Disclosed is a 'hands-free', autonomously operating, battery-powered apparatus with electronic programmable actuation circuitry for non-invasive ultrasonic treatment of ischemic stroke, microatheromas of the cerebral vasculature, intracranial hypertension, and other cerebrovascular pathologies such as hypoperfusion associated with migraine. The apparatus is provided with registration members to facilitate stereotactic placement of the headset on the skull with respect to target intracranial anatomy. Once fitted in place on the skull and activated, the device does not require clinical intervention during operation; does not need skilled technical adjustment of the waveform patterns; and achieves therapeutic results with power consumption of less than 400 mAmp-hr, thus permitting extended portable operation without external power and eliminating the need for assisted cooling. Using a device of the invention, transcranial ultrasound may be self-administered. The device has application in therapeutic methods, such as methods for treating stroke or migraine, for non-invasively augmenting drug action, and for release or dispersal of endogenous neurovascular mediators.
Hands-free operator-independent transcranial ultrasound apparatus and methods