Using ultrasound energy to target specific millimeters of the brain, including deep areas, focused ultrasound technology is a non-invasive therapeutic approach that treats neurological disorders without necessitating opening the skull. Because it doesn’t harm nearby healthy tissue and reduces side effects like infections and problems, it has been used to treat a range of refractory brain illnesses, including depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Its use has been restricted, though, because it is challenging to reflect in real time the distortion of ultrasonic waves caused by the various shapes of patients’ skulls.
A research team led by Dr. Kim, Hyungmin of the Bionics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a real-time acoustic simulation technology based on generative AI to predict and correct the distortion of the ultrasound focus position caused by the skull in real-time during focused ultrasound therapy. Until now, the clinical applicability of AI simulation models in the field of non-invasive focused ultrasound therapy technology has not been validated.
However, its application has been limited thus far since it is difficult to reflect the distortion of ultrasound waves generated by the varied shapes of patients’ skulls in real time.