Histotripsy Brain Clot Liquefaction Through Skull Aberration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are invasive, costly, and ineffective for large hematomas, causing neurological damage and requiring lengthy procedures like craniotomy or MRgFUS, which are not suitable for clots near the skullcap.
Innovation Solution
Histotripsy therapy using short, high-pressure ultrasound pulses generates cavitation bubbles to liquefy clots through a skullcap, corrected by aberration algorithms with piezoelectric sensors, allowing rapid drainage without thrombolytic drugs or MRI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If craniotomy is used to remove clot, then hematoma removal is effective, but surgical invasion is severe and neurological function is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical surgical system (craniotomy with surgical instruments) with an acoustic field system (focused ultrasound). The ultrasound waves penetrate the skull and generate cavitation bubbles in the hematoma, which mechanically fragment and liquefy the clot without requiring open surgery, thus eliminating severe surgical invasion and neurological damage while maintaining effective hematoma removal
2Ease of operation
If MRgFUS is used to liquefy clot, then non-invasive treatment is achieved, but treatment time is long (up to 3 hours) allowing neurological damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using pulsed ultrasound waves with specific duty cycles (low duty cycle to remain non-thermal) to generate cavitation bubbles that rapidly fragment the hematoma. This periodic acoustic energy delivery achieves non-invasive treatment while dramatically reducing treatment time from hours to minutes, preventing neurological damage from prolonged procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions through acoustic cavitation, where ultrasound waves transform into mechanical bubble formation and collapse (phase change from acoustic energy to mechanical action). This phase transition mechanism enables rapid hematoma liquefaction through cavitation bubble dynamics, achieving non-invasive treatment in minutes rather than hours
3Ease of operation
If MRgFUS is used through skullcap, then non-invasive treatment is achieved, but skullcap causes significant attenuation and defocusing of ultrasound signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using ultrasound imaging to monitor the formation of cavitation bubbles in real-time during treatment. The operator observes the bubble cloud appearance and adjusts ultrasound parameters accordingly, ensuring proper focusing through the skullcap and maintaining reliable treatment despite the attenuating and defocusing effects of the skullcap
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting ultrasound frequency, amplitude, and pulse duration to optimize penetration through the skullcap. The system modifies these parameters dynamically to compensate for the skullcap's attenuation and defocusing effects, achieving reliable focal heating and cavitation generation despite the challenging acoustic pathway
4Ease of operation
If tPA is used for hematoma drainage, then minimally invasive approach is achieved, but severe complications occur and functional outcome is not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pharmacological system (tPA thrombolytic drugs) with an acoustic field system (focused ultrasound). The ultrasound waves directly generate cavitation bubbles that mechanically fragment and drain the hematoma without requiring thrombolytic drugs, eliminating severe complications associated with tPA while maintaining minimal invasiveness and improving functional outcomes through rapid treatment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables minimally invasive, rapid clot reduction with precise targeting and monitoring, reducing treatment time by orders of magnitude and avoiding neurological damage.
Implementation Method 1
extremely short, intense bursts of acoustic energy induce controlled cavitation (microbubble formation) within the focal volume. The vigorous expansion and collapse of these microbubbles mechanically homogenizes cells and tissue structures within the focal volume.
Implementation Method 2
detecting the ultrasound pulses with one or more piezoelectric sensors positioned on or in the drainage catheter
Data Source
AI summary
A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.