title: A new strategy to enhance cavitational tissue erosion using a high-intensity, Initiating sequence.
abstract: Our previous studies have shown that pulsed ultrasound can physically remove soft tissue through cavitation. A new strategy to enhance the cavitation-induced erosion is proposed wherein tissue erosion is initiated by a short, high-intensity sequence of pulses and sustained by lower intensity pulses. We investigated effects of the initiating sequence on erosion and cavitation sustained by lower intensity pulses. Multiple three-cycle pulses at a pulse repetition frequency of 20 kHz delivered by a 788-kHz focused transducer were used for tissue erosion. Fixing the initiating sequence at I(SPPA) of 9000 W/cm2, 16 combinations of different numbers of pulses within the initiating sequence and different sustaining pulse intensities were tested. Results showed: the initiating sequence increases the probability of erosion occurrence and the erosion rate with only slight overall increases in propagated energy; the initiating sequence containing more pulses does not increase the sustained cavitation period; and if extinguished and reinitiated, the sustained cavitation period becomes shorter after each initiation, although the waiting time between adjacent cavitation periods is random. The high-intensity, initiating sequence enhances cavitational tissue erosion and enables erosion at intensities significantly lower than what is required to initiate erosion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. zhenx@umich.edu
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: J Brian
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fowlkes
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013010:Sonication; D013552:Swine; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography