Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., taking over 150,000 lives from the 600,000 people stricken each year.
Intra-arterial delivery of thrombolytics at the site of the arterial occlusive lesion by a microlysis catheter with a low energy ultrasound transducer at the catheter tip accelerates clot lysis and broadens the therapeutic window of thrombolytic agents, thus increasing the number of stroke subjects who benefit from thrombolytic therapy and improves clinical outcome. Ultrasound alters the structure of the thrombus to increase accessibility and dispersion of the drug with a consequent increased dissolution rate and scope.