Pre-clinical models for therapeutic ultrasound

Abstract

Before clinical translation, all therapeutic ultrasound therapies require testing in pre-clinical models that can be broadly categorized as in vitro (cells), tissue-mimicking phantoms, ex vivo (tissues), and in vivo (animals) to establish safety and effectiveness. Choice of pre-clinical models is governed by the target application, the desired bioeffect, and the types of data that can be collected; other considerations include cost, access, and time. In this tutorial session, an overview of the four main pre-clinical categories will be presented, including common formulations used for therapeutic ultrasound. Within each category, experimental design considerations as well as the relative advantages and disadvantages to each will be discussed.