Laser-generated focused ultrasound for thrombus characterization and fragmentation: ex vivo feasibility study.

Authors

Kyu Kwan Park, Pilgyu Sang, Min Gyu Joo, Deblina Biswas, Hyoung Won Baac

Published in

Scientific reports. Jun 23, 2026. Epub Jun 23, 2026.

Abstract

Intravascular thrombus poses a significant risk for ischemic events, yet precise characterization and selective mechanical intervention remain challenging. Here, we present a laser-generated focused ultrasound (LGFU) platform incorporating a long-focused photoacoustic lens (focal length: 28 mm), which achieved a 1.79-fold increase in penetration depth compared with previously reported LGFU systems while maintaining a tight focal spot (60 μm lateral, 150 μm axial) and broadband acoustic output (- 6 dB bandwidth: ~ 15 MHz). Unlike previously reported LGFU systems developed primarily for therapeutic applications, the present platform combines LGFU-based ultrasound generation with co-aligned hydrophone reception for spectral characterization of thrombi under vessel-mimicking phantom conditions. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) applied to complex backscattered signals enabled discrimination of thrombus thicknesses down to ~ 100 μm, highlighting the utility of broadband photoacoustic signals for sub-millimeter spectral characterization. Finite-element simulations supported the thickness-dependent spectral shift underlying this discrimination. Then, we confirmed that thrombus fragmentation linewidths were dependent on an input laser energy, which was evaluated by using a photoacoustic lens with a 15 mm focal length. Finally, fragmentation of the vessel-mimicking phantom was demonstrated with a longer focal length (28 mm). The observed fragmentation behavior was consistent with cavitation-mediated mechanical effects under the tested conditions. These results support the feasibility of an LGFU platform for combined thrombus characterization and localized fragmentation under proof-of-concept phantom and ex vivo conditions.

PMID:
42336898
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Jun 2026.

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