Objective
Intravenous microbubble oscillation in the presence of ultrasound has the potential
to yield a wide range of therapeutic benefits. However, the likelihood of vessel damage
caused by mechanical effects has not been quantified as a function of the numerous
important parameters in therapeutic ultrasound procedures. In this study, we examined
the effects of microbubbles injected into the vasculature of the earthworm. It was
found that the elastic properties of earthworm blood vessels are similar to those
of arteries in older humans, and that earthworms are well suited to the large number
of experiments necessary to investigate safety of procedures involving microbubble
oscillation in sonicated vessels.
Methods
Microbubbles were infused into earthworm vessels, and the rupture time during sonication
was recorded as a function of ultrasound frequency, pulse repetition frequency and
acoustic pressure.
Discussion
A modified mechanical index (MMI) was defined that successfully captured the trends
in rupture probability and rupture time for the different parameter values, creating
a database of vessel rupture thresholds. In the absence of bubbles, the product of
MMI squared and rupture time was approximately constant, indicating a possible radiation-force
effect.
Conclusion
The MMI was an effective correlating parameter in the presence of bubbles, though
the mathematical dependence is not yet apparent. The results of the study are expected
to be valuable in designing more refined studies in vertebrate models, as well as
informing computational models.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 28, 2023
Accepted:
December 18,
2022
Received in revised form:
December 8,
2022
Received:
December 21,
2021
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
