Neuronavigation with Skull Segmentation and Acoustic Modeling for Guiding Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging

Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging (tABI) combines ultrasound (US) with radiofrequency detection to map electrical currents in the brain at the mm and ms scales. To optimize tABI and ensure safe exposure, a feedback system is required to monitor and track the US beam through the skull. This study proposes combining a real-time neuronavigation system with acoustic modeling and MRI-based skull segmentation to optimize transcranial US delivery. We developed a testbed to estimate targeting accuracy and algorithms to optimally steer and focus US through the human skull for tABI and other applications that require US delivery to the brain. The optimized system is modeled to deliver focused US to brain targets through the skull with a FWHM of 3.88mm at the focus with steering at sub-mm accuracy, enabling safe and accurate guidance of tABI. The integrated system allows for a prediction of the US beam trajectory through the human skull with registration to clinical images for guidance and improving accuracy of real-time tABI.