Performance of a transcranial US array designed for 4D acoustoelectric brain imaging in humans

Yexian Qin, Pier Ingram, Zhen Xu, Matthew O'Donnell, Russell S. Witte

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Noninvasive electrical brain imaging in humans suffers from poor spatial resolution due to the uncertain spread of electric fields through the head. To overcome this limitation, we propose 4D transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging (tABI) based on the acoustoelectric effect for mapping current densities at a spatial resolution confined to the ultrasound (US) focus. This study describes the performance of a custom 0.6 MHz 2D US array designed for tABI through the adult human skull. Time-varying current was injected between two electrodes in 0.9% saline to produce a dipole at well-controlled current densities. A distant recording electrode was placed in the saline bath to detect the AE signal as the US beam was electronically steered in 3D near the dipole. At each beam position, a burst of US pulses was delivered to reconstruct the time-varying current. The AE amplitude was measured with and without an adult human skull and at different current amplitudes. The AE signal could be detected at depths greater than 40 mm from the surface of the skull. Sensitivity for detecting the AE signal through bone was 1.47μV/(MPa∗mA/cm2). The noise equivalent current densities normalized to 1 MPa were 1.3 and 1.8 mA/cm2 with and without the skull, respectively. Further optimization of ABI instrumentation and beamforming may push the detection limit towards small neural currents through thick skull and, perhaps, lead to a new noninvasive modality for real-time electrical brain imaging in humans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2017 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2017
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
ISBN (Electronic)9781538633830
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 31 2017
Event2017 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2017 - Washington, United States
Duration: Sep 6 2017Sep 9 2017

Publication series

NameIEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS
ISSN (Print)1948-5719
ISSN (Electronic)1948-5727

Other

Other2017 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period9/6/179/9/17

Keywords

  • 3D ultrasound
  • Acoustoelectric
  • EEG
  • EcoG
  • Evoked potentials
  • Function brain imaging
  • Inverse problem
  • Ultrafast
  • Ultrasound current source density imaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics

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