Charles Caskey

An array of ultrasound transducers covering the head focuses an ultrasound beam to a location deep in the brain associated with pain perception (bright spot). (illustration by Thomas Manuel, PhD)

Nonaddictive pain relief system nears clinical trials

Researchers in the Vanderbilt are nearing completion of an ingenious undertaking that may be a highpoint of their careers — a non-addictive alternative for relieving chronic pain.

Researchers developing a focused ultrasound neuromodulation device for treating chronic pain include, from left, Charles Caskey, PhD, William Grissom, PhD, and Li Min Chen, MD, PhD.

Device studied as non-addictive option for chronic pain

Vanderbilt researchers are developing a focused ultrasound neuromodulation device as a non-invasive and non-addictive method for treating chronic pain.

Grissom manipulating ultrasound machine

Open-source instructions for focused ultrasound provide cancer research boost

Vanderbilt University’s William Grissom and Charles Caskey are throwing open doors with a do-it-yourself, open-source software and hardware guide to enabling existing imaging machines with focused ultrasound technology.