TITLE:
Sonothromblysis in Combination with Thrombolytic Drugs in a Rabbit Model Using MRI-Guidance
AUTHORS:
Christakis Damianou, Nicos Mylonas, Kleanthis Ioannides
KEYWORDS:
Ultrasound; MRI; Stroke; Thrombolysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Engineering,
Vol.5 No.10B,
November
1,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The potential of MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)
combined with the thrombolytic drug recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
(rt-PA), to dissolve clots in the carotid of a New Zealand rabbitin vivois evaluated. A spherically-focused
transducers of 5 cmdiameter; focusing at10 cmand operating at 1 MHz was used. A pulsed ultrasound protocol was used that
maintains a tissue temperature increase of less than 1℃in the clot (called
safe temperature). MRgFUS has the potentials to dissolve clots that are
injected in the carotid of rabbits in
vivo. It was found that the time needed for opening the carotid artery
using ultrasound and rt-PA was decreased compared to just using rt-PA. The proposed
protocol was monitored using Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) every 1 min.