Characterization of thrombus stiffening in radio frequency (rf) Mechanical thrombectomy.

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2016 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 2892

Radio frequency (rf) electric current treatment increased thrombus stiffness by more than 8 times, consistent with increased crosslinking. The authors suggest this stiffening could reduce thrombus fragmentation and distal embolization during mechanical thromb…

Study snapshot

PublicationAnnual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2016

Study typeengineering

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Intra-arterial mechanical thrombectomy (IAMT) for ischemic stroke has high recanalization rate, long treatment time window and low risk of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH), but thrombus fragments produced during treatment can lead to distal embolization. Fragmentation can be reduced if the thrombus is strengthened by increasing the thrombus's crosslink density. Radio frequency (rf) electric current commonly used in surgery to cut and coagulate tissue can induce crosslinking in thrombus. The increase in thrombus stiffness as a result of the increase in crosslinking from rf treatment is characterized in this study. Test results showed that the stiffness of thrombus is increased by more than 8 times after rf treatment. The dramatic increase in stiffness suggests that thrombus fragmentation and distal embolization can be reduced by applying rf during thrombectomy treatment.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

thrombus stiffness
thrombus crosslink density/crosslinking
thrombus fragmentation (implied)
distal embolization (implied)

Limitations

No frequency, SAR, or exposure parameters reported in the abstract.
Sample size and experimental details (e.g., in vitro vs. ex vivo vs. in vivo) are not stated.
Clinical outcomes (fragmentation/embolization reduction) are suggested but not directly measured in the reported results.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "medical/surgical radio frequency electric current",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "thrombus stiffness",
    "thrombus crosslink density/crosslinking",
    "thrombus fragmentation (implied)",
    "distal embolization (implied)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Radio frequency (rf) electric current treatment increased thrombus stiffness by more than 8 times, consistent with increased crosslinking. The authors suggest this stiffening could reduce thrombus fragmentation and distal embolization during mechanical thrombectomy.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "No frequency, SAR, or exposure parameters reported in the abstract.",
    "Sample size and experimental details (e.g., in vitro vs. ex vivo vs. in vivo) are not stated.",
    "Clinical outcomes (fragmentation/embolization reduction) are suggested but not directly measured in the reported results."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radio frequency",
    "rf electric current",
    "mechanical thrombectomy",
    "ischemic stroke",
    "thrombus stiffening",
    "crosslinking",
    "distal embolization",
    "fragmentation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "medical-rf-ablation-electrosurgery",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Uses radio frequency electric current in a surgical/medical context to modify tissue (thrombus) properties."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1109/embc.2016.7590713
PubMed: 28268349

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