-frequency ultrasound

A significant increase in the elasticity of the femoropopliteal artery segments in vitro was found as a result of the action of cavitation generated by powerful low-frequency (24–26 kHz) ultrasound introduced into the vessel by a flexible waveguide. The vessel elasticity was evaluated both by the deflection under the action of an external force and by the degree of its expansion vasodilatation by the internal pressure created by the expanding balloon. The possibility of achieving a more than two-fold decrease in the vascular wall elasticity modulus after 30-s exposure to an ultrasound intensity of 31 W/cm2 was shown. It has been established that at the 10 μm amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations, vascular wall damage occurs in the form of small foci of detachment and rupture of the intima accompanied by delamination in the media layer, when polymorphic slit-like cavities are formed with an increase in the amplitude of oscillations above 23 μm.