Ultrasound-guided opening of the blood-brain barrier

摘要

A system for delivering a drug or other molecule to the brain comprises an ultrasound imaging transducer configured to image a structure, such as a Willis artery ring, in a patient's head through a low attenuation acoustic window. The system includes a processor configured to register an ultrasound image to a previously acquired image that also includes a structure. The system includes an ultrasonic transducer element that delivers ultrasonic energy to the target area to open the blood brain barrier. The system may include a drug delivery system that delivers the drug to the patient in concert with opening the blood brain barrier. The coordinates of the target area relative to the ultrasound imaging transducer are determined using registration information.