The disclosure provides technologies that permit detection and/or characterization of brain biomarkers (e.g., disease-associated biomarkers) in non-CNS samples, including by liquid biopsy (e.g., blood, serum, etc.). Among other things, the present disclosure demonstrates that ultrasound opening of the blood brain barrier can achieve detectable increases in brain-derived materials (e.g., brain-derived proteins, neuron-derived extracellular vesicles, and/or cell-free DNA) in readily-sampled systemic liquids.

A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.

The present approaches are generally directed to facilitating healing of wounds, including chronic wounds typically associated with slow heal times or which are persistent. In one embodiment, a method of promoting wound healing comprises positioning an ultrasound transducer at a stimulation site on a subject having a wound. Pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) is non-invasively applies using the transducer to cause modulation of a target anatomic site containing resident or circulating immune cells. Modulation of the target anatomic site of the subject causes migration of one or more of monocytes, macrophages, or neutrophils to a wound bed of the wound.

The present invention relates to a focused ultrasound acupoint health-care device comprising an ultrasound output module, a control module, a power supply module, and a human-machine interface module. The device delivers focused ultrasound precisely to a target acupoint, applying mechanical and thermal stimulation, and may automatically adjust output power and treatment duration based on user-specific parameters such as age, weight, height, and acupoint location. The device can be configured as handheld or wearable and may include interchangeable transducers. In certain embodiments, a temperature monitoring function is provided to stop output when the contact area temperature reaches a preset upper limit and resume output when it falls below a preset lower limit, thereby reducing burn risks. The invention is applicable for health care, relaxation, and enhancement of body functions through acupoint stimulation.