High Intensity Focused Ultrasound For Saphenous Vein Sparing

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) allows delivery of energy through the skin in a minimally invasive way, thus repeated treatments can be performed without too much Inconvenience for the patient. We present in this paper different options for saving refluxing Saphenous trunks using HIFU. 1 / ULTRASOUND VALVULOPLASTY. Was the first application proposed for venous insufficiency treatment. The aim was to mimic cuffing of the dilated annulus at the level of a valve insertion without any incision or puncture. 2 / ULTRASONIC CHIVA consists in closing short segments of a saphenous trunk or of a tributary by using a heating probe transcutaneously. 3 / Ultrasonic ASVAL is performed using CAVITATION. Microbubbles are generated in the blood.They implode and release mechanical energy able to ablate the endothelium of the vessel for a sclero-like effect. Cavitation does not induce a temperature rise, so the skin will not be damaged. 4 / GLOBAL SHRINKAGE of the dilated vein can be achieved. This reduces the refluxing volume,while preserving a draining saphenous trunk.