Neuronavigation-Guided Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging: A New Modality for High Resolution Electrical...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biophysics
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) have limitations in resolution and accuracy for brain studies.
• Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging (tABI) offers a novel approach combining focused ultrasound and electrical sensing for high-resolution electrical current mapping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of integrating tABI with neuronavigation.
• To assess the performance of tABI in mapping deep current sources within a human skull model.

Main Methods:

• A neuronavigation system with optical tracking and MRI guided the placement of a 2D ultrasound array on a skull model.
• Electrical current sources were generated within a conductive gel simulating brain tissue.
• 4D tABI scans were performed to create volumetric, time-varying electrical maps.

Main Results:

• Achieved spatial resolution better than 5 mm for current sources deeper than 20 mm.
• Demonstrated a current detection threshold better than 500 μA at 1 MPa.
• Image registration error was less than 6.5 mm.

Conclusions:

• Neuronavigation-guided tABI enables accurate, high-resolution detection of deep electrical current sources.
• This advancement is a significant step towards noninvasive electrical brain imaging in humans.