Acousto-mechanical and thermal properties of clotted blood

Abstract

The efficacy of ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis as an adjunct treatment of ischemic stroke is being widely investigated. In order to determine the role of ultrasound hyperthermia in the process of blood clot disruption, the thermal and acousto-mechanical properties of clotted blood were measured in vitro. Whole blood clots were prepared from either fresh porcine or human blood by aliquoting 1.5 or 2.0 ml into 10 ml glass tubes (BD VacutainerTM, Franklin Lakes, NJ), immersing the tubes in a 37°C water bath for three hours and storing the clots at 5°C for at least three days prior to assessment of the properties, which ensured complete clot retraction. Direct calorimetric measurements using calibrated E-type thermocouples (Omega Engineering, Inc., Stanford, CT) were performed to determine the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the human and porcine thrombi against a standard fluid, saline [0.9%]. The amplitude coefficient of attenuation of the clots was determined from 120 kHz to 3.5 MHz with a calibrated hydrophone (TC4038, RESON, Inc., Goleta, CA) in a 20±2°C water bath using the substitution method. The experimentally measured values of heat capacity, density, and thermal conductivity of porcine clotted blood are 3.23±0.46 J/g⋅K, 1.058±0.014 g/cm3, and 0.52±0.14 W/m⋅K. The attenuation coefficient ranged from 0.10 to 0.30 Nepers/cm over 120 kHz to 3.5 MHz. Measurements of the acousto-mechanical and thermal properties of clotted blood can be helpful in theoretical modeling of ultrasound hyperthermia in ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis.