Advancing Transcranial Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation: Integration of Pseudo-brain Model into Simulations

Focused ultrasound (FUS) offers a non-invasive modality for modulating neuronal activity by transmitting the acoustic energy to the specific brain target. However, the subtlety of induced physical changes challenges the in-vivo examination of targeting accuracy. Therefore, it is desirable to use simulation tools (e.g. k-Wave) with accurate localization of the mediums and transducer for pre-procedural planning. In this study, we propose a reliable registration method for integrating a pseudo-brain model with ex-vivo CT skulls images, aimed at improving target-specific transducer placement. We further assessed the alignment between simulated targeting outcomes and experimental measurements, providing a foundation for more accurate and reliable neuromodulation procedures.