In a groundbreaking study, researchers from USC’s Keck School of Medicine and Caltech have successfully implanted a transparent window in a patient’s skull, allowing them to collect high-resolution brain imaging data using functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI). This innovative approach, which offers a non-invasive way to monitor brain activity, could open new possibilities for patient care, clinical research, and brain function studies. The first patient to receive this implant, Jared Hager, sustained a traumatic brain injury from a skateboarding accident. While awaiting reconstructive surgery, he volunteered to help researchers test the new technique.
During the study, fUSI data were collected as Hager performed tasks like puzzle-solving and guitar playing, both before and after the transparent implant was installed. Findings revealed that the clear window provided a reliable way to observe changes in brain function, paving the way for potential advancements in the treatment of patients with neurological conditions. Unlike other brain imaging methods like fMRI and intracranial EEG, fUSI offers higher resolution, is less invasive, and avoids the need for implanted electrodes. Researchers believe this technology could help monitor neurological diseases, identify blood clots under the implant, and provide insights into the healthy brain’s function.
This research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and other foundations, marks a significant step toward refining brain imaging technologies and making them more accessible. Study leader Dr. Charles Liu highlighted the importance of these early findings, noting that Hager’s contributions have provided essential data for advancing brain-computer interface technologies. Researchers are now optimizing fUSI protocols to further enhance image quality, with hopes of expanding the study to more participants to confirm the link between fUSI data and specific brain functions.
