Authors:
Ryo Furukawa
and
Takashi Tateno
Affiliation:
Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Kita 14, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0814, Japan
Keyword(s):
Numerical Calculations, Microfabrication, Neuromodulation, Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer, Ultrasound Brain Stimulation.
Abstract:
Ultrasound neuromodulation, in which local and deep areas of the brain are stimulated, is promising for clinical applications. However, the mechanisms of action underlying the stimulation are still unknown. To elucidate the induction mechanisms, in vitro experiments are useful because they allow the extracellular conditions to be easily controlled. In this study, we developed a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) to modulate the activity of brain slices at the micrometer scale. To examine the relationship between the transducer size and the resonant frequency of the voltage-driven oscillations, we modeled the multi-layered structure and performed numerical calculations. A simple mathematical expression to estimate the size of the PMUT was obtained. We also designed and fabricated a PMUT with identical circular diaphragms with 580-μm radius. In addition, recording microelectrodes were fabricated into the PMUTs to monitor the transducer-driven neural activity. To c
haracterize the PMUT properties, including the intensity and resonant frequency, we measured the pressure oscillations of the transducer driven by the applied sinusoidal voltage. Finally, we discuss the possibility of using our PMUT to stimulate brain slices in future applications.
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