Systems and methods for real-time, transcranial monitoring of blood-brain barrier opening

Abstract

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.