Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41175114›Full record

ArticleNeuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society2026

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Monitoring of the Safety of Repeated Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Exposure at Three Brain Locations.

M Anthony Phipps, Arabinda Mishra, Cooper L Donovan, Allen T Newton, Colin D McKnight, Allison Q Dockum, Michelle K Sigona, Pai-Feng Yang, Charles F Caskey, Li Min Chen

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

M Anthony PhippsDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Arabinda MishraDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Cooper L DonovanVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Allen T NewtonDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Colin D McKnightDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Allison Q DockumVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Michelle K SigonaVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Pai-Feng YangDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Charles F CaskeyDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Li Min ChenDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: limin.chen@vanderbilt.edu.

Funding

Postdoctoral Training in Biomedical MRI and MRST32EB001628 · NIBIB · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI John C Gore · 2003 to 2026
$7.0M
Translating an MR-guided focused ultrasound system for first-in-human precision neuromodulation of pain circuitsUG3NS135551 · NINDS · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI CASKEY, CHARLES F, CHEN, LI MIN · 2023 to 2023
$4.4M
Development of an MRgFUS system for precision-targeted neuromodulation of pain circuits with simultaneous functional MRIU18EB029351 · NIBIB · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI CASKEY, CHARLES F, CHEN, LI MIN · 2019 to 2019
$3.6M
Biophysical and Neural Basis of Focused Ultrasound StimulationRF1NS126144 · NINDS · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI CASKEY, CHARLES F, CHEN, LI MIN · 2022 to 2022
$2.7M
Biophysical and Neural Basis of Focused Ultrasound StimulationR01NS126144 · NINDS · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Charles F Caskey, Li Min Chen · 2025 to 2026
$1.7M
NIBIB NIH HHS T32 EB001628NIBIB NIH HHS U18 EB029351NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS126144NINDS NIH HHS RF1 NS126144NINDS NIH HHS UG3 NS135551
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTranscranial focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) integrated with magnetic resonance (MR) acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) enables real-time localization of the FUS beam, a highly desirable feature for neuromodulation. Because MR-ARFI requires higher acoustic pressure, it is essential to establish the safety of repeated sonication during both ARFI and FUS procedures. MATERIALS AND

methodsSix macaque monkeys underwent repeated neuromodulation studies targeting three brain regions: the thalamic ventroposterior lateral (VPL) nucleus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, sensitive to microbleeds, edema, and lesions, were acquired during each session. MRI signals from target regions were quantified and compared with control regions of interest with similar tissue properties. Signal variability within two SDs was considered negative, indicating no detectable damage. Data acquisition intervals ranged from two weeks to >one year. Histologic analysis with Hematoxylin and Eosin and glial fibrillary acidic protein stains was performed on one PAG target.

resultsNo evidence of tissue damage was detected at any of the three targeted brain regions on SWI or FLAIR imaging. Signal variability for all targets remained within two SDs. Histologic evaluation revealed evenly distributed staining with no signs of tissue damage or neuroinflammation. These findings apply to both neuromodulation pulses delivered within current guidelines and MR-ARFI pulses exceeding current guideline limits.

conclusionsRepeated sonication of cortical, deep brain, and brainstem regions caused no detectable tissue damage, supporting a preliminary safety profile for clinical applications using similar MR-guided FUS protocols.

Indexed as

BrainMagnetic Resonance ImagingAnimalsMacaca mulattaMalefMRIneuromodulationpain networksomatosensorytranscranial focused ultrasound

Identifiers

PMID41175114
PMCPMC13217579

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.