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

项目总结 行政补充项目的目标是扩大NIBIB现有的R21奖励 研制聚焦慢性无创的可穿戴式小关节超声成像装置 治疗和缓解阿尔茨海默病及其相关痴呆(ADRD)的神经调节。 非侵入性神经调节为传统侵入性神经调节提供了一种安全、方便和低成本的替代方案 接近了。在这些非侵入性方法中，超声具有较高的空间分辨率和穿透性。 与经颅磁模拟相比，具有高时空分辨率的深部脑区域 (TMS)和经颅方向电流刺激(TDC)。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，只能在集中式环境中使用 医院。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 设备通常由需要高传输功率的少量换能器组成 补偿颅骨衰减，实现对大脑的有效调制。我们建议设计和 开发一种可伸展的超声换能器阵列，它将克服所有这些挑战。首先，它有低 外形因素，允许在移动中进行便携式和慢性神经调节。第二，它是柔软的，可以适应 每个不同大小和形状的头骨。第三，它由一大排传感器组成，允许低电平 每个换能器的发射功率，并且在聚焦的深部仍保持相当大的调制强度 地区。此外，相控阵控制机构将能够控制波束和刺激 大脑在任何区域按需提供。如果成功，它将能够治疗和缓解诸如 作为实时的ADRD，大大提高了治疗效率和结果。

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.