Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41961940›Full record

ArticleScience advances2026

Miniaturized optically generated Bessel beam ultrasound for volumetric transcranial brain stimulation.

Yueming Li, Guo Chen, Tiago R Oliveira, Nick Todd, Yong-Zhi Zhang, Carolyn Marar, Nan Zheng, Lu Lan, Nathan McDannold, Ji-Xin Cheng and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Yueming LiDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0618-0722
Guo ChenDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0239-0068
Tiago R OliveiraDepartment of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6931-8397
Nick ToddDepartment of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2588-6330
Yong-Zhi ZhangDepartment of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7431-3638
Carolyn MararDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9636-8368
Nan ZhengDivision of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7874-0055
Lu LanDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Nathan McDannoldDepartment of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1920-5260
Ji-Xin ChengDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5607-6683
Chen YangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9454-847X

Funding

Unveiling the mechanisms of ultrasound neuromodulation via spatially confined stimulation and temporally resolved recordingR01NS109794 · NINDS · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI CHENG, JI-XIN, HAN, XUE · 2018 to 2022
$3.6M
Massively Parallel Optoacoustic Retinal Stimulation at Micrometer-ResolutionR21EY035437 · NEI · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI YANG, CHEN · 2023 to 2025
$680k
NEI NIH HHS R21 EY035437NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS109794
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Noninvasive stimulation of small, variably shaped brain subregions is crucial for advancing our understanding of brain functions. Current ultrasound neuromodulation faces two major trade-offs when targeting brain subregions: miniaturization versus volumetric control and spatial resolution versus transcranial capability. Here, we present an optically generated Bessel beam ultrasound (OBUS) device designed to overcome these limitations. This miniaturized device, measuring 2.33 millimeters in diameter, delivers a column-shaped field achieving a lateral resolution of 152 micrometers and an axial resolution of 1.93 millimeters, enabling targeting of brain subregions with an elongated volume of tissue activation. Immunofluorescence imaging of mouse brain slices confirms its ability to stimulate cells at depths up to 2.1 millimeters. In addition, OBUS outperforms conventional Gaussian ultrasound in transcranial transmission efficiency and beam shape preservation. Electrophysiological recordings and functional MRI captured rodent brain responses evoked by OBUS, demonstrating OBUS's ability to noninvasively activate neural circuits in intact brains. This technology offers expanded possibilities for studying brain functions with precision and volumetric control.

Indexed as

BrainMiniaturizationAnimalsMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiceUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID41961940
PMCPMC13068075

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Registered trials

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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.