SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME, TRANSCRANIAL MONITORING OF BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER OPENING
Systems and techniques for real-time, transcranial monitoring of safe blood-brain barrier opening include determining an approach angle for targeted blood-brain barrier opening proximate a predetermined region in a brain of a patient, and positioning an ultrasound transducer to generate a focused ultrasound signal at the determined approach angle to the predetermined region in the brain.
1 . A system for real-time, transcranial monitoring of safe blood-brain barrier opening, comprising:
an ultrasound transducer; and
a targeting component, coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to:
determine an approach angle for targeted blood-brain barrier opening proximate a predetermined region in a brain of a patient, and
position the ultrasound transducer to generate a focused ultrasound signal at the determined approach angle to the predetermined region in the brain.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer operates at an intermediate frequency of 500 kHz.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the targeting component is configured to target the predetermined region of the brain without use of a magnetic resonance image monitoring.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the targeting component comprises a stereotactic manipulator to target the predetermined region in the brain.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a real-time monitoring component configured to monitor opening of the brain-blood barrier by the ultrasound transducer,
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the real-time monitoring component monitors using a frequency of a backscattered acoustic signal generated in response to the targeting by the ultrasound transducer.
7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the real-time monitoring component comprises a passive cavitation detector.
8 . A method for real-time, transcranial monitoring of safe blood-brain barrier opening, comprising:
providing an ultrasound transducer;
determining an approach angle for targeted blood-brain barrier opening proximate a predetermined region in a brain of a patient; and
positioning the ultrasound transducer to generate a focused ultrasound signal at the determined approach angle to the predetermined region in the brain.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising operating the ultrasound transducer at an intermediate frequency of 500 kHz.
10 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising targeting the predetermined region of the brain without use of a magnetic resonance image monitoring.
11 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising targeting the predetermined region in the brain using a stereotactic manipulator.
12 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the opening of the brain-blood barrier using the ultrasound transducer.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monitoring is performed using a frequency of a backscattered acoustic signal generated in response to the targeting by the ultrasound transducer.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monitoring is performed using a passive cavitation detector.
15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monitoring comprises detecting an occurrence of the blood-brain barrier opening.
16 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the patient is anesthetized during the blood-brain barrier opening.
17 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the patient is awake during the blood-brain barrier opening.
18 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
administering microbubbles to the patient;
generating the focused ultrasound signal at the determined approach angle to the predetermined region in the brain; and
monitoring an occurrence of the blood-brain barrier opening.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the monitoring is performed using PCD.