Electronic quality factor control for piezoelectric transducer arrays

In recent years, many therapeutic applications for medical ultrasound have arisen, such as ablation of tumors, breaking up kidney stones, and neuromodulation. To localize the target area, often ultrasound imaging methods are used. Conventionally, a different transducer array is used for imaging and therapeutic applications because of their...

VoNA The Visualisation of Neuronal Activation: To observe and shape electrode-generated outputs for electrical stimulation in the brain using a Finite Element Model

The development of neural prostheses, especially those directly targeting the brain, requires extensive research and modelling before clinical trials can be performed. Currently, the resolution of artificial vision is not sufficient for everyday tasks. By studying the expected spatial extent of stimulation, we aim to provide insights to...

Engineering solutions to neural stem cell differentiation challenges

Background <br/>Damage dealt to the central nervous system (CNS) caused by trauma or disease can have detrimental effects on human quality of life because the CNS has limited regenerative capabilities. Efforts to replace lost neural cells require improved knowledge and methods for differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs).<br/><br/>Objective ...

An Energy-Efficient High-Voltage Pulser for 2D Ultrasound Phased-Array Transmitters

Ultrasound (US) neuromodulation is a widely-used technique in the field of neuroscience and medical therapy that uses ultrasound waves to non-invasively modulate neural activity. The miniaturization of modern ultrasonic systems has an intimate relation with system power consumption. As the advancement of Integrated Circuits (ICs) represents a...

Lossless Integration of Piezoelectric Transducers in CMOS Technology: Design and optimization of the microfabrication process

The integration of bulk PZT transducers in a microfabricated cuff implant for Vagus Nerve ultrasound neuromodulation: Simulation, design and fabrication

In the emerging research field of bioelectronic medicine, it has been indicated that neuromodulation of the Vagus Nerve (VN) has the potential to treat various conditions such as epilepsy, depression, and autoimmune diseases. In order to reduce side effects, as well as to increase the effectiveness of the delivered therapy, sub-fascicle...

A novel flexible ultrasound neurostimulator featuring a pitch-matched 2D array

A Wearable Ultrasonic Vagus Nerve Stimulator: Design and Fabrication of Piezoelectric Transducer Prototypes

Vagus nerve stimulation serves as an approach to manage drug-resistant epilepsy. Focused ultrasound stands out as a unique tool, offering a non-invasive modality for VNS. With its excellent depth of penetration and sub-millimeter focusing capabilities in soft tissue, ultrasound allows for precise targeting of the vagus nerve without the need for...

Acoustic Fresnel lens to focus ultrasound for in vitro neuromodulation

In vitro neuromodulation studies play a crucial role in understanding the underlying interaction mechanisms between cells and ultrasound, which is important in the development of new therapies for various neurological disorders. Acoustic focusing, the ability to focus ultrasound at a specific focal length with high spatial resolution, provides a...

Biophysical mechanisms responsible for ultrasound neuromodulation in bilayer lipid membranes: Enabling the research that uncovers the mysterious interactions between ultrasound and neurons

Medical technology has seen great progress over the last centuries, developing increasingly more specialised therapy to benefit human health. The rise of the pharmaceutical industry and the research it drives are contributors to this success. However, in humanity's attempt to tackle more and more complex health issues, the conventional methods...

Energy Efficient High Voltage Driver for High Frequency Ultrasound Medical Applications

Noninvasive brain stimulation plays an essential role in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain. This stimulation can affect disease-related changes in brain activation, inhibition, or connectivity. Ultrasound neuromodulation is a rapidly growing field of noninvasive brain stimulation. In a form of acoustic pressure waves, ultrasound can...

Stent with Piezoelectric Transducers for High Spatial Resolution Ultrasound Neuromodulation - a Finite Element Analysis

DEEP brain stimulation is currently the only technique used in the clinical setting, capable of stimulating the deep brain nuclei. Recently, low intensity focused ultrasound has been shown to reversibly modulate brain activity. At present, ultrasound neuromodulation is performed through the transcranial pathway. This requires the ultrasound...

Object detection inside a wearable ultrasound neuromodulator patch: A deeper look into implementing ultrasound neuromodulator patches and how to find nerves using computer vision techniques

Neuromodulation of the vagus nerve is used as a treatment for all kinds of ailments and even as a means of improving the wearer's physiology, however, this form of treatment is not popular due to its invasive nature, high chance of side effects, and short period between reimplementation surgery, as such an alternative is sought in the form of...

Integrating Ultrasound Neuromodulation and Imaging: A System Concept for a Non-Invasive Image-Guided Vagus Nerve Stimulator

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been proven to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from drug­-resistant epilepsy. Current vagus nerve stimulators are either implantable devices or bulky, handheld devices. The implant consists of a pulse generator beneath the skin of the chest, connected to electrodes that are wired to the cervical...

CMOS driving channel for ultrasonic neurovascular stent

Ultrasound stimulation is slowly emerging as an effective treatment to alleviate multiple mental illnesses. The advantage of ultrasound stimulation stems from the ability to stimulate regions that are spatially far off from the stimulating device without sacrificing spatial resolution. This directly implies the ability to devise minimally...

Ultrasound Transmitter for Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The main objective of this thesis is to design a transmitter channel which is implemented in a 2D phased-array ultrasound neuromodulation system aiming for the vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve has the widest distribution in the parasympathetic system and it oversees several important bodily functions such as the control of mood, immune...

An ultrasound receiver channel for vagus nerve imaging

The neuromodulation modality based on the focused ultrasonic stimulation (FUS) has gained its interests for being non-invasive while having unprecedented high spatial resolution and deep penetration. The commercially available image-guided FUS device for neuromodulation setups are normally bulky, by employing an 1-D array transducer element to...