Design, setup and establishment of a brain stimulation system and technique for hybrid 3 T MR-FUS in in vivo rats

Motivation: Combining non-invasive systems and techniques of MRI and focused ultrasound (FUS), MR-FUS enables access to brain activity. Goal(s): This study focuses on integrating a hybrid MR-FUS system and refining it for potential neuromodulation applications. Approach: A custom-designed RF coil and FUS transducer were integrated into a 3 T MRI scanner, and system performance was evaluated by imaging healthy rats. Results: No artefacts were observed with/without FUS operation. The system's accuracy and reliability were demonstrated using temperature maps indicating FUS-induced focal regions, T2-weighted images and fractional anisotropy/mean diffusivity maps. Impact: This integrated MR-FUS system enables non-invasive access to brain activity and its reliability has been demonstrated in healthy rats, with no artefacts during FUS operation, supporting potential advancements in neuromodulation research.