Iconeus applications

Functional ultrasound (fUS) is utilized in resting-state functional connectivity mapping as a technique to study intrinsic brain networks by detecting blood flow fluctuations. fUS boasts a higher spatial and temporal resolution compared to BOLD fMRI and provides greater sensitivity, making it effective in examining neuropsychiatric disorders and aiding early diagnosis. The device generates connectivity matrices both in 2D and 3D quickly, analyzing a single coronal plane or determining overall connectivity between slices respectively. fUS has demonstrated applications in pathological models by revealing how conditions affect brain connectivity throughout varied studies such as oxytocin's role or pain sensitivity in rats. It eliminates biases linked with anesthesia by enabling connectivity data collection from awake, freely-moving mice. This feature is beneficial for exploring the impact of anesthetics and for the study of genetically modified models, hence broadening the scope of neuroimaging research.

Functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging is emerging as a powerful tool in neuropharmacology to study the effects of drugs on brain activity. Unlike fMRI, fUS offers increased sensitivity and compatibility with awake animal models, providing an unbiased view of drug interactions with neural substrates. Recent studies by Theranexus have utilized fUS to observe the hemodynamic response to different pharmacological interventions, such as the combination of donepezil and mefloquine, which target acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and connexins respectively. This approach has elucidated changes in cerebral blood volume and functional connectivity between brain regions. Furthermore, fUS aids in establishing pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters by examining dose-response relationships and the regional specificity of centrally-acting drugs. The technique provides valuable insights into the central mechanisms of action of drugs, supporting the advancement of treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's and aiding in the understanding of CNS drug efficacy.

Iconeus is leveraging its expertise in preclinical research to develop innovative clinical applications using its Iconeus One CR functional ultrasound system. This system is instrumental for transcranial ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM), allowing for the imaging of the brain's microvasculature at a microscopic resolution, which is particularly beneficial for diagnosing and monitoring stroke and aneurysm. The system's current projects, in collaboration with entities like Geneva University and Physics for Medicine Paris, include developing transcranial ULM scanners for adults and creating implantable probes capable of continuous cerebral blood flow monitoring in brain-injured patients. An additional focus is on newborn neurodevelopmental disorders, aiming to pioneer bedside functional connectivity imaging through ultrasound. The ongoing development of ultrafast localization microscopy (ULM) technology within international collaborations aims to significantly enhance the temporal resolution, which is crucial for diagnosing and treating cerebral small vessel disease and other neurovascular conditions.