CRCNS: Crossbeam Transcranial Ultrasound Technology to Stimulate the Deep Brain

摘要 一种非侵入性神经调节技术存在许多神经科学和临床应用 能够以高分辨率深入大脑。一个引人注目的临床应用是药物的治疗 上瘾，这是美国公共卫生的一大挑战。在人类中，治疗的神经目标是1-4 因此，一个关键的目标是以比目前可用的更高的分辨率刺激大脑深处 使用任何非侵入性刺激方式。本研究的目标是开发和实验 高分辨率深部经颅超声优化计算模型的验证 神经科学和临床应用的刺激(TUS)。无创性经颅超声刺激 已被证明在各种动物模型中是安全的和空间上特定的。然而，当前的系统是 没有针对深部脑的高分辨率TUS进行优化。计算模型表明我们可以优化 TU具有相控阵系统，可以成对驱动，同时彼此定向90°并聚焦 到同一点，称为“横梁”。这将刺激分辨率提高了一个数量级以上 震级。此外，我们的模型表明，我们可以有选择地刺激神经组织 “收缩”或“伸展”在这个项目中，我们将对改进的横梁进行生物验证 由于神经组织对“收缩”或“拉伸”的敏感性而产生的效果。我们经过验证的模型将是 用于改进采用优化阵列探头的交叉束神经刺激策略。这将允许不 不仅选择焦深，而且补偿由传播引起的位相像差 穿过头盖骨。优化的硬件和开发的计算模型将整合在一起 并在头骨模型实验中得到了验证。 相关性(请参阅说明)： 我们正在开发通过神经非侵入性治疗来改善健康的技术 诸如成瘾之类的障碍。

SUMMARY Numerous neuroscience and clinical applications exist for a noninvasive neuromodulation technology that can reach deep in the brain with high resolution. One compelling clinical application is the treatment of drug addiction, a major public health challenge in the US. In humans, the neural targets for treatment are 1-4 mm3, and thus a critical goal is to stimulate deep in the brain with higher resolutions than currently available with any noninvasive stimulation modality. The goal of this research is the development and experimental validation of computational models for optimization of high resolution deep brain transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) for neuroscience and clinical application. Noninvasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation has been shown to be safe and spatially specific in various animal models. However, current systems are not optimized for high resolution TUS of the deep brain. Computational modeling suggests we can optimize TUS with phased array systems that can be driven in pairs while oriented at 90° to each other and focused to the same point, called “crossbeam.” This improves the stimulation resolution by more than an order of magnitude. In addition, our modeling suggests that we can selectively stimulate neural tissue using a “pinch” or “stretch.” In this project, we will perform a biological validation of crossbeam’s improved effectiveness due to the neural tissue’s sensitivity to “pinch” or “stretch.” Our validated modeling will be used to refine a crossbeam neurostimulation strategy involving optimized array probes. This will allow not only choice of focal depth, but also compensation of phase aberrations resulting from the propagation through the skull bone. The optimized hardware and the developed computational models will be integrated with imaging guidance and validated in skull phantom experiments. RELEVANCE (See instructions): We are developing the technology for improving health through the noninvasive treatment of neurological disorders such as addiction.