Originally Published MX March/April 2004

COVER STORY

The OmniWave technology developed by OmniSonics Medical Technologies (Wilmington, MA) enables the delivery of therapeutic acoustic energy in an omnidirectional 360º pattern around a small-diameter wire.

The Resolution system handpiece and therapeutic wire. (click to enlarge)

In application, acoustic energy is directed down a wire that has been tuned to oscillate at a frequency capable of selectively resolving targeted occlusive materials such as the fibrin found in thrombus. Unlike treatments that break up thrombus into large pieces that must be mechanically removed, particulate resulting from resolution with the OmniWave technology is about the size of a red blood cell. Other materials, such as the more-elastic walls of arteries, veins, and synthetic grafts are not adversely affected.