Forest 1 is a wearable ultrasound platform built specifically for functional brain imaging. The probe is smaller than a key fob, and it's controlled from a PC or laptop through a compact hub.
Functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) measures localized changes in blood flow driven by neural activity – the same class of signal as fMRI, at better spatial and temporal resolution and in a wearable package. Unlike most fUSI systems, Forest 1 continuously images whole volumes rather than single planes.
The system images through a craniectomy or a sonolucent cranial implant – one made of a material, such as PMMA or PEEK, that ultrasound can pass through. It includes acquisition, analysis, and targeting software.
The next version will also deliver focused-ultrasound neuromodulation, providing bidirectional brain interfacing: intervening in circuits and measuring the response from one device.