Noninvasive realtime neuron-modulation by stretchable, large ultrasonic transducer arrays.

项目摘要 行政补充项目的目标是扩大NIBIB现有的R21奖， 开发用于小关节成像的可穿戴超声设备，专注于慢性非侵入性 本发明涉及用于治疗和减轻阿尔茨海默病及其相关痴呆（ADRD）的神经调节。 非侵入性神经调节提供了一种安全，方便，低成本的替代传统的侵入性 接近。在这些非侵入性方法中，超声具有高空间分辨率， 与经颅磁模拟相比， (TMS)和经颅方向电流刺激（tDCS）。然而，现有的经颅超声设备 提出以下挑战。首先，这些设备体积庞大，并且仅在集中式 医院的其次，它们是刚性的，不符合不同大小和形状的头骨。第三，这些 设备通常由少量换能器组成 补偿颅骨衰减并在大脑中实现有效调制。我们建议设计和 开发一种可伸缩的超声换能器阵列，将克服所有这些挑战。第一，低 允许便携式和长期神经调节的外形尺寸。第二，它是柔软的，可以适应 每一个不同大小和形状的头骨。第三，它是由一个大阵列的换能器，允许低 并且仍然在聚焦深度中保持基本的调制强度 地区此外，相控阵列控制机构将使得能够操纵波束并刺激神经元。 大脑在任何区域的需求。如果成功，它将能够治疗和缓解神经系统疾病， 真实的实时监测ADRD，大大提高了治疗效率和疗效。

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of administrative supplementary project is to expand the existing R21 award in NIBIB on developing wearable ultrasonic device for small joints imaging to focus on chronic noninvasive neuromodulation for treating and alleviating Alzheimer’s disease and its related dementias (ADRD). Noninvasive neuromodulation provides a safe, convenient, and low-cost alternative to conventional invasive approaches. Among these noninvasive approaches, ultrasound has high spatial resolution and can penetrate to deep brain regions with high spatiotemporal resolution, in comparison with transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS) and transcranial direction current stimulation (tDCS). However, existing transcranial ultrasound devices present these following challenges. First, these devices are bulky and are only available in centralized hospitals. Second, they are rigid and do not conform to skulls with different sizes and shapes. Third, these devices are often composed of a small number of transducers that require high transmission power to compensate the skull attenuation and achieve effective modulation in the brain. We propose to design and develop a stretchable ultrasonic transducer array that will overcome all of these challenges. First, it has low form factors that allow portable and chronic neuromodulation on the go. Second, it is soft and can adapt to every skull of different sizes and shapes. Third, it is composed of a large array of transducers that allow low transmission power of each transducer and still maintain substantial modulation intensity in the focused deep regions. Additionally, the phased array control mechanism will enable steering the beam and stimulating the brain at any region on demand. If successful, it will enable treating and alleviating neurological disorders such as ADRD in real time, greatly improving the treating efficiency and outcome.