MRI guided focused ultrasound robotic system for animal experiments

Yiannakou, Marinos; Menikou, Georgios; Yiallouras, Christos; Ioannides, Cleanthis; Damianou, Christakis

doi:10.1002/rcs.1804

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The number of applications for robotic arms in animal research is considerably increased as a result of their potential combination with MRI. Examples include an MR image-guided mini-DBS system for BOLD activation during subthalamic nucleus DBS in nonhuman primates in a 3 T scanner 26 , an angle positioning system to increase the image signal intensity of fibrous microstructure in a 9.4 T 12 cm-bore scanner 27 , an integrated system, driven by piezoelectric actuators, for auto-tuning of a multichannel transceiver array at 7 T 28 or MRI-compatible systems for focused ultrasound experiments in rodents in 3 T scanners 54,55 . Here, we developed a stepper motor-controlled compacted MgRA system in a 14.1 T horizontal MRI scanner with built-in MRI compatible cameras and RF surface coils to drive fiber optic insertion for optogenetic fMRI studies with concurrent intracellular calcium recordings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MRI-guided robotic arm drives optogenetic fMRI with concurrent Ca2+ recording

et al. 2019

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Optical fiber-mediated optogenetic activation and neuronal Ca 2+ recording in combination with fMRI provide a multi-modal fMRI platform. Here, we developed an MRI-guided robotic arm (MgRA) as a flexible positioning system with high precision to real-time assist optical fiber brain intervention for multi-modal animal fMRI. Besides the ex vivo precision evaluation, we present the highly reliable brain activity patterns in the projected basal forebrain regions upon MgRA-driven optogenetic stimulation in the lateral hypothalamus. Also, we show the step-wise optical fiber targeting thalamic nuclei and map the region-specific functional connectivity with whole-brain fMRI accompanied by simultaneous calcium recordings to specify its circuit-specificity. The MgRA also guides the real-time microinjection to specific deep brain nuclei, which is demonstrated by an Mn-enhanced MRI method. The MgRA represents a clear advantage over the standard stereotaxic-based fiber implantation and opens a broad avenue to investigate the circuit-specific functional brain mapping with the multi-modal fMRI platform.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MRI-guided robotic arm drives optogenetic fMRI with concurrent Ca2+ recording

et al. 2019

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“…Compared to previous small animal positioning devices developed by our group, 16 the main difference was the usability at 9.4 T and the size of the motor which is almost 50% smaller. With these smaller size motors, we were able to develop more compact robotic systems.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…One such system was developed for use in the rabbit brain 11,12 . Other systems were dedicated for preclinical use for prostate, 13,14 gynaecological applications, 15 and small animals 16 . The French company Image Guided Therapy (Pessac, France) 17 developed also an MRgFUS system for small animal experiments using phased arrays, a rather complicated and expensive solution for small animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Focused ultrasound robotic system for very small bore magnetic resonance imaging

Damianou

Giannakou

Evripidou

et al. 2020

Robotics Computer Surgery

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Background: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible robotic system for focused ultrasound was developed for small animal like mice or rats that fits into a 9.4 T MRI scanner (Bruker Biospec 9420, Bruker Biospin, Ettlingen, Germany). The robotic system includes two computer-controlled linear stages. Materials and Methods: The robotic system was evaluated in a mouse-shaped, realsize agar-based mimicking material, which has similar acoustical properties as soft tissues. The agar content was 6% weight per volume (w/v), 4% w/v silica while the rest was degassed water. The transducer used has a diameter of 4 cm, operates with 2.6 MHz and focuses energy at 5 cm. Results: The MRI compatibility of the robotic system was evaluated in a 9.4 T small animal scanner. The efficacy of the ultrasonic transducer was evaluated in the mimicking material using temperature measurements. Conclusions: The proposed robotic system can be utilized in a 9.4 T small animal MRI scanner. The proposed system is functional, compact and simple thus providing a useful tool for preclinical research in mice and rats.

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“…Compared to our previous small‐animal positioning device, 22 the main difference is the size of the motor, which is smaller in the current device (almost 50% smaller). This enabled us to design a smaller positioning device.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…This article describes an updated version of a small‐animal positioning device for conducting preclinical studies of MRgFUS applications. The previous positioning device developed by our group 22 was also dedicated to small animals, but its size was such that it could only fit in 1.5‐ or 3‐T MRI systems. The proposed system is reduced in size to fit in MRI scanners up to 7 T.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Focused Ultrasound Positioning System for Preclinical Studies in Small Animals

Drakos

Giannakou

Menikou

et al. 2020

J of Ultrasound Medicine

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Objectives A positioning device compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used for preclinical studies in small animals was developed that fits in MRI scanners up to 7 T. The positioning device was designed with two computer‐controlled linear stages. Methods The positioning device was evaluated in an agar‐based phantom, which mimics soft tissues, and in a rabbit. Experiments with this positioning device were performed in an MRI system using the agar‐based phantom. The transducer used had a diameter of 50 mm, operated at 0.5 MHz, and focused energy at 60 mm. Results Magnetic resonance thermometry was used to assess the functionality of the device, which showed adequate deposition of thermal energy and sufficient positional accuracy in all axes. Conclusions The proposed system fits in MRI scanners up to 7 T. Because of the size of the positioning device, at the moment, it can be used to perform preclinical studies on small animals such as mice, rats, and rabbits.

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MRI guided focused ultrasound robotic system for animal experiments

Abstract: This system has the potential to be deployed as a cost effective solution for performing experiments in small animals.

Cited by 21 publications

References 32 publications

MRI-guided robotic arm drives optogenetic fMRI with concurrent Ca2+ recording

MRI-guided robotic arm drives optogenetic fMRI with concurrent Ca2+ recording

Focused ultrasound robotic system for very small bore magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Focused Ultrasound Positioning System for Preclinical Studies in Small Animals

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