Ultrasound Research

Small vessel knock in acute IS

Small vessel knock is a recently described ultrasound finding in patients with stroke. Our research involves correlating the presence of SVK with clinical and radiological findings to determine its usefulness in clinical management of stroke cases.

Ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis

Patients who present within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms may benefit from the administration of thrombolytic drugs, such as alteplase, which recanalises cerebral arteries and restores blood flow to the damaged brain. Continuous ultrasound monitoring of an occluded vessel has been shown to enhance naturally occurring and alteplase-induced thrombolysis, but further research is necessary to determine how useful this might be.

Automated analysis of ES

Transcranial Doppler detection of embolic signals is potentially useful in a number of clinical settings but the labour-intensive method of analysis we currently use limits its availability. There are new systems available to automatically analyse Doppler signals but these must be validated before being used clinically.

Intima media thickness

Latest generation duplex ultrasound machines are capable of accurate measurement of carotid intima media thickness. Increased IMT is an early indicator of atheroma and is now being used as an outcome measure in secondary prevention stroke trials.