Numerical analysis of the acoustic pressure inside blood vessel with exposure to high-intensity focused ultrasound

This study investigates acoustic pressure distribution in blood vessels under high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for sonothrombolysis (STL). A tissue-mimicking phantom (skin, fat, muscle, blood) was modeled, and pressure was calculated using the Westervelt equation. Results show peak pressure increases with frequency (0.5-2 MHz), while attenuation intensifies with higher power, frequency, and vessel depth (10-30 mm). Frequencies above 1.1 MHz caused greater attenuation, influenced by skin (1-5 mm) and fat (2-7 mm) thicknesses. Below 1.1 MHz, consistent HIFU power yields similar clinical outcomes across patients, aiding STL treatment optimization.