Device and method for ultrasonic neuromodulation via stereotactic frame based technique

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035027-B2
Application number	US-26302608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2008
Priority date	Oct 31, 2007
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

One embodiment involves modifying neural transmission patterns between neural structures and/or neural regions in a noninvasive manner. In a related exemplary method, sound waves are directed toward a first targeted neural structure and characteristics of the sound waves are controlled at the first target neural structure with respect to characteristics of sound waves at the second target neural structure. In response, neural transmission patterns modified to produce the intended effect (e.g., long-term potentiation and long-term depression of the neural transmission patterns). In a related embodiment, a transducer produces the sound for stimulating the first neural structure and the second neural structure, and an electronically-based control circuit is used to control characteristics of the sound waves as described above to modify the neural transmission patterns between the first and second neural structures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a transducer array comprising:
a first transducer configured and arranged to direct a first focused ultrasound stimulus to a first target neural structure in a brain of a subject; and
a second transducer configured and arranged to direct a second focused ultrasound stimulus to a second target neural structure in the brain, wherein the first and second transducers are arranged at different positions around a scalp of the subject,

the targeting of the neural structures are configured to be achieved by affixing the first and second ultrasonic transducers to a stereotactic frame,
wherein the first and second target neural structures are different target neural structures in the brain with a neural pathway that connects the first target neural structure with the second target neural structure, wherein the first target neural structure comprises a neuron pre-synaptic to a neuron in the second target neural structure, and wherein the first and second focused ultrasound stimuli are non-destructive to functional responsiveness of the first and second target neural structures; and
a control circuit,
wherein the control circuit is configured and arranged to electronically direct the first focused ultrasound stimulus and the second focused ultrasound stimulus to the first target neural structure and the second target neural structure, respectively, wherein the first and second transducers are configured to be moved into correct targeting position via frame-based techniques, and control the transducer array, to concurrently alter one or more characteristics of sound waves at the first target neural structure with respect to characteristics of sound waves at the second target neural structure in a synchronous or asynchronous manner.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the neural transmission patterns comprises one of long-term potentiation and long-term depression of the neural transmission patterns.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves at the first target neural structure raise the temperature of the first target neural structure so as to affect a firing rate of neurons in the first target neural structure.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer arrangement includes a plurality of transducers that are each configured and arranged to be controlled by the control circuit.

5. A method comprising:
producing sound waves using a transducer array comprising:
a first transducer configured to emit a first focused ultrasound stimulus; and
a second transducer configured to emit a second focused ultrasound stimulus, wherein the first and second transducers are arranged at different positions around a scalp of the subject;

directing the first focused ultrasound stimulus to a first target neural structure in the brain of a subject;
the targeting of the neural structures are achieved by affixing the first and second ultrasonic transducers to a stereotactic frame,
directing the second focused ultrasound stimulus to a second target neural structure in the brain, wherein the first and second target neural structures are different target neural structures in the brain with a neural pathway that connects the first target neural structure with the second target neural structure, wherein the first target neural structure comprises a neuron pre-synaptic to a neuron in the second target neural structure;
electronically directing the first focused ultrasound stimulus and the second focused ultrasound stimulus to the first target neural structure and the second target neural structure, respectively; and
controlling the transducer array to alter one or more characteristics of sound waves at the first target neural structure with respect to characteristics of the sound waves at the second target neural structure, where the first and second transducers are moved into correct targeting position via frame-based techniques, to stimulate the first target neural structure with the first focused ultrasound stimulus while concurrently stimulating the second target neural structure with the second focused ultrasound stimulus, in a synchronous or asynchronous manner, thereby non-destructively modifying neural transmission patterns along the neural pathway.

6. A device for neuromodulation, the device comprising:
an array of ultrasound energy emitters comprising:
a first energy emitter configured and arranged to emit a first ultrasound energy that is focused to a first focal point in a brain of a subject; and
a second energy emitter configured and arranged to emit a second ultrasound energy that is focused to a second focal point in the brain, wherein the first and second energy emitters are arranged at different positions around a scalp of the subject;

the targeting of the first and second focal points are configured to be achieved by affixing the first and second energy emitter to a stereotactic frame,
a first control circuit configured and arranged to register the first and second focal points with two different locations in space in the brain at which the first and second focal points are desired, wherein the locations in space comprise a first target neural structure and a second target neural structure, wherein the first and second target neural structures are different target neural structures in the brain with a neural pathway that connects the first target neural structure with the second target neural structure, wherein the first target neural structure comprises a neuron pre-synaptic to a neuron in the second target neural structure, and wherein the first and second focused emitted energies are non-destructive to functional responsiveness of the first and second target neural structures; and
a second control circuit configured and arranged to electronically direct the first focused ultrasound energy and the second focused ultrasound energy to the first target neural structure and the second target neural structure, respectively, wherein the first and second energy emitter are configured to be moved into correct targeting position via frame-based techniques, and control the array of energy emitters to direct the registered focal points of the emitted energies toward the locations in space, and to non-destructively alter a pattern of functional responsiveness of a plurality of cells at the locations in space, wherein the array of energy emitters stimulates the first target neural structure with the first focused ultrasound energy and concurrently stimulates the second target neural structure with the second focused ultrasound energy, in a synchronous or asynchronous manner.

7. The device of claim 6 , further including a secondary group of one or more energy emitters, wherein each of the first and second target neural structures is stimulated by one of the energy emitters.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the responsiveness between the first target neural structure and the second target neural structure is moderated by long-term potentiation (LTP).

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the responsiveness between the first target neural structure and the second target neural structure is moderated by long-term depression (LTD).

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the energy heats the first target neural structure thereby changing a spontaneous firing rate of the first target neural structure.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the pattern of functional responsiveness in the plurality of cells is altered due to mechanical perturbations of a cell from the emitted energy.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the energy is focused using one of a lens and a curved transducer portion.

13. A system comprising:
a transd

Assignees

• Deisseroth Karl
• Schneider M Bret
• Univ Leland Stanford Junior

Inventors

• Deisseroth Karl
• Schneider M Bret

Classifications

• A61N2007/0095

  by modifying an excitation signal · CPC title

• A61N7/00 Primary

  Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) · CPC title

• A61N2007/0078

  with multiple treatment transducers · CPC title

• A61N2007/0026

  Stimulation of nerve tissue · CPC title

• A61N2007/027

  with multiple foci created simultaneously · CPC title