# Noninvasive realtime neuron-modulation by stretchable, large ultrasonic transducer arrays.

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $196,875

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of administrative supplementary project is to expand the existing R21 award in NIBIB on
developing wearable ultrasonic device for small joints imaging to focus on chronic noninvasive
neuromodulation for treating and alleviating Alzheimer’s disease and its related dementias (ADRD).
Noninvasive neuromodulation provides a safe, convenient, and low-cost alternative to conventional invasive
approaches. Among these noninvasive approaches, ultrasound has high spatial resolution and can penetrate
to deep brain regions with high spatiotemporal resolution, in comparison with transcranial magnetic simulation
(TMS) and transcranial direction current stimulation (tDCS). However, existing transcranial ultrasound devices
present these following challenges. First, these devices are bulky and are only available in centralized
hospitals. Second, they are rigid and do not conform to skulls with different sizes and shapes. Third, these
devices are often composed of a small number of transducers that require high transmission power to
compensate the skull attenuation and achieve effective modulation in the brain. We propose to design and
develop a stretchable ultrasonic transducer array that will overcome all of these challenges. First, it has low
form factors that allow portable and chronic neuromodulation on the go. Second, it is soft and can adapt to
every skull of different sizes and shapes. Third, it is composed of a large array of transducers that allow low
transmission power of each transducer and still maintain substantial modulation intensity in the focused deep
regions. Additionally, the phased array control mechanism will enable steering the beam and stimulating the
brain at any region on demand. If successful, it will enable treating and alleviating neurological disorders such
as ADRD in real time, greatly improving the treating efficiency and outcome.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10121612
- **Project number:** 3R21EB027303-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Sheng Xu
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $196,875
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10121612

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10121612, Noninvasive realtime neuron-modulation by stretchable, large ultrasonic transducer arrays. (3R21EB027303-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10121612. Licensed CC0.

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