CAREER: Development of Radio Frequency Non-Invasive Nanosecond Pulse Therapeutic Devices

在全球大流行之前，焦虑和抑郁等精神和神经健康状况已经以惊人的速度增加。现在，根据世界卫生组织（世卫组织）的数据，大流行后全球此类疾病的发病率增加了25-35%，世卫组织呼吁所有国家加强精神卫生服务和支持。这突出表明需要为神经系统疾病提供更容易获得和侵入性更小的治疗方案。神经电刺激方法，如经颅磁刺激（TMS），已被证明对治疗各种神经系统疾病有效。颅磁刺激是利用磁场产生的短时间电流脉冲来刺激大脑。然而，经颅磁刺激需要稳定的高功率系统，通常在医院环境中发现。经颅刺激疗法的治疗计划包括在三周内每天去医院就诊，有时在一天内进行多次治疗，这限制了那些已经在处理抑郁或焦虑症状（如社交退缩和睡眠不规则，扰乱了他们的日常生活）的患者的可及性。此外，对于农村或低收入人口来说，参加定期的面对面治疗可能是不可行的。然而，纳秒电脉冲（NEPs）以其高强度和极窄的脉冲宽度而闻名，已成为治疗各种神经系统疾病的一种很有前途的方法。新麻醉药在刺激细胞和神经而不造成伤害方面已显示出显著的功效，并有可能制成便携式装置，有助于减少到医院就诊的需要，并大大增加可及性。该项目旨在了解传统nep的局限性，并找到使其适应更小设备的解决方案。该项目将生产一种纳入研究成果的医疗设备原型，为患者扩大非侵入性、可获得的神经治疗选择的范围。该项目的K-12外展与内华达山脉旅行公司合作，并在家庭科学之夜和成人项目中使用生物传感器，将通过他们的反馈专业知识加强STEM教育。nep具有巨大的神经调节潜力，能够复制生理刺激，用于神经系统疾病的非侵入性治疗。尽管具有潜力，但由于穿透深度和通过人体或动物体内的信号失真的限制，NEPs在非侵入性体内应用中遇到了障碍。本研究的目的是：(1)了解传统nep的局限性，并找到使其适应更小设备的解决方案，(2)解决由不同解剖差异引起的信号失真问题，以及(3)开发一个医疗设备原型，其中包含上述挑战的解决方案。利用nep的潜力，该研究将采用射频信号来增强穿透性，利用深度学习技术进行解剖补偿，并结合更宽的脉冲宽度和MHz脉冲重复率来降低阈值电压。使用数字生成的RF-NEP可以代表神经刺激方法的重大创新转变。这种非侵入性方法允许更深入地渗透到动物体内，同时包括满足特定需求的特定波形。将这些创新解决方案整合到新医疗设备的设计中，说明了这项研究的转化潜力。该项目预计将推进理论知识和具体的、切实的神经刺激治疗方法的改进，为更广泛的神经科学和神经治疗领域做出重大贡献。该项目由通信、电路和传感系统（CCSS）计划和促进竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Prior to the global pandemic, mental and neurological health conditions such as anxiety and depression were already increasing at alarming rates. Now, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), post pandemic incidence of such conditions has increased by 25-35% worldwide and the WHO is calling for all countries to step up mental health services and support. This highlights the need for more accessible and less invasive treatment options for neurological disorders. Electrical neurostimulation methodologies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), have proven effective in treating various neurological disorders. TMS stimulates the brain using short-duration pulses of electrical current induced by a magnetic field. However, TMS requires stable high-power systems typically found in hospital settings. TMS treatment plans involve daily hospital visits for three weeks, or sometimes multiple treatments in a single day, which limits accessibility to patients who are already managing depression or anxiety symptoms such as social withdrawal and sleep irregularities that disrupt their everyday routines. Moreover, attending regular in-person treatment sessions may not be feasible for those in rural or low-income demographics. However, nanosecond electrical pulses (NEPs), distinguished by their high intensity and extremely narrow pulse width, have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for various neurological disorders. NEP has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in stimulating cells and nerves without causing harm and has potential for portable devices that would help reduce the need for hospital visits and greatly increase accessibility. This project seeks to understand the limitations of traditional NEPs and find solutions to adapt them to smaller devices. The project will produce a medical device prototype incorporating the research findings, broadening the range of non-invasive, accessible neurological treatment options for patients. The project's K-12 outreach, in collaboration with Sierra Nevada Journeys and employing biosensors in Family Science Nights and adult programs, will enhance STEM education through their feedback expertise.NEPs offer substantial neuromodulation potential, capable of replicating physiological stimuli for non-invasive treatment of neurological disorders. Despite their potential, NEPs encounter obstacles in non-invasive in-vivo applications due to constraints in penetration depth and signal distortion through human or animal body. The objectives of this study are to (1) understand the limitations of traditional NEPs and find solutions to adapt them to smaller devices, (2) address the issue of signal distortions caused by varying anatomical differences, and (3) develop a medical device prototype that incorporates solutions to the aforementioned challenges. Leveraging the potential of NEPs, the research will employ RF signals for enhanced penetration, utilize deep-learning techniques for anatomical compensation, and incorporate wider pulse widths and MHz pulse repetition rates to lower the threshold voltage. The use of digitally generated RF-NEP could represent a significant innovative shift in neurostimulation methodology. This non-invasive approach allows for deeper penetration into animal bodies while including specific waveforms that satisfy specific needs. The integration of these innovative solutions into the design of a new medical device speaks to the translational potential of this research. This project anticipates advancing theoretical knowledge and a concrete, tangible improvement in neurostimulation treatment methods, contributing significantly to the broader neuroscience and neurological therapeutics field.This project is jointly funded by the Communications, Circuits and Sensing Systems (CCSS) Program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.