Numerical simulation of low-intensity focused ultrasound in brain for neuromodulation

脑内低强度聚焦超声神经调节的数值模拟

• 批准号: 490942-2015
• 负责人: Ono, Yuu
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=586676
• 关键词: Numerical; simulation; low; intensity; focused

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) could effectively modulate neurons at a target brain region within the ultrasound focal spot, which indicates a potential of ultrasound for therapy of neural disorder noninvasively. LIFU employs ultrasound intensity similar to or lower than that used by medical ultrasound imaging so that LIFU does not produce tissue damage or temperature increase. LIFU could localize ultrasound intensity at a desired brain location of a millimeter range of the focal spot with sub-millimetre resolution. Therefore, the target brain cells can be modulated with high specificity without affecting the surrounding neurons. However, it is challenge to predict the ultrasound focal spot location at the desired brain region because of complicated head geometry and structures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to monitor the focal spot during ultrasound neuro-modulation, but MRI is expensive and may not be always available at the treatment site. Furthermore, it could be difficult to estimate accurately the amount of ultrasonic energy applied at the target region due to ultrasound attenuation within the complicated head structures. Objective of this research project is to develop a numerical simulation tool to understand and evaluate the LIFU beam profile and intensity distribution within the brain, which is crucial and urgently demanded to make this LIFU neuro-modulation technology available as a standard tool for research in cognitive and psychiatric disorders. The developed simulation tool will allow us to locate ultrasound focal spot with sub-millimetre resolution and to control the desired ultrasound energy applied at the target brain region precisely. This project provides neuroscientists and clinicians a new tool to understand and treat major depression with potential benefits for millions of Canadians and globally.

低强度聚焦超声（LIFU）可以有效地调节靶脑区的神经元， 超声焦斑，这表明了潜在的超声治疗神经疾病的非侵入性。 LIFU采用类似于或低于医学超声成像所使用的超声强度， LIFU不会造成组织损伤或温度升高。LIFU可以将超声强度定位在 所需的大脑位置的一毫米范围内的焦点与亚毫米分辨率。因此 可以高特异性地调节靶脑细胞而不影响周围的神经元。但 预测在期望的脑区域处的超声焦点位置是具有挑战性的 头部几何形状和结构。磁共振成像（MRI）可用于在手术期间监测焦点。 超声神经调制，但MRI是昂贵的，并不总是在治疗部位可用。 此外，可能难以准确地估计施加在目标处的超声能量的量 由于复杂的头部结构内的超声衰减，本研究项目的目的 是开发一种数值模拟工具，以了解和评估LIFU光束轮廓和强度 在大脑内的分布，这是至关重要的，迫切需要使这种LIFU神经调制 作为认知和精神疾病研究的标准工具。发达 仿真工具将使我们能够以亚毫米分辨率定位超声焦点，并控制 精确地在目标脑区域施加期望的超声能量。该项目为神经科学家和 临床医生为数百万加拿大人提供了了解和治疗重度抑郁症的新工具 和全球范围内。