Illustration shows where DVTs commonly form

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering  (NIBIB) has been funding research into treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) that doesn’t rely on the use of drug therapy such as coumadin, or surgery to break up clots that can form in the deep veins in the lower extremities.

Using a sophisticated version of ultrasound, researchers from the University of Michigan have successfully applied a technique known as histotripsy to non-invasively dissolve blood clots. The technique uses high energy ultrasound pulses that mechanically breakdown tissue, similar to lithotripsy, which is used to break down kidney stones. Histotripsy derives from the Greek words “histo” for soft tissue, and “tripsy” meaning to breakdown.

Using real time ultrasound to visualize the blood clot, the sound waves create pressure changes that form microbubbles. These microbubbles are so active that they can break down a blood clot into subcellular fragments. Also referred to as “pulsed cavitational ultrasound” this technique is so precise that it can dissolve half of a cell’s content without damaging the other half. Because there is no heat involved, there is no damage to surrounding cells or tissue.

Approximately 300,000 Americans die each year from blood clots and about 2 million people will be diagnosed yearly with it. DVTs can affect all people and is usually the result of prolonged periods of immobility, the kind associated with extended plane trips, bedrest or post-surgical treatment. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, part of the clot may break away and travel to the lung creating a pulmonary embolism, which can result in death.

Symtoms of a DVT include pain, swelling, redness of the affected limb but up to ½ of people will have no symptoms.

Histotripsy was originally developed for use in delicate cardiac surgery. In addition, it has been used experimentally for the treatment of prostate and kidney tissue. Researchers at the University of Michigan hope that in the near future, histotripsy can be used to treat breast and prostate cancer, certain cardiac anomalies and various benign diseases such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and breast fibroadenoma.

For more information follow these links to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and DVTs.

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