Therapeutic ultrasound for chronic total coronary artery occlusions

This article focuses on the use of catheter-delivered ultrasound as a devic e for treatment of coronary arterial total occlusion (CTO). The standard tr eatment of CTO is reviewed and serves as the basis for the need for nero tr eatment options, such as catheter-delivered ultrasound (SONICROSS). The res ults of FDA-approved Phase I and Phase H clinical trials using SONICROSS fo r refractory CTO are described. The Phase II trials indicate that the SONIC ROSS-facilitated guidewire passage in 71% of CTOs are otherwise refractory to guidewire passage. However, at present the SONICROSS catheter system is limited in its ability to be delivered reliably to the CTO because of cathe ter size and trackability.