T Hölscher
Departments of Radiology and Neurosciences,
San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103-8756
Tanzania
Research Article
Noninvasive Transcranial Clot Lysis Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Author(s): T Hölscher, DJ Fisher, R Raman, K Ernstrom, E Zadicario, WG Bradley and A VoieT Hölscher, DJ Fisher, R Raman, K Ernstrom, E Zadicario, WG Bradley and A Voie
Background: Initial data using transcranial ultrasound in combination with tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) for sonothrombolysis in stroke are promising. However, absorption and defocusing of the ultrasound beam occur during transskull insonation, limiting the efficiency of this approach to high extent. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate whether transcranial sonothrombolysis can be achieved using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) without the use of tPA. Methods and Results: Transskull clot lysis (N=420) using a novel HIFU head system was performed using an in vitro flow model. Experiments were performed using varying acoustic output powers, changing flow conditions, and different cadaveric skulls. Human whole blood clots (3 hours incubation) could be lysed within less than 30 seconds and in absence of further lytic agents. Thrombolysis efficacy was depend.. View More»
