Dangerous blood clots can be eliminated with a new ultrasound device. The device consists of a hair-thin wire with transducers attached. After it is positioned near a clot, the transducers emit a high-frequency sound to loosen blood fibers and force an anticlotting drug through the clot. The device is in limited use for people who have deep-vein thrombosis or arterial-bypass grafts in the leg or acute blood clots in leg arteries. It is being studied for more uses, including dissolving stroke-causing clots in the brain.

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