Design of a focused ultrasound phased array for the treatment of stroke: A simulation study

Current treatments for stroke are characterized with low recanalization rates and short time windows and improvements are needed. Skull propagation simulations are used to investigate the feasibility and technical requirements for a HIFU phased array for the treatment of stroke. The effect of varying element size, target vessel, and sonication frequency is explored. Pressure gain, focal size, and acoustic intensity requirements are determined. The results show that reducing element size increases focal gain and reduces the acoustic power requirements. Focal size increases as frequency decreases, increasing the risk of vessel damage and bleeding.