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Our project aims to improve the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data acquired during transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) procedures. We propose to do so by mitigating MR imaging errors caused by the acoustic coupling water bath. While this water bath facilitates transmission from the transducer into the patient, it also degrades the quality of MRI guidance imaging by:

1. imposing a large imaging field of view
2. skewing MR calibration parameters
3. introducing imaging errors due to water flow.

Further, water flow errors prohibit circulation during MR thermometry, potentially increasing surface heating. Our team proposes to develop an acoustic coupling media that removes water-bath-induced MR imaging errors and enable continuous cooling during transcranial FUS procedures.

1. Allen SP, Steeves T, Fergusson A, Moore D, Davis RM, Vlaisialjevich E, Meyer CH. Novel acoustic coupling bath using magnetite nanoparticles for MR-guided transcranial focused ultrasound surgery. Med Phys. 2019 Dec;46(12):5444-5453. PMCID: PMC6899167.
2. Allen SP, Fergusson A, Edsall C, Chen S, Moore D, Vlaisavljevich E, Davis RM, Meyer CH. Iron-based coupling media for MRI-guided ultrasound surgery. Med Phys. 2022. Dec;49(12):7373-7383. PMCID: PMC9946126.
3. Edsall C, Fergusson A, Davis RM, Meyer CH, Allen SP, Vlaisavljevich E. Probability of Cavitation in a Custom Iron-Based Coupling Medium for Transcranial Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Procedures. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2023 Dec;49(12):2519-2526. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.08.015. PMCID: PMC10591864