ObjectivesInferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy is the main cause of chronic nasal obstruction. We developed a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation device to treat patients with IT hypertrophy. MethodsFirst, computed tomography (CT) images of patients without any evidence of sinonasal disease were evaluated to measure and compared the IT, medial mucosal thickness (MT), and space between the nasal septum and IT according to clinical characteristics such as septal deviation. A HIFU prototype was developed based on human anatomical studies. The experimental study was performed in five pigs; the cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity airway and histological changes at 1 and 4 weeks postoperatively were evaluated to compare the efficacy of HIFU turbinoplasty with that of radiofrequency turbinoplasty and control. ResultsThe mean medial MT of the anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the IT were 4.66
Dynamics and control of cavitation during high-intensity focused ultrasound application
