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.
KeywordsUltrasoundMRIStrokeThrombolysis
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