Ultrasound method to break up and drain brain clots from bleeding strokes
Novel Ultrasonic Technique for the Treatment of Hemorrhagic Stroke
Using focused ultrasound through the skull to liquefy and drain blood clots for people with intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding stroke).
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11057991 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had a bleeding stroke caused by a clot inside my brain, this project would use a guided focused‑ultrasound system placed outside my skull to break up the clot. The ultrasound pulses (histotripsy) create tiny bubbles that quickly liquefy the clot without clot‑busting drugs or large open surgery. The liquefied clot would then be removed through a small catheter to reduce damage to normal brain tissue and lower the chance of rebleeding. The team has built a prototype NaviTH system and is working to make it safe and ready for patient use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with an acute intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding stroke) whose clot size and location make them eligible for minimally invasive clot drainage and who meet safety criteria.
Not a fit: People with very small or widely scattered bleeds, unstable medical conditions, uncontrolled bleeding disorders, or clots in locations that cannot be safely targeted may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow faster clot removal with less damage to healthy brain tissue, improving recovery after hemorrhagic stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Other minimally invasive clot‑removal approaches have shown benefit in trials, while histotripsy is a newer ultrasound‑based method with promising preclinical and early feasibility results.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pandey, Aditya S — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Pandey, Aditya S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.