The focus of the Biomedical Acoustics Development and Engineering Research Laboratory (BADER Lab) is the translation of therapeutic ultrasound for non- or minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular and cancerous disease. Specifically, we utilize acoustic cavitation for combinatorial ablation and enhanced drug delivery treatment strategies of pathologies resistant to standard interventional techniques. To assess bubble activity and the resultant changes in tissue structure, we are developing multi-modal imaging approaches via diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Analytic and numerical bubble dynamics models are also utilized to gain insight into the mechanism of action of our therapeutic approaches. Current research topics include: • Chronic thrombus ablation with histotripsy and thrombolytic drugs • Passive cavitation and MR imaging to assess histotripsy-induced liquefaction • In vitro assessment of histotripsy-enhanced drug delivery • Histotripsy-induced sonochemical reactions for the treatment of cancer • Numeric and analytic models of bubble dynamics • Magnetic Resonance-guided transurethral prostate ablation For more information, visit our laboratory website: baderlab.uchicago.edu
Anthony GJ, Bader KB, Wang J, Zamora M, Ostdiek A, Antic T, Krueger S, Weiss S, Trogler WC, Blair SL, Kummel AC, Sammet S
MRI-guided transurethral insonation of silica-shell phase-shift emulsions in the prostate with an advanced navigation platform. Med Phys. 2019 Feb; 46(2):774-788.
MRI-guided transurethral insonation of silica-shell phase-shift emulsions in the prostate with an advanced navigation platform.
Bader KB, Haworth KJ, Maxwell AD, Holland CK
Post Hoc Analysis of Passive Cavitation Imaging for Classification of Histotripsy-Induced Liquefaction in Vitro. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2018 01; 37(1):106-115.
Post Hoc Analysis of Passive Cavitation Imaging for Classification of Histotripsy-Induced Liquefaction in Vitro.
The influence of medium elasticity on the prediction of histotripsy-induced bubble expansion and erythrocyte viability. Phys Med Biol. 2018 05 02; 63(9):095010.
The influence of medium elasticity on the prediction of histotripsy-induced bubble expansion and erythrocyte viability.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
The influence of gas diffusion on bubble persistence in shock-scattering histotripsy. J Acoust Soc Am. 2018 06; 143(6):EL481.
The influence of gas diffusion on bubble persistence in shock-scattering histotripsy.
Treatment of chronic venous thrombosis with histotripsy and thrombolytics
For Whom the Bubble Grows: Physical Principles of Bubble Nucleation and Dynamics in Histotripsy Ultrasound Therapy. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2019 05; 45(5):1056-1080.
For Whom the Bubble Grows: Physical Principles of Bubble Nucleation and Dynamics in Histotripsy Ultrasound Therapy.
Anthony GJ, Bollen V, Hendley S, Antic T, Sammet S, Bader KB
Assessment of histotripsy-induced liquefaction with diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in vitro and ex vivo. Phys Med Biol. 2019 05 02; 64(9):095023.
Assessment of histotripsy-induced liquefaction with diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in vitro and ex vivo.
Bader KB, Hendley SA, Anthony GJ, Bollen V
Observation and modulation of the dissolution of histotripsy-induced bubble clouds with high-frame rate plane wave imaging. Phys Med Biol. 2019 05 29; 64(11):115012.
Observation and modulation of the dissolution of histotripsy-induced bubble clouds with high-frame rate plane wave imaging.
Corrigendum to: "Shaken and Stirred: Mechanisms of Ultrasound-Enhanced Thrombolysis" in Ultrasound Med Biol 2015; 41(1): 187-196. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2019 Aug; 45(8):2266.
Corrigendum to: "Shaken and Stirred: Mechanisms of Ultrasound-Enhanced Thrombolysis" in Ultrasound Med Biol 2015; 41(1): 187-196.
Hendley SA, Bollen V, Anthony GJ, Paul JD, Bader KB
In vitro assessment of stiffness-dependent histotripsy bubble cloud activity in gel phantoms and blood clots. Phys Med Biol. 2019 07 18; 64(14):145019.
In vitro assessment of stiffness-dependent histotripsy bubble cloud activity in gel phantoms and blood clots.
Bollen V, Hendley SA, Paul JD, Maxwell AD, Haworth KJ, Holland CK, Bader KB
In Vitro Thrombolytic Efficacy of Single- and Five-Cycle Histotripsy Pulses and rt-PA. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2020 02; 46(2):336-349.
In Vitro Thrombolytic Efficacy of Single- and Five-Cycle Histotripsy Pulses and rt-PA.
IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering
Assessment of Collaborative Robot (Cobot)-Assisted Histotripsy for Venous Clot Ablation. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2021 04; 68(4):1220-1228.
Assessment of Collaborative Robot (Cobot)-Assisted Histotripsy for Venous Clot Ablation.
Hendley SA, Paul JD, Maxwell AD, Haworth KJ, Holland CK, Bader KB
IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Clot Degradation Under the Action of Histotripsy Bubble Activity and a Lytic Drug. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2021 09; 68(9):2942-2952.
IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control
Clot Degradation Under the Action of Histotripsy Bubble Activity and a Lytic Drug.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
An In vitro System to Gauge the Thrombolytic Efficacy of Histotripsy and a Lytic Drug. J Vis Exp. 2021 06 04; (172).
An In vitro System to Gauge the Thrombolytic Efficacy of Histotripsy and a Lytic Drug.
Bader KB, Wallach EL, Shekhar H, Flores-Guzman F, Halpern HJ, Hernandez SL
Estimating the mechanical energy of histotripsy bubble clouds with high frame rate imaging. Phys Med Biol. 2021 08 05; 66(16).
Estimating the mechanical energy of histotripsy bubble clouds with high frame rate imaging.
Maxwell AD, Haworth KJ, Holland CK, Hendley SA, Kreider W, Bader KB
Design and Characterization of an Ultrasound Transducer for Combined Histotripsy-Thrombolytic Therapy. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2022 01; 69(1):156-165.
Design and Characterization of an Ultrasound Transducer for Combined Histotripsy-Thrombolytic Therapy.
Bader KB, Makin IRS, Abramowicz JS, Bioeffects Committee of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasound for Aesthetic Applications: A Review of Biophysical Mechanisms and Safety. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 Jul; 41(7):1597-1607.
Ultrasound for Aesthetic Applications: A Review of Biophysical Mechanisms and Safety.
Hendley SA, Dimov A, Bhargava A, Snoddy E, Mansour D, Afifi RO, Wool GD, Zha Y, Sammet S, Lu ZF, Ahmed O, Paul JD, Bader KB
Assessment of histological characteristics, imaging markers, and rt-PA susceptibility of ex vivo venous thrombi. Sci Rep. 2021 11 23; 11(1):22805.
Assessment of histological characteristics, imaging markers, and rt-PA susceptibility of ex vivo venous thrombi.
Wallach EL, Shekhar H, Flores-Guzman F, Hernandez SL, Bader KB
Histotripsy Bubble Cloud Contrast With Chirp-Coded Excitation in Preclinical Models. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2022 02; 69(2):787-794.
Histotripsy Bubble Cloud Contrast With Chirp-Coded Excitation in Preclinical Models.
Hendley SA, Bhargava A, Holland CK, Wool GD, Ahmed O, Paul JD, Bader KB
(More than) doubling down: Effective fibrinolysis at a reduced rt-PA dose for catheter-directed thrombolysis combined with histotripsy. PLoS One. 2022; 17(1):e0261567.
(More than) doubling down: Effective fibrinolysis at a reduced rt-PA dose for catheter-directed thrombolysis combined with histotripsy.
Zemzemi C, Phillips M, Vela DC, Hilvert NA, Racadio JM, Bader KB, Haworth KJ, Holland CK
Effect of Thrombin and Incubation Time on Porcine Whole Blood Clot Elasticity and Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Susceptibility. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2022 08; 48(8):1567-1578.
Effect of Thrombin and Incubation Time on Porcine Whole Blood Clot Elasticity and Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Susceptibility.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation
Corrigendum: Assessment of histotripsy-induced liquefaction with diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imagingin vitroandex vivo(2019Phys. Med. Biol.64095023). Phys Med Biol. 2022 Sep 30; 67(19).
Corrigendum: Assessment of histotripsy-induced liquefaction with diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imagingin vitroandex vivo(2019Phys. Med. Biol.64095023).
Bhargava A, Huang S, McPherson DD, Bader KB
Assessment of bubble activity generated by histotripsy combined with echogenic liposomes. Phys Med Biol. 2022 Oct 31; 67(21).
Assessment of bubble activity generated by histotripsy combined with echogenic liposomes.
Iwanicki I, Wu LL, Flores-Guzman F, Sundland R, Viza-Gomes P, Nordgren R, Centner CS, Kandel JJ, Applebaum MA, Bader KB, Hernandez SL
International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group
Histotripsy induces apoptosis and reduces hypoxia in a neuroblastoma xenograft model. Int J Hyperthermia. 2023; 40(1):2222941.
Histotripsy induces apoptosis and reduces hypoxia in a neuroblastoma xenograft model.
Trivedi VV, Wallach EL, Bader KB, Shekhar H
Contrast-Enhanced Imaging of Histotripsy Bubble Clouds Using Chirp-Coded Excitation and Volterra Filtering. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2023 09; 70(9):989-998.
Contrast-Enhanced Imaging of Histotripsy Bubble Clouds Using Chirp-Coded Excitation and Volterra Filtering.
Bader KB, Flores Basterrechea K, Hendley SA
In silico assessment of histotripsy-induced changes in catheter-directed thrombolytic delivery. Front Physiol. 2023; 14:1225804.
In silico assessment of histotripsy-induced changes in catheter-directed thrombolytic delivery.
Miao K, Basterrechea KF, Hernandez SL, Ahmed OS, Patel MV, Bader KB
Development of Convolutional Neural Network to Segment Ultrasound Images of Histotripsy Ablation. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2024 06; 71(6):1789-1797.
Development of Convolutional Neural Network to Segment Ultrasound Images of Histotripsy Ablation.
Imaging Feedback for Histotripsy Renal Tumor Ablation
Bader KB, Padilla F, Haworth KJ, Ellens N, Dalecki D, Miller DL, Wear KA, Bioeffects Committee of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Overview of Therapeutic Ultrasound Applications and Safety Considerations: 2024 Update. J Ultrasound Med. 2025 Mar; 44(3):381-433.
Overview of Therapeutic Ultrasound Applications and Safety Considerations: 2024 Update.
Zhao K, Saucedo E, Basterrechea KF, Yang S, Haworth KJ, Holland CK, Racadio JM, Maxwell AD, Cursio JF, Wool GD, Ostdiek AM, Ahmed OS, Paul JD, Patel MV, Bader KB
Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR
Assessment of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis and Histotripsy Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2025 06; 36(6):1051-1061.e5.
Assessment of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis and Histotripsy Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis.
Singh AK, Warbal P, Basterrechea KF, Bader KB, Shekhar H
Enhancing Passive Cavitation Imaging Using pth Root Compression Delay, Sum, and Integrate Beamforming: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2025 Jul; 72(7):2283-2292.
Enhancing Passive Cavitation Imaging Using pth Root Compression Delay, Sum, and Integrate Beamforming: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.
Trivedi VV, Basterrechea KF, Bader KB, Shekhar H
Chirp-Coded Subharmonic Imaging With Volterra Filtering: Histotripsy Bubble Cloud Assessment In Vitro and Ex Vivo. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2025 05; 72(5):591-600.
Chirp-Coded Subharmonic Imaging With Volterra Filtering: Histotripsy Bubble Cloud Assessment In Vitro and Ex Vivo.
Bader KB, Bouchoux G, Peng T, Klegerman ME, McPherson DD, Holland CK
Thrombolytic efficacy and enzymatic activity of rt-PA-loaded echogenic liposomes. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2015 Aug; 40(2):144-55.
Thrombolytic efficacy and enzymatic activity of rt-PA-loaded echogenic liposomes.
Radhakrishnan K, Bader KB, Haworth KJ, Kopechek JA, Raymond JL, Huang SL, McPherson DD, Holland CK
Relationship between cavitation and loss of echogenicity from ultrasound contrast agents. Phys Med Biol. 2013 Sep 21; 58(18):6541-63.
Relationship between cavitation and loss of echogenicity from ultrasound contrast agents.
Shaken and stirred: mechanisms of ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015 Jan; 41(1):187-96.
Shaken and stirred: mechanisms of ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis.
Bader KB, Haworth KJ, Shekhar H, Maxwell AD, Peng T, McPherson DD, Holland CK
Efficacy of histotripsy combined with rt-PA in vitro. Phys Med Biol. 2016 07 21; 61(14):5253-74.
Efficacy of histotripsy combined with rt-PA in vitro.
Cavitation thresholds of contrast agents in an in vitro human clot model exposed to 120-kHz ultrasound. J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 Feb; 135(2):646-53.
Cavitation thresholds of contrast agents in an in vitro human clot model exposed to 120-kHz ultrasound.
Gauging the likelihood of stable cavitation from ultrasound contrast agents. Phys Med Biol. 2013 Jan 07; 58(1):127-44.
Gauging the likelihood of stable cavitation from ultrasound contrast agents.
Bader KB, Crowe MJ, Raymond JL, Holland CK
Effect of Frequency-Dependent Attenuation on Predicted Histotripsy Waveforms in Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016 07; 42(7):1701-5.
Effect of Frequency-Dependent Attenuation on Predicted Histotripsy Waveforms in Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms.
Bader KB, Mobley J, Church CC, Gaitan DF
The effect of static pressure on the strength of inertial cavitation events. J Acoust Soc Am. 2012 Oct; 132(4):2286-91.
The effect of static pressure on the strength of inertial cavitation events.
Bouchoux G, Bader KB, Korfhagen JJ, Raymond JL, Shivashankar R, Abruzzo TA, Holland CK
Experimental validation of a finite-difference model for the prediction of transcranial ultrasound fields based on CT images. Phys Med Biol. 2012 Dec 07; 57(23):8005-22.
Experimental validation of a finite-difference model for the prediction of transcranial ultrasound fields based on CT images.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology
Sonothrombolysis. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016; 880:339-62.
Predicting the growth of nanoscale nuclei by histotripsy pulses. Phys Med Biol. 2016 Apr 07; 61(7):2947-66.
Predicting the growth of nanoscale nuclei by histotripsy pulses.
Bader KB, Raymond JL, Mobley J, Church CC, Felipe Gaitan D
The effect of static pressure on the inertial cavitation threshold. J Acoust Soc Am. 2012 Aug; 132(2):728-37.
The effect of static pressure on the inertial cavitation threshold.
Raymond JL, Haworth KJ, Bader KB, Radhakrishnan K, Griffin JK, Huang SL, McPherson DD, Holland CK
Broadband attenuation measurements of phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2014 Feb; 40(2):410-21.
Broadband attenuation measurements of phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents.
Antonides-Jensen N, Singh M, Xue Y, Flores-Guzman F, Wu LL, Yee SS, Gomez-Villa J, Hall TL, Applebaum MA, Bader KB, Hernandez SL
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Histotripsy-initiated immune response synergizes with chemotherapy in a neuroblastoma murine model. bioRxiv. 2026 Feb 03.
Histotripsy-initiated immune response synergizes with chemotherapy in a neuroblastoma murine model.
Haworth KJ, Bader KB, Rich KT, Holland CK, Mast TD
Quantitative Frequency-Domain Passive Cavitation Imaging. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2017 01; 64(1):177-191.
Quantitative Frequency-Domain Passive Cavitation Imaging.
Shekhar H, Bader KB, Huang S, Peng T, Huang S, McPherson DD, Holland CK
In vitro thrombolytic efficacy of echogenic liposomes loaded with tissue plasminogen activator and octafluoropropane gas. Phys Med Biol. 2017 01 21; 62(2):517-538.
In vitro thrombolytic efficacy of echogenic liposomes loaded with tissue plasminogen activator and octafluoropropane gas.
Quantitative Frequency-Domain Passive Cavitation Imaging. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2016 Oct 25.