Development of a real-time laser-based microplatform to induce carotid artery thrombosis in rats

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel, laser-based microplatform for inducing carotid artery thrombosis in rats by coupling microscopic recordings and laser inductions on a real-time basis. Our platform model not only provides a direct and precise induction of carotid artery thrombosis in rats at any given time during an experiment but also allows altering the desired experimental parameters over the entire course. We have successfully designed a mild and gradually progressive thrombosis model in an animal. Our model suggests a strong potential usage for studying cerebral embolism caused by cerebral ischemia in near pathological and/or physiological circumstances found in clinical practice which are often not taken into account in current animal models. Therefore, our research model provides a means for clinicians to monitor treatments for their patients with cerebral stroke. Another application of this model is that it can be used to study hemodynamics and its related subjects. Depending on the desired degree of vessel occlusion, we can monitor the experimental parameters such as dosage of photosensizer dyes and intensity of laser light source, etc. This model can serve as a basic research tool for drug development and further development of effective therapeutic regimens in thrombogenesis. In summary, our improved and easy-to-use rat model of laser-induced carotid artery thrombosis has great potential to become more flexible, applicable and practical than previously published animal models.