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Newswise Little Rock, Ark. (Aug. 221, 2014)--A new device developed by a physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a researcher at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock could soon be available to treat stroke more effectively.
The ClotBust ER fits on the head like a halo and delivers therapy to quickly bust clots that cause stroke.
It was developed by William Culp, M.D., professor of radiology, surgery and neurology and vice chairman of research at UAMS, and Doug Wilson, assistant director at the Graduate Institute of Technology at UALR.
Culp has spent many years studying therapy for stroke. One element of Culps work included using ultrasound in combination with the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA).
While looking into the treatment to dissolve clots in blood vessels, Culp realized one problem is getting the ultrasound to operate through the skull. Ultrasound can be delivered anywhere in a patients body unless the waves hit something hard like bone or something very soft, like air.
We realized we had trouble delivering ultrasound to the vessels at the base of the brain, Culp said. The skull stopped the ultrasounds.
He teamed with Wilson to brainstorm ideas about how to get the ultrasound waves to reach the clot in stroke patients.
This is a great example of how faculty at both schools can partner to develop new technologies. The success of this research will foster ties between the two campuses, Wilson said.
Continued here:
A Newly Patented Device Could Signal Best Bet for Treatment of Stroke Patients