# CRCNS: Crossbeam Transcranial Ultrasound Technology to Stimulate the Deep Brain

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $206,837

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Numerous neuroscience and clinical applications exist for a noninvasive neuromodulation technology that
can reach deep in the brain with high resolution. One compelling clinical application is the treatment of drug
addiction, a major public health challenge in the US. In humans, the neural targets for treatment are 1-4
mm3, and thus a critical goal is to stimulate deep in the brain with higher resolutions than currently available
with any noninvasive stimulation modality. The goal of this research is the development and experimental
validation of computational models for optimization of high resolution deep brain transcranial ultrasound
stimulation (TUS) for neuroscience and clinical application. Noninvasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation
has been shown to be safe and spatially specific in various animal models. However, current systems are
not optimized for high resolution TUS of the deep brain. Computational modeling suggests we can optimize
TUS with phased array systems that can be driven in pairs while oriented at 90° to each other and focused
to the same point, called “crossbeam.” This improves the stimulation resolution by more than an order of
magnitude. In addition, our modeling suggests that we can selectively stimulate neural tissue using a
“pinch” or “stretch.” In this project, we will perform a biological validation of crossbeam’s improved
effectiveness due to the neural tissue’s sensitivity to “pinch” or “stretch.” Our validated modeling will be
used to refine a crossbeam neurostimulation strategy involving optimized array probes. This will allow not
only choice of focal depth, but also compensation of phase aberrations resulting from the propagation
through the skull bone. The optimized hardware and the developed computational models will be integrated
with imaging guidance and validated in skull phantom experiments.
RELEVANCE (See instructions):
We are developing the technology for improving health through the noninvasive treatment of neurological
disorders such as addiction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10397709
- **Project number:** 1R01EB032743-01
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kim Butts Pauly
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $206,837
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-10 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10397709

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10397709, CRCNS: Crossbeam Transcranial Ultrasound Technology to Stimulate the Deep Brain (1R01EB032743-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10397709. Licensed CC0.

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