Apparatus and methods for ablating tissue surrounding a tubular anatomical
structure such as the wall of a blood vessel or prostatic tissue
surrounding the urethra. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic emitter
such as a cylindrical emitter and an inflatable annular lens balloon
surrounding the ultrasonic emitter. The lens balloon is inflated with a
liquid having acoustic velocity different than that of the surrounding
medium, so as to form an annular refracting surface. The acoustic energy
from the emitter is focused into an annular focal region.