Erythrocytes and microbubble contrast agents, improve the therapeutic efficiency of high intensity focused ultrasound Available to Purchase

Erythrocytes, an well as Levovist microbubble contrast agent, enhance the heating effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and increase the coagulation volume produced by HIFU irradiation. In vitro experiments used human plasma with various concentrations of human erythrocytes in combination with or without Levovist. In vivo experiments used eight Japan white rabbits with three levels of anaemia. Using a 2.17 MHz transducer, HIFU was applied for 60 seconds, and the temperature rise and the volume of coagulation necrosis was evaluated. There was a significant correlation between the HIFU‐induced temperature rise and hematocrit, with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 (p=0.0001). Although the temperature rise was smaller at low hematocrit, it was significantly increased by adding Levovist to the suspension (p<0.01). The mean volume of coagulation necrosis was significantly higher in the rabbits with higher hematocrit (p<0.01), and that in the moderate anaemia group was significantly increased by using Levovist (p<0.01).