Sponsored Content by Vitrek LLCReviewed by Maria OsipovaSep 18 2025
GaGe high-performance digitizers are transforming neurological diagnostics and brain research by delivering the speed and accuracy required for sophisticated brain imaging and neurological research. In focused ultrasound therapies, these devices enable instantaneous tracking to open the blood-brain barrier for safe and precise drug delivery.
Image Credit: Vitrek LLC
Moreover, their ultrafast data acquisition supports EEG, MEG, and brain-computer interface applications, delivering precise signal capture for diagnostics and therapeutic development. GaGe technology provides more detailed insights into both brain function and next-generation neurotherapies.
Unlocking the brain: Non-invasive technique for opening the blood-brain barrier using ultrasound and microbubbles
Challenge: This paper examines the use of cavitating micro-bubbles to breach the Blood-Brain Barrier, which typically prevents the brain from absorbing medication. A high-power focused ultrasound transducer aimed at the brain was employed to induce cavitation in microbubbles injected into the bloodstream.
Tracking a Passive Cavitation Detector (PCD) in contact with the brain to generate spectrograms has been demonstrated to be a robust method to detect and characterize cavitation in mice brains. This study investigates usage of such a PCD to detect cavitation in monkey brains, where detection is more difficult due to their thicker skulls.
How the GaGe digitizer was used: A GaGe Digitizer was employed to measure the electrical field induced by the TMS coils. The digitizer recorded the voltage variations acquired by a dipole probe in the head model, allowing for computation of electrical field strength and distribution.
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Breaking barriers: Targeted brain delivery using focused ultrasound
This paper examines the use of cavitating micro-bubbles to breach the Blood-Brain Barrier and aid absorption of medication by the brain.
Challenge: The objective was to induce cavitation in microbubbles injected into the bloodstream. This induction was achieved by aiming a high-power focused ultrasound transducer at the brain.
How GaGe digitizers were used: The amplitude of the focused transducer’s excitation was monitored by a Gage CompuScope digitizer. The resulting CompuScope data was used to estimate absolute ultrasonic pressure, enabling analysis of its effect on microbubble cavitation within mouse brains.
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Neuroimmunomodulation: How focused ultrasound boosts brain immune defense
Challenge: Neuroimmunomodulation is a drug-free treatment that uses high-power focused ultrasound to irradiate the brain. The treatment can be effective for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
The underlying mechanism of the treatment is not well understood. This paper experimentally compared three separate proposed mechanisms in mice brains. The irradiating high-power focused ultrasonic transducer contained a smaller low-power transducer used to align the focused transducer and to track ultrasonic activity in the brain in some applications.
How GaGe digitizers were used: Measurements of infrared light absorption and scattering can provide insight, for instance, on blood oxygenation and tissue composition. A Gage digitizer was utilized to track signals from two photodetectors – one measuring raw laser power and the other connected to the signal from the infrared interferometer containing the sample. The Gage waveform data was subsequently utilized to determine final infrared absorption and scattering measurements.
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Brain tissue analysis: Making brain tissue analysis faster and gentler with ultrafast lasers
In medical and brain research, studying tissues at the molecular level without damaging the samples is critical. Conventional approaches can be rough and do not always provide a clear picture.
Challenge: Examining brain tissue at the molecular level is crucial for advancing medical research, but conventional mass spectrometry approaches may damage fragile samples and lack the detailed images required for 3D analysis.
How GaGe digitizers were used: Through the combination of high-speed laser pulses with an ultrafast GaGe Digitizer, the research team developed a robust, novel imaging method. This system gently eliminates and evaluates small layers of brain tissue, with precise, real-time signal capture, producing non-destructive, high-resolution 3D images that expose the structure and chemical makeup of brain samples. This approach lays the foundation for improved diagnostics and brain research.
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Reaching deep: Improved brain stimulation with advanced H-coils
This study is related to developments in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a method utilized in neuroscience and neurology for non-invasive brain stimulation. TMS is commonly employed in research and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Challenge: Conventional TMS coils, such as the figure-8 coil, have constraints in stimulating deep brain regions without causing undesired cortical stimulation. This limits TMS efficacy for treating conditions involving deeper brain structures.
How the GaGe digitizer was used: A GaGe Digitizer measured the electrical field induced by the TMS coils. The digitizer captured the voltage differences recorded by a dipole probe in the head model, allowing calculation of electrical field strength and distribution.
Image Credit: Vitrek LLC
About Vitrek LLC
Since 1990, Vitrek has provided innovative global solutions for high voltage test and measurement including electrical safety compliance testers, multi-point high voltage switching systems and graphical power analyzers. The recent acquisition of MTI Instruments expands their test and measurement portfolio to include non-contact measurement devices, portable signal simulators and calibrators, semiconductor/solar metrology systems and turbine engine/rotating machine balancing. The acquisition of DynamicSignals’ portfolio adds a wide array of board-level data acquisition and integrated real-time RF record/playback system solutions from GaGe, KineticSystems and Signatec. Vitrek also supplies precision high voltage measurement standards to national laboratories and calibration labs around the world. This unique and complementary combination of product and engineering capabilities positions Vitrek as a leading provider of test solutions serving the photovoltaic, medical equipment, power conversion, electrical/electronic component, semiconductor, aerospace and appliance industries. Vitrek is an accredited ISO 17025 Calibration Laboratory.
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