Real-Time Displacement and Cavitation Imaging of Non-Invasive Neuromodulation of the Peripheral Nervous System via Focused Ultrasound

Conventional treatments of neuropathic pain are commonly invasive or non-localized. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a promising neuromodulation technique that has been shown effective in various animal models. There have been numerous advances in the field of ultrasound neuromodulation with the technology already being applied to humans without a clear understanding of the underlying mechanism. Here, we present a method capable of targeting and monitoring of focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation of the mouse sciatic nerve using high frame-rate displacement and cavitation imaging. Our technique is capable of detecting micron displacements and cavitation activity at the focus. Displacement and cavitation were measured with excitation of the sciatic nerve, indicating that radiation force and cavitation play in parts of the underlying mechanism. Taken together, our imaging technique is a powerful in vivo tool for real-time targeting of deep structures and investigation of the FUS neuromodulation mechanism.