AEGEUS - A Novel EEG Ultrasound Device for Functional Brain Imaging and Neurostimulation - is an EU funded project involving 8 partners from 4 countries all over Europe. The final goal of AEGEUS is to develop a highly innovative brain imaging and stimulation setup based on the combination of electroencephalography (EEG), a newly developed functional ultrasound (US) imaging method and ultrasound-based neuro-stimulation.

EEG is an established neurological method to analyze the electrical activity of the brain. It enables the acquisition of data with high temporal resolution especially of structures close to the skull. This will be supplemented by an US component, which should also detect functional information from deep brain regions.

In addition, ultrasound, especially in a focused manner, has also the potential to stimulate and to suppress neural activity. This should enable a localized, non-invasive stimulation of the brain to be carried out and controlled with the same device.

The development of the AEGEUS system has reached a stage at which the novel AEGEUS approach for transcranial imaging and stimulation can now be investigated in clinical studies.

Following an intensive specification phase, novel ultrasound transmission and receive hardware was developed specifically for transcranial applications. This was complemented by optimized ultrasound transducers for transcranial stimulation. Both technologies were combined with a high-resolution EEG system and integrated into a wearable cap. Dedicated software controls the AEGEUS system and guides users through a specifically developed workflow tailored to clinical evaluation. In parallel, dedicated algorithms were developed for the analysis of ultrasound and EEG data.

The complete system, including both hardware and software, underwent comprehensive quality assurance to ensure its suitability for clinical use. In addition, the clinical study was designed and the necessary administrative, regulatory, legal and organizational requirements and prerequisites for its implementation were established. The AEGEUS system is therefore now ready to enter clinical evaluation and to investigate the potential of this novel approach in humans.

In August 2026, the consortium achieved an important milestone: the first healthy volunteers were enrolled in the clinical study which is an integral part of the project. The combined imaging information of ultrasound and EEG will be collected during different motion and memory paradigms entering a new era of brain activity measurement. The clinical study foresees testing on 150 healthy participants and, in a later phase, on 20 epilepsy patients. Finally, the ultrasound stimulation functionality of the device will be evaluated. 

We are convinced that the device developed in AEGEUS will open new avenues for research of neurological diseases, diagnosis and ultimately treatment. 

You can find the initial abstract here.