Acoustic characterization of a neonate skull using a clinical MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound system for pediatric neurological disorder treatment planning

Transcranial MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (TcMRgFUS) treatments are now clinically performed on adult patients for brain tumor or essential tremor therapies. However, no application has been proposed for children despite their thinner skull being less of an acoustic barrier and the presence of a fontanelle on neonates, which could constitute a natural acoustic window for the transmission of ultrasound waves. As there is minimal literature data on the attenuation and speed-of-sound of the skull in neonatal patients, the aim of this study was to perform the acoustic characterization of a neonate skull.