Schlieren visualization of focused ultrasound beam steering for spatially specific stimulation of the vagus nerve

Conference paper (2021)

Authors

S. Kawasaki Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
E. Dijkema Student
M. Saccher Electronic Components, Technology and Materials - EEMCS
Vasiliki Giagka Bio-Electronics - EEMCS , Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM
J.J.H.B. Schleipen Philips Research
R. Dekker Philips Research
Research Group
Electronic Components, Technology and Materials (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 S. Kawasaki, E. Dijkema, M. Saccher, Vasiliki Giagka, J.J.H.B. Schleipen, R. Dekker
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1109/NER49283.2021.9441225
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Microelectronics

Research Group

Electronic Components, Technology and Materials

Abstract

In the bioelectronic medicine field, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising technique that is expected to treat numerous inflammatory conditions, in addition to the currently FDA approved treatment for epilepsy, depression and obesity [1]. However, current VNS techniques are still limited in the spatial resolution that they can achieve, which limits its therapeutic effect and induces side effects such as coughing, headache and throat pain. In our prior work, we presented a curved ultrasound (US) transducer array with a diameter of 2 mm and with 112 miniature US transducer elements, small enough to be wrapped around the vagus nerve for precise ultrasound nerve stimulation [2]. Due to the curved alignment of the US transducers with 48 of the elements simultaneously excited, the emitted US was naturally focused at the center of the curvature. Building on this work, we employ a beam steering technique to move the focal spot to arbitrary locations within the focal plane of the transducer array. The beam steering was controlled through an in-house built US driver system and was visualized using a pulsed laser schlieren system. The propagation of the US pulse in water was imaged and recorded. This method was found to be a rapid and effective means of visualizing the US propagation.