Seismic imaging technology could deliver finely detailed images of the human brain

Seismic imaging technology could deliver finely detailed images of the human brain

March 6, 2020 , Imperial College London

(More at link:  https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-03-seismic-imaging-technology-finely-images.html )

The Imperial College London and UCL researchers say their proof-of-concept study, published today in npj Digital Medicine, paves the way for the development of high-fidelity clinical imaging of the human brain that could be superior to existing technology.

Unlike existing brain imaging methods like MRI, CT and PET scanning, the technology could be applied to imaging any patient, and could be suitable for the continuous monitoring of high-dependency patients. It could be delivered by a relatively small device, which would also potentially make it portable via ambulance and enable fast investigation in advance of arrival to hospital.

The researchers are confident the technology will be safe as sound waves are already used for ultrasound scanning and this technology uses similar sound intensities. Ultrasound cannot easily penetrate through bone, whereas the new device, which is designed to be worn like a helmet, is able to overcome this barrier.

The new approach is of special value in patients investigated for stroke—the second commonest cause of death and commonest cause of adult neurological disability—where rapid, universally applicable, high-fidelity imaging is essential.

Lead author Dr. Lluís Guasch, of Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, said: "An imaging technique that has already revolutionised one field—seismic imaging—now has the potential to revolutionise another—brain imaging."

Professor Bryan Williams Director NIHR UCL Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, which partly funded the research, said: "This is an extraordinary and novel development in brain imaging which has huge potential to provide accessible brain imaging in routine clinical practice to evaluate the brain in head trauma, stroke and a variety of brain diseases.

"If this lives up to its promise it will be a major advance. It is also a fabulous illustration of how the collaboration between engineers and clinicians, using methods from another sphere of science, can bring ground-breaking innovation into medical care."