Methods and systems for peripheral nerve modulation using focused ultrasound

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018028841-A1
Application number	US-201715661909-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Feb 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques for modulating peripheral nerves using focused ultrasound (FUS) are provided. Methods include locating a peripheral nerve in a subject using an imaging probe, providing a FUS having one or more ultrasound parameters to a location on the peripheral nerve, and modulating the peripheral nerve. The methods can further include eliciting and measuring a physiological response from the FUS modulation, generating tissue deformation in the vicinity of the FUS modulation, and imaging the nerve and the tissue deformation simultaneously with FUS modulation. Systems for use in the modulation of peripheral nerves are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for modulation of a peripheral nerve in a subject using a focused ultrasound (FUS) assembly having one or more ultrasound parameters, comprising:
adjusting the one or more ultrasound parameters to adapt a FUS for a location on the peripheral nerve; and modulating the peripheral nerve with the FUS.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising locating the peripheral nerve using an imaging probe prior to adjusting the one or more ultrasound parameters.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral nerve comprises a sciatic nerve, a tibial nerve, or a sacral nerve.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the FUS assembly comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer with a 3.57 MHz center frequency, a 0.46×3.55 mm focal area and a 35 mm focal depth, a 20 MHz function waveform generator, and a 150 W amplifier.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ultrasound parameters comprise at least one of a peak negative pressure, a stimulation duration, a duty cycle, and a pulse repetition frequency (PRF).

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the peak negative pressure is from about 1.1 MPa to about 8.8 MPa.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stimulation duration is from about 0.8 ins to about 1 s.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the duty cycle is from about 15% to about 100%.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the PRF is from about 1 kHz to about 50 kHz.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the peak negative pressure is from about 3.2 MPa to about 5.7 MPa, the stimulation duration is from about 0.8 ms to about 10.5 ms, the duty cycle is from about 35% to about 100%, and the PRF is from about 1 kHz to about 50 kHz.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising eliciting and measuring a physiological response during or after FUS modulation.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring the physiological response comprises acquiring electromyography (EMG) signals from a muscle tissue.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising modulating the one or more ultrasound parameters to change timing of the physiological response.

14 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the imaging probe comprises a B-mode imaging probe.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing tissue deformation in the vicinity of FUS modulation with an acoustic radiation force generated by the FUS.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the tissue deformation ranges from about 8.5 μm to about 422 μm.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the tissue deformation facilitates action potential firing within the nerve and elicits an EMG activity.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising imaging the nerve and the tissue deformation simultaneously with FUS modulation.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a thermal effect elicited by the FUS modulation.

20 . A system for modulating a peripheral nerve in a subject using focused ultrasound (FUS), comprising:
an imaging probe for locating the peripheral nerve; an ultrasound assembly, including a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer, a function generator, and an amplifier, for providing a FUS having one or more ultrasound parameters to a location on the peripheral nerve; and a processor, coupled to the ultrasound assembly, for adjusting the one or more ultrasound parameters to adapt the FUS for a location on the peripheral nerve.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the HIFU comprises a transducer with a 3.57 MHz center frequency, a 0.46×3.55 mm focal area and a 35 mm focal depth.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the function generator comprises a 20 MHz function waveform generator, and the amplifier comprises a 150 W amplifier.

23 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising a mechanical positioning system for placing the ultrasound assembly and the imaging probe.

24 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising an imaging system, operatively coupled to the processor, for imaging the peripheral nerve and/or surrounding tissue during FUS modulation.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the imaging system comprises a pulse-echo image transducer.

26 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the ultrasound assembly comprises a transdermal patch.

Assignees

• Univ Columbia

Inventors

• Konofagou Elisa E
• Downs Matthew

Classifications

• A61N7/02

  Localised ultrasound hyperthermia · CPC title

• A61B2017/00194

  Means for setting or varying the repetition rate · CPC title

• A61B2017/00092

  using thermocouples · CPC title

• A61B5/486

  Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375) · CPC title

• A61N2007/0052

  using the same transducer for therapy and imaging · CPC title