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RESEARCH THEMES

Developing advanced ultrasound techniques for imaging and therapeutic interventions

Focused Brain Interventions

Acoustic Holography

Acoustic holography example.png

Jimenez-Gambin et al, IEEE TBME, 2022

Illustration by Noe Jimenez

We design and 3D-print acoustic lenses to bend acoustic fields into arbitrary patterns. Using anatomical information and advanced imaging techniques, we shape the acoustic field to treat entire brain structures (e.g., the hippocampus) or disease sites (e.g., brain tumours).

Remote neuronal activation

Non-invasive optogenetics concept - illustration - 2.jpg

Pouliopoulos et al, Brain Stimulation, 2022

Illustration by Nicoletta Barolini

We use focused ultrasound and gene delivery vehicles (e.g., viral vectors) to modify neurons and make them responsive to external stimuli (e.g., light). Using non-invasive and remote excitation approaches, we excite or inhibit distinct neural pathways, in an effort to understand brain connectivity and treat neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.

Targeted drug delivery into the brain

BBB opening example.png

Pouliopoulos et al, Scientific Reports, 2021

We use focused ultrasound and circulating microbubbles to disrupt the blood-brain barrier for targeted drug delivery into the brain. This non-invasive approach can increase the delivered doses of multiple drugs (e.g., chemotherapeutics, growth factors, proteins, and viral vectors) and drug delivery vehicles (e.g. liposomes and nanoparticles). Our group's primary focus is the treatment of paediatric and adult brain tumours.

Robot-assisted ultrasound therapy

Robotic ultrasound therapy

We combine robotics and custom-designed transducers to perform robot-assisted ultrasound therapy. Using advanced 6- and 7-degrees-of-freedom (7-DOF) robotic arms, we develop automated targeting routines to accelerate procedures such as blood-brain barrier opening. In combination with real-time imaging techniques and acoustic feedback, we can compensate for patient motion and treat multiple structures across arbitrary trajectories.

Super-resolution Ultrasound Imaging

Super-resolution imaging of the microvasculature

Demonstration of 3D ultrasound super-resolution using a system currently available in the clinic demonstrates a fast route for clinical translation and application.

Our research interests include ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging, with a focus on image and signal analysis of ultrasound data, ranging from fundamental studies to clinical applications. Our principal research involves the development of super-resolution ultrasound imaging techniques for quantitative and functional imaging of the microvasculature, along with developing techniques for artefact correction including aberration and motion correction techniques.

Ultrasound for Imaging & Material Characterisation

Coherent multi-transducer ultrasound imaging

We coherently compound images from multiple transducers using our novel CoMTUS method to increase resolution, contrast to noise ratio and field of view. Our work involves optimizing beamforming techniques and spatial orientations of the transducers to obtain the best images possible, developing the real-time imaging capabilities of our system and improving material characterisation predictions.

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