Researchers at the University of Kansas have developed a new approach, combining laser and ultrasound, to destroy plaque accumulating on arterial walls in an effective and safe way.
A formidable combined approach
Presented on the occasion of the 182nd meeting of theAcoustical Society of America, this new technique is inspired by laser angioplasty, currently used to improve blood circulation in patients suffering from a build-up of plaques clogging their arteries. While more conventional treatments such as stents and theangioplasty by balloon dilate the artery and compress the plaque, laser angioplasty destroys it.
The laser is inserted into the artery using a catheter and the thermal energy it generates transforms the water it contains into a bubble of vapor which expands, collapses and fragments the plaque. Involving powerful lasers, this approach is however likely to perforate or cut the artery. The scientists behind the new process sought to reduce the risk of such a scenario occurring by using lower intensity beams.
In experiments on pig belly and ex vivo samples of arterial plaque, a low-power (nanosecond) pulsed laser was used to generate microbubbles, and ultrasound bursts then applied to the level of the artery to cause plaque to expand, collapse and rupture.
” Unlike conventional angioplasty, where high laser power is required for the entire cavitation, our combined approach requires much lower laser power and is only needed to initiate the process. “, Explain Rohit Singh. ” Overall, the combination of ultrasound and laser can remove atherosclerotic plaques much more effectively.. »
Big advantages
Because it destroys plaque instead of compressing it, this new technique should, according to the team, involve a lower risk of post-treatment arterial diameter narrowing compared to balloon angioplasty and stenting. The US researchers are currently planning in vivo experiments, noting that laser and ultrasound techniques are already commonly used in the medical setting, which should simplify their potential clinical use.
Singh and colleagues also reported working on adapting their combined approach to treat abnormal microvessels in the eye that cause blindness and clear blood clots.
In recent years, a number of promising works involving ultrasound have been published. These have been used to eradicate cancerous tumors, treat diabetes in a preclinical study, and even revive the brains of patients in a coma.
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