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Daneshzand M, Guerin B, Kotlarz P, Chou T, Dougherty DD, Edlow BL, Nummenmaa A. Model-based navigation of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation in humans: Application to targeting of the amygdala and thalamus. Brain Stimul 2024:S1935-861X(24)00134-7. [PMID: 39094682 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation has shown promise in animals but is challenging to translate to humans because of the thicker skull that heavily scatters ultrasound waves. OBJECTIVE We develop and disseminate a model-based navigation (MBN) tool for acoustic dose delivery in the presence of skull aberrations that is easy to use by non-specialists. METHODS We pre-compute acoustic beams for thousands of virtual transducer locations on the scalp of the subject under study. We use the hybrid angular spectrum solver mSOUND, which runs in ∼4 seconds per solve per CPU yielding pre-computation times under one hour for scalp meshes with up to 4,000 faces and a parallelization factor of 5. We combine this pre-computed set of beam solutions with optical tracking, thus allowing real-time display of the tFUS beam as the operator freely navigates the transducer around the subject' scalp. We assess the impact of MBN versus line-of-sight targeting (LOST) positioning in simulations of 13 subjects. RESULTS Our navigation tool has a display refresh rate of ∼10 Hz. In our simulations, MBN increased the acoustic dose in the thalamus and amygdala by 8-67% compared to LOST and avoided complete target misses that affected 10-20% of LOST cases. MBN yields a lower variability of the deposited dose across subjects than LOST. CONCLUSIONS MBN may yield greater and more consistent (less variable) ultrasound dose deposition than transducer placement with line-of-sight targeting, and thus may become a helpful tool to improve the efficacy of tFUS neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Daneshzand
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA.
| | - Parker Kotlarz
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA
| | - Tina Chou
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA; Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA USA
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA
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In A, Strohman A, Payne B, Legon W. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the posterior insula reduces temporal summation of pain. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:911-924. [PMID: 39089647 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) are core brain regions involved in pain processing and central sensitization, a shared mechanism across various chronic pain conditions. Methods to modulate these regions may serve to reduce central sensitization, though it is unclear which target may be most efficacious for different measures of central sensitization. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS Investigate the effect of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to the anterior insula (AI), posterior insula (PI), or dACC on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation of pain (TSP). METHODS N = 16 volunteers underwent TSP and CPM pain tasks pre/post a 10 min LIFU intervention to either the AI, PI, dACC or Sham stimulation. Pain ratings were collected pre/post LIFU. RESULTS Only LIFU to the PI significantly attenuated pain ratings during the TSP protocol. No effects were found for the CPM task for any of the LIFU targets. LIFU pressure modulated group means but did not affect overall group differences. CONCLUSIONS LIFU to the PI reduced temporal summation of pain. This may, in part, be due to dosing (pressure) of LIFU. Inhibition of the PI with LIFU may be a future potential therapy in chronic pain populations demonstrating central sensitization. The minimal effective dose of LIFU for efficacious neuromodulation will help to translate LIFU for therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander In
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Andrew Strohman
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
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Dagommer M, Daneshzand M, Nummemnaa A, Guerin B. Robust deep learning estimation of cortical bone porosity from MR T1-weighted images for individualized transcranial focused ultrasound planning. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.18.24310644. [PMID: 39072036 PMCID: PMC11275664 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.18.24310644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Objective Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is an emerging neuromodulation approach that has been demonstrated in animals but is difficult to translate to humans because of acoustic attenuation and scattering in the skull. Optimal dose delivery requires subject-specific skull porosity estimates which has traditionally been done using CT. We propose a deep learning (DL) estimation of skull porosity from T1-weighted MRI images which removes the need for radiation-inducing CT scans. Approach We evaluate the impact of different DL approaches, including network architecture, input size and dimensionality, multichannel inputs, data augmentation, and loss functions. We also propose back-propagation in the mask (BIM), a method whereby only voxels inside the skull mask contribute to training. We evaluate the robustness of the best model to input image noise and MRI acquisition parameters and propagate porosity estimation errors in thousands of beam propagation scenarios. Main results Our best performing model is a cGAN with a ResNet-9 generator with 3D 64×64×64 inputs trained with L1 and L2 losses. The model achieved a mean absolute error of 6.9% in the test set, compared to 9.5% with the pseudo-CT of Izquierdo et al. (38% improvement) and 9.4% with the generic pixel-to-pixel image translation cGAN pix2pix (36% improvement). Acoustic dose distributions in the thalamus were more accurate with our approach than with the pseudo-CT approach of both Burgos et al. and Izquierdo et al, resulting in near-optimal treatment planning and dose estimation at all frequencies compared to CT (reference). Significance Our DL approach porosity estimates with ~7% error, is robust to input image noise and MRI acquisition parameters (sequence, coils, field strength) and yields near-optimal treatment planning and dose estimates for both central (thalamus) and lateral brain targets (amygdala) in the 200-1000 kHz frequency range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Dagommer
- École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (ESPCI), Paris France
| | - Mohammad Daneshzand
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA
| | - Aapo Nummemnaa
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown MA
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Pellow C, Pichardo S, Pike GB. A systematic review of preclinical and clinical transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation and opportunities for functional connectomics. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:734-751. [PMID: 38880207 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound has surged forward as a non-invasive and disruptive tool for neuromodulation with applications in basic neuroscience research and the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive overview and update of preclinical and clinical transcranial low intensity ultrasound for neuromodulation and emphasize the emerging role of functional brain mapping to guide, better understand, and predict responses. METHODS A systematic review was conducted by searching the Web of Science and Scopus databases for studies on transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation, both in humans and animals. RESULTS 187 relevant studies were identified and reviewed, including 116 preclinical and 71 clinical reports with subjects belonging to diverse cohorts. Milestones of ultrasound neuromodulation are described within an overview of the broader landscape. General neural readouts and outcome measures are discussed, potential confounds are noted, and the emerging use of functional magnetic resonance imaging is highlighted. CONCLUSION Ultrasound neuromodulation has emerged as a powerful tool to study and treat a range of conditions and its combination with various neural readouts has significantly advanced this platform. In particular, the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging has yielded exciting inferences into ultrasound neuromodulation and has the potential to advance our understanding of brain function, neuromodulatory mechanisms, and ultimately clinical outcomes. It is anticipated that these preclinical and clinical trials are the first of many; that transcranial low intensity focused ultrasound, particularly in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging, has the potential to enhance treatment for a spectrum of neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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5
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Lord B, Sanguinetti JL, Ruiz L, Miskovic V, Segre J, Young S, Fini ME, Allen JJB. Transcranial focused ultrasound to the posterior cingulate cortex modulates default mode network and subjective experience: an fMRI pilot study. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1392199. [PMID: 38895168 PMCID: PMC11184145 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1392199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is an emerging neuromodulation tool for temporarily altering brain activity and probing network functioning. The effects of TFUS on the default mode network (DMN) are unknown. Objective The study examined the effects of transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) on the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), specifically by targeting the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Additionally, we investigated the subjective effects of TFUS on mood, mindfulness, and self-related processing. Methods The study employed a randomized, single-blind design involving 30 healthy subjects. Participants were randomly assigned to either the active TFUS group or the sham TFUS group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were conducted before and after the TFUS application. To measure subjective effects, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Visual Analog Mood Scale, and the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire were administered at baseline and 30 min after sonication. The Self Scale and an unstructured interview were also administered 30 min after sonication. Results The active TFUS group exhibited significant reductions in functional connectivity along the midline of the DMN, while the sham TFUS group showed no changes. The active TFUS group demonstrated increased state mindfulness, reduced Global Vigor, and temporary alterations in the sense of ego, sense of time, and recollection of memories. The sham TFUS group showed an increase in state mindfulness, too, with no other subjective effects. Conclusions TFUS targeted at the PCC can alter DMN connectivity and cause changes in subjective experience. These findings support the potential of TFUS to serve both as a research tool and as a potential therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Lord
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Joseph L. Sanguinetti
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Sanmai Technologies, PBC, Sunnyvale, CA, United States
| | - Lisannette Ruiz
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Sanmai Technologies, PBC, Sunnyvale, CA, United States
| | | | - Joel Segre
- X, the Moonshot Factory, Mountain View, CA, United States
| | - Shinzen Young
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Maria E. Fini
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - John J. B. Allen
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Xia X, Wang Z, Zeng K, Nankoo JF, Darmani G, Tran S, Ding MYR, Chen R. Effects of the motor cortical theta-burst transcranial-focused ultrasound stimulation on the contralateral motor cortex. J Physiol 2024; 602:2931-2943. [PMID: 38872383 DOI: 10.1113/jp285139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Theta-burst transcranial ultrasound stimulation (tbTUS) increases primary motor cortex (M1) excitability for at least 30 min. However, the remote effects of focal M1 tbTUS on the excitability of other cortical areas are unknown. Here, we examined the effects of left M1 tbTUS on right M1 excitability. An 80 s train of active or sham tbTUS was delivered to the left M1 in 20 healthy subjects. Before and after the tbTUS, we measured: (1) corticospinal excitability using motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes from single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of left and right M1; (2) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) from left to right M1 and from right to left M1 using a dual-site paired-pulse TMS paradigm; and (3) intracortical circuits of the right M1 with short-interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation (ICF) using paired-pulse TMS. Left M1 tbTUS decreased right M1 excitability as shown by decreased MEP amplitudes, increased right M1 ICF and decreased short-interval IHI from left to right hemisphere at interstimulus interval (ISI) of 10 ms but not long-interval IHI at interstimulus interval of 40 ms. The study showed that left M1 tbTUS can change the excitability of remote cortical areas with decreased right M1 excitability and interhemispheric inhibition. The remote effects of tbTUS should be considered when it is used in neuroscience research and as a potential neuromodulation treatment for brain disorders. KEY POINTS: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique for neuromodulation with the advantages of being able to achieve high spatial resolution and target deep brain structures. A repetitive TUS protocol, with an 80 s train of theta burst patterned TUS (tbTUS), has been shown to increase primary motor cortex (M1) excitability, as well as increase alpha and beta movement-related spectral power in distinct brain regions. In this study, we examined on the effects of the motor cortical tbTUS on the excitability of contralateral M1 measured with MEPs elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation. We showed that left M1 tbTUS decreased right M1 excitability and left-to-right M1 interhemispheric inhibition, and increased intracortical facilitation of right M1. These results lead to better understand the effects of tbTUS and can help the development of tbTUS for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Xia
- School of Social Development and Health Management, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Zhen Wang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- School of Sport and Health Science, Xi'an Physical Education University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke Zeng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China
| | | | - Ghazaleh Darmani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tran
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Grippe T, Shamli-Oghli Y, Darmani G, Nankoo JF, Raies N, Sarica C, Arora T, Gunraj C, Ding MYR, Rinchon C, DiLuca DG, Pichardo S, Cardoso F, Lozano AM, Chen R. Plasticity-Induced Effects of Theta Burst Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2024. [PMID: 38787806 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique with high spatial specificity. Previous studies showed that TUS delivered in a theta burst pattern (tbTUS) increased motor cortex (MI) excitability up to 30 minutes due to long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity. Studies using other forms of NIBS suggested that cortical plasticity may be impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate the neurophysiological effects of tbTUS in PD patients off and on dopaminergic medications compared to healthy controls. METHODS We studied 20 moderately affected PD patients in on and off dopaminergic medication states (7 with and 13 without dyskinesia) and 17 age-matched healthy controls in a case-controlled study. tbTUS was applied for 80 seconds to the MI. Motor-evoked potentials (MEP), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) were recorded at baseline, and at 5 minutes (T5), T30, and T60 after tbTUS. Motor Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (mUPDRS) was measured at baseline and T60. RESULTS tbTUS significantly increased MEP amplitude at T30 compared to baseline in controls and in PD patients on but not in PD patients off medications. SICI was reduced in PD off medications compared to controls. tbTUS did not change in SICI or SICF. The bradykinesia subscore of mUPDRS was reduced at T60 compared to baseline in PD on but not in the off medication state. The presence of dyskinesia did not affect tbTUS-induced plasticity. CONCLUSIONS tbTUS-induced LTP plasticity is impaired in PD patients off medications and is restored by dopaminergic medications. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talyta Grippe
- Department of Neurology, Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, Toronto, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Can Sarica
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tarun Arora
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Mandy Yi Rong Ding
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cricia Rinchon
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Daniel G DiLuca
- Department of Neurology, Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, Toronto, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Francisco Cardoso
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Andres M Lozano
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Department of Neurology, Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, Toronto, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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8
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Osada T, Konishi S. Noninvasive intervention by transcranial ultrasound stimulation: Modulation of neural circuits and its clinical perspectives. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:273-281. [PMID: 38505983 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Low-intensity focused transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging noninvasive technique capable of stimulating both the cerebral cortex and deep brain structures with high spatial precision. This method is recognized for its potential to comprehensively perturb various brain regions, enabling the modulation of neural circuits, in a manner not achievable through conventional magnetic or electrical brain stimulation techniques. The underlying mechanisms of neuromodulation are based on a phenomenon where mechanical waves of ultrasound kinetically interact with neurons, specifically affecting neuronal membranes and mechanosensitive channels. This interaction induces alterations in the excitability of neurons within the stimulated region. In this review, we briefly present the fundamental principles of ultrasound physics and the physiological mechanisms of TUS neuromodulation. We explain the experimental apparatus and procedures for TUS in humans. Due to the focality, the integration of various methods, including magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance-guided neuronavigation systems, is important to perform TUS experiments for precise targeting. We then review the current state of the literature on TUS neuromodulation, with a particular focus on human subjects, targeting both the cerebral cortex and deep subcortical structures. Finally, we outline future perspectives of TUS in clinical applications in psychiatric and neurological fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Osada
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiki Konishi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Sportology Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Advanced Research Institute for Health Science, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Perolina E, Meissner S, Raos B, Harland B, Thakur S, Svirskis D. Translating ultrasound-mediated drug delivery technologies for CNS applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 208:115274. [PMID: 38452815 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasound enhances drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS) by opening barriers between the blood and CNS and by triggering release of drugs from carriers. A key challenge in translating setups from in vitro to in vivo settings is achieving equivalent acoustic energy delivery. Multiple devices have now been demonstrated to focus ultrasound to the brain, with concepts emerging to also target the spinal cord. Clinical trials to date have used ultrasound to facilitate the opening of the blood-brain barrier. While most have focused on feasibility and safety considerations, therapeutic benefits are beginning to emerge. To advance translation of these technologies for CNS applications, researchers should standardise exposure protocol and fine-tune ultrasound parameters. Computational modelling should be increasingly used as a core component to develop both in vitro and in vivo setups for delivering accurate and reproducible ultrasound to the CNS. This field holds promise for transformative advancements in the management and pharmacological treatment of complex and challenging CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ederlyn Perolina
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Svenja Meissner
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Brad Raos
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Bruce Harland
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Sachin Thakur
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Darren Svirskis
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
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10
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Seo H, Han M, Choi JR, Kim S, Park J, Lee EH. Numerical Investigation of Layered Homogeneous Skull Model for Simulations of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound. Neuromodulation 2024:S1094-7159(24)00072-2. [PMID: 38691075 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The influence of the intracranial pressure field must be discussed with the development of a single-element transducer for low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound because the skull plays a significant role in blocking and dispersing ultrasound wave propagation. Ultrasound propagation is mainly affected by the structure and acoustic properties of the skull; thus, we aimed to investigate the impact of simplifying the acoustic properties of the skull on the simulation of the transcranial pressure field to present guidance for efficient skull modeling in full-wave simulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS We constructed a three-dimensional computational model for ultrasound transmission with the same structure but varying acoustic properties of the skull. The structural information and heterogeneous acoustic properties of the skull were acquired from computed tomography images, and we segmented the skull into three layers (3 L), including spongy and compact bones. We then assigned homogeneous acoustic properties to a single layer (1 L) or 3 L of the skull. In addition, we investigated the influence of different types of transducers and different ultrasound frequencies (1.1 MHz, 0.5 MHz, and 0.25 MHz) on the intracranial pressure field to provide a comparison of the heterogenous and homogeneous models. RESULTS We indicated the importance of numerical simulations in estimating the intracranial pressure field of the skull owing to beam distortions. When we simplified the skull model, both the 1 L and 3 L models showed contours of the acoustic focus comparable to those of the heterogeneous model. When we evaluated the peak pressure and volume of the acoustic focus, the 1 L model produced a better estimation of peak pressure with a difference <10%, and the 3 L model is suitable to obtain smaller errors in the volume of the acoustic focus. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we examined the possibility of simplification of skull models using 1 L and 3 L homogeneous properties in the numerical simulation for focused ultrasound. The results show that the layered homogeneous model can provide characteristics comparable to those of the acoustic focus in heterogeneous models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Seo
- Department of AI Convergence Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea; Department of Computer Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Mun Han
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Jong-Ryul Choi
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Seungmin Kim
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub), Daegu, Korea
| | - Juyoung Park
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub), Daegu, Korea; Department of High-Tech Medical Device, College of Future Industry, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Eun-Hee Lee
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (K-MEDI hub), Daegu, Korea.
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11
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Strohman A, Isaac G, Payne B, Verdonk C, Khalsa SS, Legon W. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the human insular cortex differentially modulates the heartbeat-evoked potential: a proof-of-concept study. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.584152. [PMID: 38559271 PMCID: PMC10979877 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.584152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background The heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) is a brain response time-locked to the heartbeat and a potential marker of interoceptive processing. The insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) are brain regions that may be involved in generating the HEP. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that can selectively target sub-regions of the insula and dACC to better understand their contributions to the HEP. Objective Proof-of-concept study to determine whether LIFU modulation of the anterior insula (AI), posterior insula (PI), and dACC influences the HEP. Methods In a within-subject, repeated-measures design, healthy human participants (n=16) received 10 minutes of stereotaxically targeted LIFU to the AI, PI, dACC or Sham at rest during continuous electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) recording on separate days. Primary outcome was change in HEP amplitudes. Relationships between LIFU pressure and HEP changes were examined using linear mixed modelling. Peripheral indices of visceromotor output including heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were explored between conditions. Results Relative to sham, LIFU to the PI, but not AI or dACC, decreased HEP amplitudes; this was partially explained by increased LIFU pressure. LIFU did not affect time or frequency dependent measures of HRV. Conclusions These results demonstrate the ability to modulate HEP amplitudes via non-invasive targeting of key interoceptive brain regions. Our findings have implications for the causal role of these areas in bottom-up heart-brain communication that could guide future work investigating the HEP as a marker of interoceptive processing in healthy and clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Strohman
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Gabriel Isaac
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Charles Verdonk
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- VIFASOM (EA 7330 Vigilance Fatigue, Sommeil et Santé Publique), Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Sahib S. Khalsa
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Oxley College of Health Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24016, USA
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
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12
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Chen X, You J, Ma H, Zhou M, Huang C. Transcranial pulse stimulation in Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14372. [PMID: 37469252 PMCID: PMC10848065 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) is a novel noninvasive ultrasonic brain stimulation that can increase cortical and corticospinal excitability, induce neuroplasticity, and increase functional connectivity within the brain. Several trials have confirmed its potential in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and safety of TPS on AD. DESIGN A systematic review. METHODS PubMed, Embase via Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP (China Science and Technology Journal Database), and WanFang were searched from inception to April 1, 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and quality evaluation of the studies were conducted by two reviewers independently, with any controversy resolved by consensus. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS Five studies were included in this review, with a total of 99 patients with AD. For cognitive performance, TPS significantly improved the scores of the CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) test battery, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (cognitive), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Mini-Mental Status Examination. For depressive symptoms, TPS significantly reduced the scores of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (affective), Geriatric Depression Score, and Beck Depression Inventory. By functional magnetic resonance imaging, studies have shown that TPS improved cognitive performance in AD patients by increasing functional connectivity in the hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, precuneus, and parietal cortex, and activating cortical activity in the bilateral hippocampus. TPS alleviated depressive symptoms in AD patients by decreasing functional connectivity between the ventromedial network (left frontal orbital cortex) and the salience network (right anterior insula). Adverse events in this review, including headache, worsening mood, jaw pain, nausea, and drowsiness, were reversible and lasted no longer than 1 day. No serious adverse events or complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS TPS is promising in improving cognitive performance and reducing depressive symptoms in patients with AD. TPS may be a safe adjunct therapy in the treatment of AD. However, these findings lacked a sham control and were limited by the small sample size of the included studies. Further research may be needed to better explore the potential of TPS. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Patients and the public were not involved in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- School of Rehabilitation SciencesWest China School of MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jiuhong You
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- School of Rehabilitation SciencesWest China School of MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Hui Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- School of Rehabilitation SciencesWest China School of MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Mei Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- School of Rehabilitation SciencesWest China School of MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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13
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Kim C, Eames M, Paeng DG. Improving Sonication Efficiency in Transcranial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Treatment: A Patient-Data Simulation Study. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 11:27. [PMID: 38247904 PMCID: PMC10813010 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential improvement in sonication efficiency achieved by tilting the focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer of the transcranial MR-guided FUS system is presented. A total of 56 cases of patient treatment data were used. The relative position of the clinical FUS transducer to the patient's head was reconstructed, and region-specific skull density and porosity were calculated based on the patient's CT volume image. The total transmission coefficient of acoustic waves emitted from each channel was calculated. Then, the total energy penetrating the human skull-which represents the sonication efficiency-was estimated. As a result, improved sonication efficiency was by titling the FUS transducer to a more appropriate angle achieved in all 56 treatment cases. This simulation result suggests the potential improvement in transcranial-focused ultrasound treatment by simply adjusting the transducer angle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsoo Kim
- Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea;
| | - Matthew Eames
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Dong-Guk Paeng
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
- Ocean System Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
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14
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Cornelssen C, Finlinson E, Rolston JD, Wilcox KS. Ultrasonic therapies for seizures and drug-resistant epilepsy. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1301956. [PMID: 38162441 PMCID: PMC10756913 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1301956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic therapy is an increasingly promising approach for the treatment of seizures and drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Therapeutic focused ultrasound (FUS) uses thermal or nonthermal energy to either ablate neural tissue or modulate neural activity through high- or low-intensity FUS (HIFU, LIFU), respectively. Both HIFU and LIFU approaches have been investigated for reducing seizure activity in DRE, and additional FUS applications include disrupting the blood-brain barrier in the presence of microbubbles for targeted-drug delivery to the seizure foci. Here, we review the preclinical and clinical studies that have used FUS to treat seizures. Additionally, we review effective FUS parameters and consider limitations and future directions of FUS with respect to the treatment of DRE. While detailed studies to optimize FUS applications are ongoing, FUS has established itself as a potential noninvasive alternative for the treatment of DRE and other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carena Cornelssen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Eli Finlinson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - John D. Rolston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Karen S. Wilcox
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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15
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Park TY, Koh H, Lee W, Park SH, Chang WS, Kim H. Real-Time Acoustic Simulation Framework for tFUS: A Feasibility Study Using Navigation System. Neuroimage 2023; 282:120411. [PMID: 37844771 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), in which acoustic energy is focused on a small region in the brain through the skull, is a non-invasive therapeutic method with high spatial resolution and depth penetration. Image-guided navigation has been widely utilized to visualize the location of acoustic focus in the cranial cavity. However, this system is often inaccurate because of the significant aberrations caused by the skull. Therefore, acoustic simulations using a numerical solver have been widely adopted to compensate for this inaccuracy. Although the simulation can predict the intracranial acoustic pressure field, real-time application during tFUS treatment is almost impossible due to the high computational cost. In this study, we propose a neural network-based real-time acoustic simulation framework and test its feasibility by implementing a simulation-guided navigation (SGN) system. Real-time acoustic simulation is performed using a 3D conditional generative adversarial network (3D-cGAN) model featuring residual blocks and multiple loss functions. This network was trained by the conventional numerical acoustic simulation program (i.e., k-Wave). The SGN system is then implemented by integrating real-time acoustic simulation with a conventional image-guided navigation system. The proposed system can provide simulation results with a frame rate of 5 Hz (i.e., about 0.2 s), including all processing times. In numerical validation (3D-cGAN vs. k-Wave), the average peak intracranial pressure error was 6.8 ± 5.5%, and the average acoustic focus position error was 5.3 ± 7.7 mm. In experimental validation using a skull phantom (3D-cGAN vs. actual measurement), the average peak intracranial pressure error was 4.5%, and the average acoustic focus position error was 6.6 mm. These results demonstrate that the SGN system can predict the intracranial acoustic field according to transducer placement in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Young Park
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Heekyung Koh
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonhye Lee
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - So Hee Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Seok Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 04527, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungmin Kim
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Gao P, Sun Y, Zhang G, Li C, Wang L. A transducer positioning method for transcranial focused ultrasound treatment of brain tumors. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1277906. [PMID: 37904813 PMCID: PMC10613465 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1277906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose As a non-invasive method for brain diseases, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) offers higher spatial precision and regulation depth. Due to the altered path and intensity of sonication penetrating the skull, the focus and intensity in the skull are difficult to determine, making the use of ultrasound therapy for cancer treatment experimental and not widely available. The deficiency can be effectively addressed by numerical simulation methods, which enable the optimization of sonication modulation parameters and the determination of precise transducer positioning. Methods A 3D skull model was established using binarized brain CT images. The selection of the transducer matrix was performed using the radius positioning (RP) method after identifying the intracranial target region. Simulations were performed, encompassing acoustic pressure (AP), acoustic field, and temperature field, in order to provide compelling evidence of the safety of tFUS in sonication-induced thermal effects. Results It was found that the angle of sonication path to the coronal plane obtained at all precision and frequency models did not exceed 10° and 15° to the transverse plane. The results of thermal effects illustrated that the peak temperatures of tFUS were 43.73°C, which did not reach the point of tissue degeneration. Once positioned, tFUS effectively delivers a Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) stimulation that targets tumors with diameters of up to 3.72 mm in a one-off. The original precision model showed an attenuation of 24.47 ± 6.13 mm in length and 2.40 ± 1.42 mm in width for the FWHM of sonication after penetrating the skull. Conclusion The vector angles of the sonication path in each direction were determined based on the transducer positioning results. It has been suggested that when time is limited for precise transducer positioning, fixing the transducer on the horizontal surface of the target region can also yield positive results for stimulation. This framework used a new transducer localization method to offer a reliable basis for further research and offered new methods for the use of tFUS in brain tumor-related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghao Gao
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yue Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Gongsen Zhang
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunsheng Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
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17
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Sigona MK, Manuel TJ, Anthony Phipps M, Boroujeni KB, Treuting RL, Womelsdorf T, Caskey CF. Generating Patient-Specific Acoustic Simulations for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Procedures Based on Optical Tracking Information. IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2023; 3:146-156. [PMID: 38222464 PMCID: PMC10785958 DOI: 10.1109/ojuffc.2023.3318560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Optical tracking is a real-time transducer positioning method for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) procedures, but the predicted focus from optical tracking typically does not incorporate subject-specific skull information. Acoustic simulations can estimate the pressure field when propagating through the cranium but rely on accurately replicating the positioning of the transducer and skull in a simulated space. Here, we develop and characterize the accuracy of a workflow that creates simulation grids based on optical tracking information in a neuronavigated phantom with and without transmission through an ex vivo skull cap. The software pipeline could replicate the geometry of the tFUS procedure within the limits of the optical tracking system (transcranial target registration error (TRE): 3.9 ± 0.7 mm). The simulated focus and the free-field focus predicted by optical tracking had low Euclidean distance errors of 0.5±0.1 and 1.2±0.4 mm for phantom and skull cap, respectively, and some skull-specific effects were captured by the simulation. However, the TRE of simulation informed by optical tracking was 4.6±0.2, which is as large or greater than the focal spot size used by many tFUS systems. By updating the position of the transducer using the original TRE offset, we reduced the simulated TRE to 1.1 ± 0.4 mm. Our study describes a software pipeline for treatment planning, evaluates its accuracy, and demonstrates an approach using MR-acoustic radiation force imaging as a method to improve dosimetry. Overall, our software pipeline helps estimate acoustic exposure, and our study highlights the need for image feedback to increase the accuracy of tFUS dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K Sigona
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Thomas J Manuel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - M Anthony Phipps
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | | | - Robert Louie Treuting
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Thilo Womelsdorf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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18
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Yaakub SN, White TA, Roberts J, Martin E, Verhagen L, Stagg CJ, Hall S, Fouragnan EF. Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated neurochemical and functional connectivity changes in deep cortical regions in humans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5318. [PMID: 37658076 PMCID: PMC10474159 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40998-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive technique for focally modulating human brain function. The mechanisms and neurochemical substrates underlying TUS neuromodulation in humans and how these relate to excitation and inhibition are still poorly understood. In 24 healthy controls, we separately stimulated two deep cortical regions and investigated the effects of theta-burst TUS, a protocol shown to increase corticospinal excitability, on the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and functional connectivity. We show that theta-burst TUS in humans selectively reduces GABA levels in the posterior cingulate, but not the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Functional connectivity increased following TUS in both regions. Our findings suggest that TUS changes overall excitability by reducing GABAergic inhibition and that changes in TUS-mediated neuroplasticity last at least 50 mins after stimulation. The difference in TUS effects on the posterior and anterior cingulate could suggest state- or location-dependency of the TUS effect-both mechanisms increasingly recognized to influence the brain's response to neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti N Yaakub
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Tristan A White
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jamie Roberts
- Department of Clinical Measurement and Innovation, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
| | - Eleanor Martin
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen Hall
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Elsa F Fouragnan
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
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19
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Hosseini S, Puonti O, Treeby B, Hanson LG, Thielscher A. A head template for computational dose modelling for transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation. Neuroimage 2023; 277:120227. [PMID: 37321357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) at low intensities is emerging as a novel non-invasive brain stimulation method with higher spatial resolution than established transcranial stimulation methods and the ability to selectively stimulate also deep brain areas. Accurate control of the focus position and strength of the TUS acoustic waves is important to enable a beneficial use of the high spatial resolution and to ensure safety. As the human skull causes strong attenuation and distortion of the waves, simulations of the transmitted waves are needed to accurately determine the TUS dose distribution inside the cranial cavity. The simulations require information of the skull morphology and its acoustic properties. Ideally, they are informed by computed tomography (CT) images of the individual head. However, suited individual imaging data is often not readily available. For this reason, we here introduce and validate a head template that can be used to estimate the average effects of the skull on the TUS acoustic wave in the population. The template was created from CT images of the heads of 29 individuals of different ages (between 20-50 years), gender and ethnicity using an iterative non-linear co-registration procedure. For validation, we compared acoustic and thermal simulations based on the template to the average of the simulation results of all 29 individual datasets. Acoustic simulations were performed for a model of a focused transducer driven at 500 kHz, placed at 24 standardized positions by means of the EEG 10-10 system. Additional simulations at 250 kHz and 750 kHz at 16 of the positions were used for further confirmation. The amount of ultrasound-induced heating at 500 kHz was estimated for the same 16 transducer positions. Our results show that the template represents the median of the acoustic pressure and temperature maps from the individuals reasonably well in most cases. This underpins the usefulness of the template for the planning and optimization of TUS interventions in studies of healthy young adults. Our results further indicate that the amount of variability between the individual simulation results depends on the position. Specifically, the simulated ultrasound-induced heating inside the skull exhibited strong interindividual variability for three posterior positions close to the midline, caused by a high variability of the local skull shape and composition. This should be taken into account when interpreting simulation results based on the template.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedsina Hosseini
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Oula Puonti
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Bradley Treeby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, GowerStreet, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Lars G Hanson
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Axel Thielscher
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Denmark.
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20
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Shamli Oghli Y, Grippe T, Arora T, Hoque T, Darmani G, Chen R. Mechanisms of theta burst transcranial ultrasound induced plasticity in the human motor cortex. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1135-1143. [PMID: 37524296 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique with high depth penetrance and spatial resolution. Theta-burst TUS (tbTUS) is a plasticity-inducing protocol which increases motor cortical excitability for up to 30 min following 80s of sonication. While this protocol may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, the mechanisms of action of TUS remain unclear. OBJECTIVE We conducted the first pharmacological study to examine the mechanisms of TUS in human primary motor cortex. By administering brain-active drugs with known mechanisms of action, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of tbTUS. METHODS Fourteen healthy subjects participated in a within-subjects randomized, double-blind, cross-over study with five visits. At each visit, one of four study drugs (carbamazepine - Na+ channel blocker, nimodipine - L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, lorazepam - positive allosteric modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor, dextromethorphan - N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist) or placebo was administered in random order, followed by tbTUS. RESULTS The plasticity effects of tbTUS on motor cortex excitability measured by motor-evoked potential amplitudes elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation were reduced by all study drugs compared to placebo. CONCLUSION tbTUS may induce NMDA-dependent synaptic plasticity since the effects are blocked by increased GABAA receptor activities and voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ channels blockers. These results are consistent with the hypotheses that tbTUS induced long-term potentiation-like mechanisms and that TUS involves activation of mechanosensitive Na+ and Ca2+ channels. Alternatively, non-specific pharmacologically induced changes in excitatory/inhibitory balance might have interfered with the effects of tbTUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazan Shamli Oghli
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Talyta Grippe
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tarun Arora
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Section for Clinical Neurophysiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tasnuva Hoque
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ghazaleh Darmani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
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Brinker ST, Yoon K, Benveniste H. Global sonication of the human intracranial space via a jumbo planar transducer. ULTRASONICS 2023; 134:107062. [PMID: 37343366 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.107062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Contrary to conditioning a Focused Ultrasound (FUS) beam to sonicate a localized region of the human brain, the goal of this investigation was to explore the prospect of distributing homogeneous ultrasound energy over the entire brain space with a large cranium-wide ultrasound beam. Recent ultrasound preclincal studies utilizing large or whole brain stimulation regions create a demand for expanding the treatment envelope of transcranial pulsed-low intensity ultrasound towards Global Brain Sonication (GBS) for potential human investigation. Here, we conduct ultrasound field characterizations when transmitting pulsed ultrasound through human skull specimens using a 1-3 piezocomposite planar transducer operating at 464 kHz with an active single-element surface of 30 × 30 cm. Through computational simulation and hydrophone scanning methodology, ultrasound wave behavior and dose homogeneity in the brain space were evaluated under various trajectories of sonication using the planar transducer. Clinically relevant pulse parameters used for transcranial therapeutic ultrasound applications were used in the experiments. Simulations and empirical testing revealed that dose homogeneity and acoustic intensity over the brain space are influenced by sonication trajectory, skull lens effects, and acoustic wave reflections. The transducer can emit a spatial peak pulse average intensity of 4.03 W/cm2 (0.24 MPa) measured in the free-field at 464 kHz with electrical power of 1 kW. The simulation showed that approximately 99 % of the cranial volume was exposed with <30 % of the maximum external acoustic intensity being transmitted into the skull. The transmission loss across all sonication trajectories is similar to previously reported FUS studies. A marker for GBS dose homogeneity is introduced to score the ultrasound pressure field uniformity in the intracranial space. Results of this study identify the initial challenges of exposing the entire human brain space with ultrasound using a large cranium-wide sonication beam intended for global brain therapeutic modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer T Brinker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Kyungho Yoon
- School of Mathematics and Computing (Computational Science and Engineering), Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Helene Benveniste
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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22
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Orita Y, Shimanuki S, Okada S, Nakamura K, Nakamura H, Kitamoto Y, Shimoyama Y, Kurashina Y. Acoustic-responsive carbon dioxide-loaded liposomes for efficient drug release. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 94:106326. [PMID: 36796146 PMCID: PMC9958408 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The role of liposomes as drug carriers has been investigated. Ultrasound-based drug release methods have been developed for on-demand drug delivery. However, the acoustic responses of current liposome carriers result in low drug release efficiency. In this study, CO2-loaded liposomes were synthesized under high pressure from supercritical CO2 and irradiated with ultrasound at 237 kHz to demonstrate their superior acoustic responsiveness. When liposomes containing fluorescent drug models were irradiated with ultrasound under acoustic pressure conditions that are safe for the human body, CO2-loaded liposomes synthesized using supercritical CO2 had 17.1 times higher release efficiency than liposomes synthesized using the conventional Bangham method. In particular, the release efficiency of CO2-loaded liposomes synthesized using supercritical CO2 and monoethanolamine was 19.8 times higher than liposomes synthesized using the conventional Bangham method. These findings on the release efficiency of acoustic-responsive liposomes suggest an alternative liposome synthesis strategy for on-demand release of drugs by ultrasound irradiation in future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Orita
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Susumu Shimanuki
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Satoshi Okada
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori- Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Kentaro Nakamura
- Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori- Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakamura
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori- Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Kitamoto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yusuke Shimoyama
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Yuta Kurashina
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan; Division of Advanced Mechanical Systems Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei-Shi, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
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23
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Mazzotti M, Kohtanen E, Erturk A, Ruzzene M. Optimizing transcranial ultrasound delivery at large incident angles by leveraging cranial leaky guided wave dispersion. ULTRASONICS 2023; 128:106882. [PMID: 36402116 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the role of leaky guided waves in transcranial ultrasound transmission in temporal and parietal bones at large incidence angles. Our numerical and experimental results show that the dispersion characteristics of the fundamental leaky guided wave mode with longitudinal polarization can be leveraged to estimate the critical angle above which efficient shear mode conversion takes place, and below which major transmission drops can be expected. Simulations that employ a numerical propagator matrix and a Semi-Analytical approach establish the transcranial dispersion characteristics and transmission coefficients at different incident angles. Experimental transmission tests conducted at 500 kHz and radiation tests performed in the 200-800 kHz range confirm the numerical findings in terms of transmitted peak pressure and frequency-radiation angle spectra, based on which the connection between critical angles, dispersion and transmission is demonstrated. Our results support the identification of transcranial ultrasound strategies that leverage shear mode conversion, which is less sensitive to phase aberrations compared to normal incidence ultrasound. These findings can also enable higher transmission rates in cranial bones with low porosity by leveraging dispersion information extracted through signal processing, without requiring measurement of geometric and mechanical properties of the cranial bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mazzotti
- P.M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, USA.
| | - Eetu Kohtanen
- G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
| | - Alper Erturk
- G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
| | - Massimo Ruzzene
- P.M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, USA
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Weak Ultrasound Contributes to Neuromodulatory Effects in the Rat Motor Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032578. [PMID: 36768901 PMCID: PMC9917173 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a novel neuromodulating technique. It has been demonstrated that the neuromodulatory effects can be induced by weak ultrasound exposure levels (spatial-peak temporal average intensity, ISPTA < 10 mW/cm2) in vitro. However, fewer studies have examined the use of weak tFUS to potentially induce long-lasting neuromodulatory responses in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine the lower-bound threshold of tFUS stimulation for inducing neuromodulation in the motor cortex of rats. A total of 94 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The sonication region aimed at the motor cortex under weak tFUS exposure (ISPTA of 0.338-12.15 mW/cm2). The neuromodulatory effects of tFUS on the motor cortex were evaluated by the changes in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In addition to histology analysis, the in vitro cell culture was used to confirm the neuromodulatory mechanisms following tFUS stimulation. In the results, the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of tFUS were found, showing increased intensities of tFUS suppressed MEPs and lasted for 30 min. Weak tFUS significantly decreased the expression of excitatory neurons and increased the expression of inhibitory GABAergic neurons. The PIEZO-1 proteins of GABAergic neurons were found to involve in the inhibitory neuromodulation. In conclusion, we show the use of weak ultrasound to induce long-lasting neuromodulatory effects and explore the potential use of weak ultrasound for future clinical neuromodulatory applications.
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Chen M, Peng C, Wu H, Huang CC, Kim T, Traylor Z, Muller M, Chhatbar PY, Nam CS, Feng W, Jiang X. Numerical and experimental evaluation of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound wave propagation using human skulls for brain neuromodulation. Med Phys 2023; 50:38-49. [PMID: 36342303 PMCID: PMC10099743 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has gained considerable attention as a promising noninvasive neuromodulatory technique for human brains. However, the complex morphology of the skull hinders scholars from precisely predicting the acoustic energy transmitted and the region of the brain impacted during the sonication. This is due to the fact that different ultrasound frequencies and skull morphology variations greatly affect wave propagation through the skull. PURPOSE Although the acoustic properties of human skull have been studied for tFUS applications, such as tumor ablation using a multielement phased array, there is no consensus about how to choose a single-element focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer with a suitable frequency for neuromodulation. There are interests in exploring the magnitude and dimension of tFUS beam through human parietal bone for modulating specific brain lobes. Herein, we aim to investigate the wave propagation of tFUS on human skulls to understand and address the concerns above. METHODS Both experimental measurements and numerical modeling were conducted to investigate the transmission efficiency and beam pattern of tFUS on five human skulls (C3 and C4 regions) using single-element FUS transducers with six different frequencies (150-1500 kHz). The degassed skull was placed in a water tank, and a calibrated hydrophone was utilized to measure acoustic pressure past it. The cranial computed tomography scan data of each skull were obtained to derive a high-resolution acoustic model (grid point spacing: 0.25 mm) in simulations. Meanwhile, we modified the power-law exponent of acoustic attenuation coefficient to validate numerical modeling and enabled it to be served as a prediction tool, based on the experimental measurements. RESULTS The transmission efficiency and -6 dB beamwidth were evaluated and compared for various frequencies. An exponential decrease in transmission efficiency and a logarithmic decrease of -6 dB beamwidth with an increase in ultrasound frequency were observed. It is found that a >750 kHz ultrasound leads to a relatively lower tFUS transmission efficiency (<5%), whereas a <350 kHz ultrasound contributes to a relatively broader beamwidth (>5 mm). Based on these observations, we further analyzed the dependence of tFUS wave propagation on FUS transducer aperture size. CONCLUSIONS We successfully studied tFUS wave propagation through human skulls at different frequencies experimentally and numerically. The findings have important implications to predict tFUS wave propagation for ultrasound neuromodulation in clinical applications, and guide researchers to develop advanced ultrasound transducers as neural interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyue Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chang Peng
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.,School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huaiyu Wu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chih-Chung Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Taewon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zachary Traylor
- Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marie Muller
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Pratik Y Chhatbar
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chang S Nam
- Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wuwei Feng
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaoning Jiang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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26
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Scarpelli A, Stefano M, Cordella F, Zollo L. Evaluation of the effects of focused ultrasound stimulation on the central nervous system through a multiscale simulation approach. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1034194. [DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1034194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of sensory feedback represents one of the main drawbacks of commercial upper limb prosthesis. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (tFUS) seems to be a valid non-invasive technique for restoring sensory feedback allowing to deliver acoustic energy to cortical sensory areas with high spatial resolution and depth penetration. This paper aims at studying in simulation the use of tFUS on cortical sensory areas to evaluate its effects in terms of latency ad firing rate of the cells response, for understanding if these parameters influence the safety and the efficacy of the stimulation. In this paper, in order to study the propagation of the ultrasound wave from the transducer to the cortical cells, a multiscale approach was implemented by building a macroscopic model, which estimates the pressure profile in a simplified 2D human head geometry, and coupling it with the SONIC microscale model, that describes the electrical behaviour of a cortical neuron. The influence of the stimulation parameters and of the skull thickness on the latency and the firing rate are evaluated and the obtained behaviour is linked to the sensory response obtained on human subjects. Results have shown that slight changes in the transducer position should not affect the efficacy of the stimulation; however, high skull thickness leads to lower cells activation. These results will be useful for evaluating safety and effectiveness of tFUS for sensory feedback in closed-loop prosthetic systems.
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27
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Park TY, Jeong JH, Chung YA, Yeo SH, Kim H. Application of subject-specific helmets for the study of human visuomotor behavior using transcranial focused ultrasound: a pilot study. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 226:107127. [PMID: 36126434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE As a novel non-invasive human brain stimulation method, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is receiving growing attention due to its superior spatial specificity and depth penetrability. Since the focal point of tFUS needs to be fixated precisely to the target brain region during stimulation, a critical issue is to identify and maintain the accurate position and orientation of the tFUS transducer relative to the subject's head. This study aims to propose the entire framework of tFUS stimulation integrating the methods previously proposed by the authors for tFUS transducer configuration optimization and a subject-specific 3D-printed helmet, and to validate this complete setup in a human behavioral neuromodulation study. METHODS To find the optimal configuration of the tFUS transducer, a numerical method based on subject-specific tFUS beamlines simulation was used. Then, the subject-specific 3D-printed helmet has been applied to effectively secure the transducer at the estimated optimal configuration. To validate this tFUS framework, a common behavioral neuromodulation paradigm was chosen; the effect of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation on anti-saccade (AS) behavior. While human participants (n=2) were performing AS tasks, tFUS stimulations were randomly applied to the left DLPFC right after the fixation target disappeared. RESULTS The neuromodulation result strongly suggests that the cortical stimulation using the proposed tFUS setup is effective in significantly reducing the error rates of anti-saccades (about -10 %p for S1 and -16 %p for S2), whereas no significant effect was observed on their latencies. These observed behavioral effects are consistent with the previous results based on conventional brain stimulation or lesion studies. CONCLUSIONS The proposed subject-specific tFUS framework has been effectively used in human neuromodulation study. The result suggests that the tFUS stimulation targeted to the DLPFC can generate a neuromodulatory effect on AS behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Young Park
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyeok Jeong
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong An Chung
- Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Yeo
- School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
| | - Hyungmin Kim
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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28
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Cain JA, Visagan S, Monti MM. S.M.A.R.T. F.U.S: Surrogate Model of Attenuation and Refraction in Transcranial Focused Ultrasound. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264101. [PMID: 36302034 PMCID: PMC9612531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is an increasingly applied method for achieving non-invasive brain stimulation. However, transmission of ultrasound through the human skull can substantially affect focal point characteristics of LIFU, including dramatic attenuation in intensity and refraction of focal point location. These effects depend on a high-dimensional parameter space, making these effects difficult to estimate from previous work. Instead, focal point properties of LIFU experiments are often estimated using numerical simulation of LIFU sonication through skull. However, this procedure presents many entry barriers to even computationally savvy investigators and often requires expensive computational hardware, impeding LIFU research. We present a novel MATLAB toolbox (data: doi:10.5068/D1QD60; Matlab Scripts: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5811122) for rapidly estimating beam properties of LIFU transmitted through bone. Users provide specific values for frequency of LIFU, bone thickness, angle at which LIFU is applied, depth of the LIFU focal point, and diameter of the transducer used and receive an estimation of the degree of refraction/attenuation expected for the given parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Cain
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Shakthi Visagan
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Martin M. Monti
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Butler CR, Rhodes E, Blackmore J, Cheng X, Peach RL, Veldsman M, Sheerin F, Cleveland RO. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation to human middle temporal complex improves visual motion detection and modulates electrophysiological responses. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1236-1245. [PMID: 36067978 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) holds promise as a novel technology for non-invasive neuromodulation, with greater spatial precision than other available methods and the ability to target deep brain structures. However, its safety and efficacy for behavioural and electrophysiological modulation remains controversial and it is not yet clear whether it can be used to manipulate the neural mechanisms supporting higher cognitive function in humans. Moreover, concerns have been raised about a potential TUS-induced auditory confound. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate whether TUS can be used to modulate higher-order visual function in humans in an anatomically-specific way whilst controlling for auditory confounds. METHODS We used participant-specific skull maps, functional localisation of brain targets, acoustic modelling and neuronavigation to guide TUS delivery to human visual motion processing cortex (hMT+) whilst participants performed a visual motion detection task. We compared the effects of hMT+ stimulation with sham and control site stimulation and examined EEG data for modulation of task-specific event-related potentials. An auditory mask was applied which prevented participants from distinguishing between stimulation and sham trials. RESULTS Compared with sham and control site stimulation, TUS to hMT+ improved accuracy and reduced response times of visual motion detection. TUS also led to modulation of the task-specific event-related EEG potential. The amplitude of this modulation correlated with the performance benefit induced by TUS. No pathological changes were observed comparing structural MRI obtained before and after stimulation. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate for the first time the precision, efficacy and safety of TUS for stimulation of higher-order cortex and cognitive function in humans whilst controlling for auditory confounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Butler
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK; Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Edward Rhodes
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | - Xinghao Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Robert L Peach
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK; Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Fintan Sheerin
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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Huang Y, Wen P, Song B, Li Y. Numerical investigation of the energy distribution of Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation for hippocampus. ULTRASONICS 2022; 124:106724. [PMID: 35299039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasonic neuromodulation as a safe and non-invasive brain stimulation method that delivers a low-intensity, focused ultrasound to nervous system tissue in a targeted area of the brain. The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the ultrasound wave propagation and the energy distribution within the brain tissues using customized single element focused ultrasound transducers (SEFT), targeting the hippocampus. METHODS A high resolution detailed human head model with seven tissue types was constructed from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A full-wave finite-difference time-domain simulation platform, Sim4life, was then used to simulate a 3D non-linear ultrasound wave equation to the specific region of interest, the hippocampus. Three customized SEFT were used to test the effect of transducer positions, and another customized transducer was used to compare the sensitivity effect on heterogeneous and homogeneous brain models. Finally, the sensitivity and performance of low intensity focusing ultrasound stimulation were evaluated. RESULTS An optimized application of SEFT was customized to deliver 100 W/m2 intensity of energy deposition at the hippocampus region. About 85.65% of the generated volume beam was delivered to the targeted hippocampus region and the beam overlap parameter was affected by different transducer positions. Deflection angle changes of SEFT at the range of ± 5% did not have a significant effect on energy delivery and position displacement. Only 0.5% of peak pressure change was observed between heterogeneous and homogeneous brain models. The sensitivity analysis also showed that the sound speed is the most influential acoustic parameter. SIGNIFICANCE This study demonstrated that ultrasound neuromodulation targeting the depth brain tissue of the hippocampus could be a potential and promising alternative method to some non-acoustic brain stimulation modalities. In the numerical study of ultrasound brain stimulations, ultrasound parameters and the brain model need to be properly determined to simulate the ultrasonic neuromodulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Huang
- School of Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia.
| | - Peng Wen
- School of Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia
| | - Bo Song
- School of Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia
| | - Yan Li
- School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia
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Aubry JF, Bates O, Boehm C, Butts Pauly K, Christensen D, Cueto C, Gélat P, Guasch L, Jaros J, Jing Y, Jones R, Li N, Marty P, Montanaro H, Neufeld E, Pichardo S, Pinton G, Pulkkinen A, Stanziola A, Thielscher A, Treeby B, van 't Wout E. Benchmark problems for transcranial ultrasound simulation: Intercomparison of compressional wave models. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 152:1003. [PMID: 36050189 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6020543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Computational models of acoustic wave propagation are frequently used in transcranial ultrasound therapy, for example, to calculate the intracranial pressure field or to calculate phase delays to correct for skull distortions. To allow intercomparison between the different modeling tools and techniques used by the community, an international working group was convened to formulate a set of numerical benchmarks. Here, these benchmarks are presented, along with intercomparison results. Nine different benchmarks of increasing geometric complexity are defined. These include a single-layer planar bone immersed in water, a multi-layer bone, and a whole skull. Two transducer configurations are considered (a focused bowl and a plane piston operating at 500 kHz), giving a total of 18 permutations of the benchmarks. Eleven different modeling tools are used to compute the benchmark results. The models span a wide range of numerical techniques, including the finite-difference time-domain method, angular spectrum method, pseudospectral method, boundary-element method, and spectral-element method. Good agreement is found between the models, particularly for the position, size, and magnitude of the acoustic focus within the skull. When comparing results for each model with every other model in a cross-comparison, the median values for each benchmark for the difference in focal pressure and position are less than 10% and 1 mm, respectively. The benchmark definitions, model results, and intercomparison codes are freely available to facilitate further comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Aubry
- Physics for Medicine Paris, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1273, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences and Lettres University, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) UMR 8063, Paris, France
| | - Oscar Bates
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Boehm
- Institute of Geophysics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Douglas Christensen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Carlos Cueto
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Gélat
- Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Lluis Guasch
- Earth Science and Engineering Department, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jiri Jaros
- Centre of Excellence IT4Innovations, Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology, Bozetechova 2, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic
| | - Yun Jing
- Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Rebecca Jones
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Ningrui Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Patrick Marty
- Institute of Geophysics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hazael Montanaro
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esra Neufeld
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences Departments, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gianmarco Pinton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Aki Pulkkinen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antonio Stanziola
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bradley Treeby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Elwin van 't Wout
- Institute for Mathematical and Computational Engineering, School of Engineering and Faculty of Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Aubry JF, Bates O, Boehm C, Butts Pauly K, Christensen D, Cueto C, Gélat P, Guasch L, Jaros J, Jing Y, Jones R, Li N, Marty P, Montanaro H, Neufeld E, Pichardo S, Pinton G, Pulkkinen A, Stanziola A, Thielscher A, Treeby B, van 't Wout E. Benchmark problems for transcranial ultrasound simulation: Intercomparison of compressional wave models. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 152:1003. [PMID: 36050189 PMCID: PMC9553291 DOI: 10.1121/10.0013426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Computational models of acoustic wave propagation are frequently used in transcranial ultrasound therapy, for example, to calculate the intracranial pressure field or to calculate phase delays to correct for skull distortions. To allow intercomparison between the different modeling tools and techniques used by the community, an international working group was convened to formulate a set of numerical benchmarks. Here, these benchmarks are presented, along with intercomparison results. Nine different benchmarks of increasing geometric complexity are defined. These include a single-layer planar bone immersed in water, a multi-layer bone, and a whole skull. Two transducer configurations are considered (a focused bowl and a plane piston operating at 500 kHz), giving a total of 18 permutations of the benchmarks. Eleven different modeling tools are used to compute the benchmark results. The models span a wide range of numerical techniques, including the finite-difference time-domain method, angular spectrum method, pseudospectral method, boundary-element method, and spectral-element method. Good agreement is found between the models, particularly for the position, size, and magnitude of the acoustic focus within the skull. When comparing results for each model with every other model in a cross-comparison, the median values for each benchmark for the difference in focal pressure and position are less than 10% and 1 mm, respectively. The benchmark definitions, model results, and intercomparison codes are freely available to facilitate further comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Aubry
- Physics for Medicine Paris, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1273, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences and Lettres University, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) UMR 8063, Paris, France
| | - Oscar Bates
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Boehm
- Institute of Geophysics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Douglas Christensen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Carlos Cueto
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Gélat
- Department of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Lluis Guasch
- Earth Science and Engineering Department, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jiri Jaros
- Centre of Excellence IT4Innovations, Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology, Bozetechova 2, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic
| | - Yun Jing
- Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Rebecca Jones
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Ningrui Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Patrick Marty
- Institute of Geophysics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hazael Montanaro
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esra Neufeld
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences Departments, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gianmarco Pinton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Aki Pulkkinen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antonio Stanziola
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bradley Treeby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Elwin van 't Wout
- Institute for Mathematical and Computational Engineering, School of Engineering and Faculty of Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Chen H, Felix C, Folloni D, Verhagen L, Sallet J, Jerusalem A. Modelling transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation: an energy-based multiscale framework. Acta Biomater 2022; 151:317-332. [PMID: 35902037 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Several animal and human studies have now established the potential of low intensity, low frequency transcranial ultrasound (TUS) for non-invasive neuromodulation. Paradoxically, the underlying mechanisms through which TUS neuromodulation operates are still unclear, and a consensus on the identification of optimal sonication parameters still remains elusive. One emerging hypothesis based on thermodynamical considerations attributes the acoustic-induced nerve activity alterations to the mechanical energy and/or entropy conversions occurring during TUS action. Here, we propose a multiscale modelling framework to examine the energy states of neuromodulation under TUS. First, macroscopic tissue-level acoustic simulations of the sonication of a whole monkey brain are conducted under different sonication protocols. For each one of them, mechanical loading conditions of the received waves in the anterior cingulate cortex region are recorded and exported into a microscopic cell-level 3D viscoelastic finite element model of neuronal axon embedded extracellular medium. Pulse-averaged elastically stored and viscously dissipated energy rate densities during axon deformation are finally computed under different sonication incident angles and are mapped against distinct combinations of sonication parameters of the TUS. The proposed multiscale framework allows for the analysis of vibrational patterns of the axons and its comparison against the spectrograms of stimulating ultrasound. The results are in agreement with literature data on neuromodulation, demonstrating the potential of this framework to identify optimised acoustic parameters in TUS neuromodulation. The proposed approach is finally discussed in the context of multiphysics energetic considerations, argued here to be a promising avenue towards a scalable framework for TUS in silico predictions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound (TUS) is poised to become a leading neuromodulation technique for the treatment of neurological disorders. Paradoxically, how it operates at the cellular scale remains unknown, hampering progress in personalised treatment. To this end, models of the multiphysics of neurons able to upscale results to the organ scale are required. We propose here to achieve this by considering an axon submitted to an ultrasound wave extracted from a simulation at the organ scale. Doing so, information pertaining to both stored and dissipated axonal energies can be extracted for a given head/brain morphology. This two-scale multiphysics energetic approach is a promising scalable framework for in silico predictions in the context of personalised TUS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Chen
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ciara Felix
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Davide Folloni
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jérôme Sallet
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Université Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Antoine Jerusalem
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Slezak C, Flatscher J, Slezak P. A Comparative Feasibility Study for Transcranial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061457. [PMID: 35740477 PMCID: PMC9219950 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential beneficial regenerative and stimulatory extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) applications to the central nervous system have garnered interest in recent years. Treatment zones for these indications are acoustically shielded by bones, which heavily impact generated sound fields. We present the results of high-resolution tissue-realistic simulations, comparing the viability of different ESWT applicators in their use for transcranial applications. The performances of electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, and piezoelectric transducers for key reflector geometries are compared. Based on density information obtained from CT imaging of the head, we utilized the non-linear wave propagation toolset Matlab k-Wave to obtain spatial therapeutic sound field geometries and waveforms. In order to understand the reliability of results on the appropriate modeling of the skull, three different bone attenuation models were compared. We find that all currently clinically ESWT applicator technologies show significant retention of peak pressures and energies past the bone barrier. Electromagnetic transducers maintain a significantly higher energy flux density compared to other technologies while low focusing strength piezoelectric applicators have the weakest transmissions. Attenuation estimates provide insights into sound field degradation and energy losses, indicating that effective transcranial therapies can readily be attained with current applicators. Furthermore, the presented approach will allow for future targeted in silico development and the design of applicators and therapy plans to ultimately improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrill Slezak
- Department of Physics, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA;
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, AUVA Research Center, 1200 Vienna, Austria;
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonas Flatscher
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, AUVA Research Center, 1200 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Paul Slezak
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, AUVA Research Center, 1200 Vienna, Austria;
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
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Brinker ST, Balchandani P, Seifert AC, Kim HJ, Yoon K. Feasibility of Upper Cranial Nerve Sonication in Human Application via Neuronavigated Single-Element Pulsed Focused Ultrasound. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2022; 48:1045-1057. [PMID: 35341621 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sonicating deep brain regions with pulsed focused ultrasound using magnetic resonance imaging-guided neuronavigation single-element piezoelectric transducers is a new area of exploration for neuromodulation. Upper cranial nerves such as the trigeminal nerve and other nerves responsible for sensory/motor functions in the head may be potential targets for ultrasound pain therapy. The location of upper cranial nerves close to the skull base poses additional challenges when compared with conventional cortical or middle brain targets. In the work described here, a series of computational and empirical testing methods using human skull specimens were conducted to assess the feasibility of sonicating the trigeminal pathway near the sphenoid bone region. The results indicate a transducer with a focal length of 120 mm and diameter of 85 mm (350 kHz) can deliver sonication to upper cranial nerve regions with spatial accuracy comparable to that of focused ultrasound brain targets used in previous human studies. Temperature measurements in cortical bone and in the skull base with embedded thermocouples yield evidence of minimal bone heating. Conventional pulse parameters were found to cause reverberation interference patterns near the cranial floor; therefore, changes in pulse cycles and pulse repetition frequency were examined for reducing standing waves. Limitations and considerations for conducting ultradeep focal targeting in human applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer T Brinker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Priti Balchandani
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Departments of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alan C Seifert
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hyo-Jin Kim
- Center for Healthcare Robotics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyungho Yoon
- School of Mathematics and Computing (Computational Science and Engineering), Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
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36
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Park TY, Kim HJ, Park SH, Chang WS, Kim H, Yoon K. Differential evolution method to find optimal location of a single-element transducer for transcranial focused ultrasound therapy. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 219:106777. [PMID: 35397411 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been receiving growing attention as a noninvasive brain stimulation tool because of its superior spatial specificity and depth penetrability. However, the large mismatch of acoustic properties between the skull and water can disrupt and shift the acoustic focus in the brain. In this paper, we present a numerical method to find the optimal location of a single-element FUS transducer, which creates focus on the target region. METHODS The score function, representing the superposition of acoustic waves according to the relative phase difference and transmissibility, was defined based on time-reversal invariance of acoustic waves and depending on the spatial location of the transducer. The optimal location of the transducer was then determined using a differential evolution algorithm. To assess the proposed method, we conducted a forward simulation and compared the resulting focal location to the desired target point. We also performed experimental validation by measuring the acoustic pressure field through an ex vivo human skull in a water tank. RESULTS The numerical results indicated that the score function had a positive proportional relationship with the acoustic pressure at the target. Moreover, for the optimized transducer location, both the numerical and experimental results showed that the normalized acoustic pressure at the target was higher than 0.9. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we developed an optimization method to place a single-element transducer that effectively transmits acoustic energy to the targeted region in the brain. Our numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can provide an optimal transducer location for safe and efficient FUS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Young Park
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo-Jin Kim
- Center for Healthcare Robotics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - So Hui Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 04527, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Seok Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 04527, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungmin Kim
- Bionics Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyungho Yoon
- School of Mathematics and Computing (Computational Science and Engineering), Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Mechanistic insights into ultrasonic neurostimulation of disconnected neurons using single short pulses. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:769-779. [PMID: 35561960 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic neurostimulation is a potentially potent noninvasive therapy, whose mechanism has yet to be elucidated. We designed a system capable of applying ultrasound with minimal reflections to neuronal cultures. Synaptic transmission was pharmacologically controlled, eliminating network effects, enabling examination of single-cell processes. Short single pulses of low-intensity ultrasound were applied, and time-locked responses were examined using calcium imaging. Low-pressure (0.35MPa) ultrasound directly stimulated ∼20% of pharmacologically disconnected neurons, regardless of membrane poration. Stimulation was resistant to the blockade of several purinergic receptor and mechanosensitive ion channel types. Stimulation was blocked, however, by suppression of action potentials. Surprisingly, even extremely short (4μs) pulses were effective, stimulating ∼8% of the neurons. Lower-pressure pulses (0.35MPa) were less effective than higher-pressure ones (0.65MPa). Attrition effects dominated, with no indication of compromised viability. Our results detract from theories implicating cavitation, heating, non-transient membrane pores >1.5nm, pre-synaptic release, or gradual effects. They implicate a post-synaptic mechanism upstream of the action potential, and narrow down the list of possible targets involved.
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Dell'Italia J, Sanguinetti JL, Monti MM, Bystritsky A, Reggente N. Current State of Potential Mechanisms Supporting Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:872639. [PMID: 35547195 PMCID: PMC9081930 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.872639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) has been gaining traction as a non-invasive neuromodulation technology due to its superior spatial specificity relative to transcranial electrical/magnetic stimulation. Despite a growing literature of LIFU-induced behavioral modifications, the mechanisms of action supporting LIFU's parameter-dependent excitatory and suppressive effects are not fully understood. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to the underlying mechanics of both acoustic energy and neuronal membranes, defining the primary variables for a subsequent review of the field's proposed mechanisms supporting LIFU's neuromodulatory effects. An exhaustive review of the empirical literature was also conducted and studies were grouped based on the sonication parameters used and behavioral effects observed, with the goal of linking empirical findings to the proposed theoretical mechanisms and evaluating which model best fits the existing data. A neuronal intramembrane cavitation excitation model, which accounts for differential effects as a function of cell-type, emerged as a possible explanation for the range of excitatory effects found in the literature. The suppressive and other findings need additional theoretical mechanisms and these theoretical mechanisms need to have established relationships to sonication parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Dell'Italia
- Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: John Dell'Italia
| | - Joseph L. Sanguinetti
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Martin M. Monti
- Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Brain Injury Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Bystritsky
- Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
- Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Nicco Reggente
- Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
- Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, Santa Monica, CA, United States
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Darmani G, Bergmann T, Butts Pauly K, Caskey C, de Lecea L, Fomenko A, Fouragnan E, Legon W, Murphy K, Nandi T, Phipps M, Pinton G, Ramezanpour H, Sallet J, Yaakub S, Yoo S, Chen R. Non-invasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation for neuromodulation. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 135:51-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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40
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Zhuang X, He J, Wu J, Ji X, Chen Y, Yuan M, Zeng L. A Spatial Multitarget Ultrasound Neuromodulation System Using High-Powered 2-D Array Transducer. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2022; 69:998-1007. [PMID: 34990356 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2022.3140889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is increasingly used in experimental neuroscience due to its neuromodulatory effectiveness in animal studies. However, achieving multitarget tFUS in small animals is typically limited by transducer size, energy transfer efficiency, and brain volume. The objective of this work was to construct an ultrasound system for multitarget neuromodulation in small animals. First, a miniaturized high-powered 2-D array transducer was developed. The phase delay of each array element was calculated based on the multifocal time-reversal method, generating multiple foci simultaneously in a 3-D field. The effects of the axial focal length, interfocus spacing (lateral distance between the two focal centers), and the number of foci on the focal properties of the pressure field were examined through numerical simulations. In-vitro ultrasonic measurements and transcranial simulations on a rat skull were conducted. The minimum interfocus spacing separating two -6-dB foci and the peak full-width at half-maximum were positively correlated with axial focal length; the relative relationship between the interfocus spacing and pressure field properties was similar for each axial focal length. The maximum acoustic pressure and spatial average intensity at focus in deionized water were 2.21 MPa and 133 W/cm2, respectively. The simulated and experimental results were compared, demonstrating agreement in both peak position and focus shape. The ultrasound system can provide a neuroscientific platform for evaluating the feasibility of multitarget ultrasound stimulation treatment protocols, thus improving the understanding of functional neuroanatomy.
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41
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Guo J, Song X, Chen X, Xu M, Ming D. Mathematical Model of Ultrasound Attenuation With Skull Thickness for Transcranial-Focused Ultrasound. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:778616. [PMID: 35250434 PMCID: PMC8891811 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.778616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial-focused ultrasound (tFUS) has potential for both neuromodulation and neuroimaging. Due to the influence of head tissue, especially the skull, its attenuation is a key issue affecting precise focusing. The objective of the present study was to construct a mathematical model of ultrasound attenuation inclusive of skull thickness. First, combined with real skull phantom experiments and simulation experiments, tFUS attenuation of different head tissues was investigated. Furthermore, based on the system identification method, a mathematical model of ultrasound attenuation was constructed taking skull thickness into account. Finally, the performance of the mathematical model was tested, and its potential applications were investigated. For different head tissues, including scalp, skull, and brain tissue, the skull was found to be the biggest influencing factor for ultrasound attenuation, the attenuation caused by it being 4.70 times and 7.06 times that of attenuation caused by the brain and scalp, respectively. Consistent with the results of both the simulation and phantom experiments, the attenuation of the mathematical model increased as the skull thickness increased. The average error of the mathematical model was 1.87% in the phantom experiment. In addition, the experimental results show that the devised mathematical model is suitable for different initial pressures and different skulls with correlation coefficients higher than 0.99. Both simulation and phantom experiments validated the effectiveness of the proposed mathematical model. It can be concluded from this experiment that the proposed mathematical model can accurately calculate the tFUS attenuation and can significantly contribute to further research and application of tFUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiande Guo
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xizi Song
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinrui Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Minpeng Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Ming
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Dong Ming,
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42
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Numerical Evaluation of the Effects of Transducer Displacement on Transcranial Focused Ultrasound in the Rat Brain. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020216. [PMID: 35203979 PMCID: PMC8870101 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Focused ultrasound is a promising therapeutic technique, as it involves the focusing of an ultrasonic beam with sufficient acoustic energy into a target brain region with high precision. Low-intensity ultrasound transmission by a single-element transducer is mostly established for neuromodulation applications and blood–brain barrier disruption for drug delivery. However, transducer positioning errors can occur without fine control over the sonication, which can affect repeatability and lead to reliability problems. The objective of this study was to determine whether the target brain region would be stable under small displacement (0.5 mm) of the transducer based on numerical simulations. Computed-tomography-derived three-dimensional models of a rat head were constructed to investigate the effects of transducer displacement in the caudate putamen (CP) and thalamus (TH). Using three different frequencies (1.1, 0.69, and 0.25 MHz), the transducer was displaced by 0.5 mm in each of the following six directions: superior, interior, anterior, posterior, left, and right. The maximum value of the intracranial pressure field was calculated, and the targeting errors were determined by the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) overlap between the free water space (FWHMwater) and transcranial transmission (FWHMbase). When the transducer was positioned directly above the target region, a clear distinction between the target regions was observed, resulting in 88.3%, 81.5%, and 84.5% FWHMwater for the CP and 65.6%, 76.3%, and 64.4% FWHMwater for the TH at 1.1, 0.69, and 0.25 MHz, respectively. Small transducer displacements induced both enhancement and reduction of the peak pressure and targeting errors, compared with when the transducer was displaced in water. Small transducer displacement to the left resulted in the lowest stability, with 34.8% and 55.0% targeting accuracy (FWHMwater) at 1.1 and 0.69 MHz in the TH, respectively. In addition, the maximum pressure was reduced by up to 11% by the transducer displacement. This work provides the targeting errors induced by transducer displacements through a preclinical study and recommends that attention be paid to determining the initial sonication foci in the transverse plane in the cases of small animals.
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43
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Riis TS, Webb TD, Kubanek J. Acoustic properties across the human skull. ULTRASONICS 2022; 119:106591. [PMID: 34717144 PMCID: PMC8642838 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasound is emerging as a noninvasive tool for targeted treatments of brain disorders. Transcranial ultrasound has been used for remotely mediated surgeries, transient opening of the blood-brain barrier, local drug delivery, and neuromodulation. However, all applications have been limited by the severe attenuation and phase distortion of ultrasound by the skull. Here, we characterized the dependence of the aberrations on specific anatomical segments of the skull. In particular, we measured ultrasound propagation properties throughout the perimeter of intact human skulls at 500 kHz. We found that the parietal bone provides substantially higher transmission (average pressure transmission 31 ± 7%) and smaller phase distortion (242 ± 44 degrees) than frontal (13 ± 2%, 425 ± 47 degrees) and occipital bone regions (16 ± 4%, 416 ± 35 degrees). In addition, we found that across skull regions, transmission strongly anti-correlated (R=-0.79) and phase distortion correlated (R=0.85) with skull thickness. This information guides the design, positioning, and skull correction functionality of next-generation devices for effective, safe, and reproducible transcranial focused ultrasound therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Riis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 84112, UT, United States.
| | - Taylor D Webb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 84112, UT, United States.
| | - Jan Kubanek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 84112, UT, United States.
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44
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Matt E, Kaindl L, Tenk S, Egger A, Kolarova T, Karahasanović N, Amini A, Arslan A, Sariçiçek K, Weber A, Beisteiner R. First evidence of long-term effects of transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) on the human brain. J Transl Med 2022; 20:26. [PMID: 35033118 PMCID: PMC8760674 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03222-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the high spatial resolution and the potential to reach deep brain structures, ultrasound-based brain stimulation techniques offer new opportunities to non-invasively treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about long-term effects of ultrasound-based brain stimulation. Applying a longitudinal design, we comprehensively investigated neuromodulation induced by ultrasound brain stimulation to provide first sham-controlled evidence of long-term effects on the human brain and behavior. Methods Twelve healthy participants received three sham and three verum sessions with transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) focused on the cortical somatosensory representation of the right hand. One week before and after the sham and verum TPS applications, comprehensive structural and functional resting state MRI investigations and behavioral tests targeting tactile spatial discrimination and sensorimotor dexterity were performed. Results Compared to sham, global efficiency significantly increased within the cortical sensorimotor network after verum TPS, indicating an upregulation of the stimulated functional brain network. Axial diffusivity in left sensorimotor areas decreased after verum TPS, demonstrating an improved axonal status in the stimulated area. Conclusions TPS increased the functional and structural coupling within the stimulated left primary somatosensory cortex and adjacent sensorimotor areas up to one week after the last stimulation. These findings suggest that TPS induces neuroplastic changes that go beyond the spatial and temporal stimulation settings encouraging further clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Matt
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Kaindl
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Saskia Tenk
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anicca Egger
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Teodora Kolarova
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nejla Karahasanović
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ahmad Amini
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Arslan
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kardelen Sariçiçek
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Weber
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Beisteiner
- Imaging-Based Functional Brain Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Neurology, High Field Magnetic Resonance Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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45
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Arulpragasam AR, van 't Wout-Frank M, Barredo J, Faucher CR, Greenberg BD, Philip NS. Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Non-invasive and Reversible Deep Brain Neuromodulation-A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:825802. [PMID: 35280168 PMCID: PMC8907584 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.825802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This article describes an emerging non-invasive neuromodulatory technology, called low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU). This technology is potentially paradigm shifting as it can deliver non-invasive and reversible deep brain neuromodulation through acoustic sonication, at millimeter precision. Low intensity focused ultrasound's spatial precision, yet non-invasive nature sets it apart from current technologies, such as transcranial magnetic or electrical stimulation and deep brain stimulation. Additionally, its reversible effects allow for the causal study of deep brain regions implicated in psychiatric illness. Studies to date have demonstrated that LIFU can safely modulate human brain activity at cortical and subcortical levels. Due to its novelty, most researchers and clinicians are not aware of the potential applications and promise of this technique, underscoring the need for foundational papers to introduce the community to LIFU. This mini-review and synthesis of recent advances examines several key papers on LIFU administered to humans, describes the population under study, parameters used, and relevant findings that may guide future research. We conclude with a concise overview of some of the more pressing questions to date, considerations when interpreting new data from an emerging field, and highlight the opportunities and challenges in this exciting new area of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Arulpragasam
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Mascha van 't Wout-Frank
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.,COBRE Center for Neuromodulation, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Jennifer Barredo
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.,COBRE Center for Neuromodulation, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Christiana R Faucher
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Benjamin D Greenberg
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.,COBRE Center for Neuromodulation, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Noah S Philip
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.,COBRE Center for Neuromodulation, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
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46
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Niu X, Yu K, He B. Transcranial focused ultrasound induces sustained synaptic plasticity in rat hippocampus. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:352-359. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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47
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Zeng K, Darmani G, Fomenko A, Xia X, Tran S, Nankoo JF, Oghli YS, Wang Y, Lozano AM, Chen R. Induction of Human Motor Cortex Plasticity by Theta Burst Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation. Ann Neurol 2021; 91:238-252. [PMID: 34964172 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive brain stimulation technique with advantages of high spatial precision and ability to target deep brain regions. This study aimed to develop a TUS protocol to effectively induce brain plasticity in human subjects. METHODS An 80 s train of theta burst patterned TUS (tbTUS), regularly patterned TUS (rTUS) with the same sonication duration and sham tbTUS were delievered to the motor cortex in healthy subjects. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to examine changes in corticospinal excitability, intracortical inhibition and facilitation, and the site of plasticity induction. The effects of motor cortical tbTUS on a visuo-motor task and the effects of occipital cortex tbTUS on motor cortical excitability were also tested. RESULTS The tbTUS produced consistent increase in corticospinal excitability for at least 30 minutes while rTUS and sham tbTUS produced no significant change. tbTUS decreased short-interval intracortical inhibiton and increased intracortical facilitation. The effects of TMS in different current directions suggested that the site of the plastic changes was within the motor cortex. tbTUS to the occipital cortex did not change motor cortical excitability. Motor cortical tbTUS shortened movement time in a visuo-motor task. INTERPRETATION tbTUS is a novel and efficient paradigm to induce cortical plasticity in human. It has the potential to be developed for neuromodulation treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders, and to advance neuroscience research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zeng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ghazaleh Darmani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anton Fomenko
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xue Xia
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Stephanie Tran
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Yazan Shamli Oghli
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yanqiu Wang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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48
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Verification of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Based on the Clinical Validation Platform Using a Rat Model with Human Skull. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111429. [PMID: 34827428 PMCID: PMC8615862 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods to improve drug delivery efficiency through blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) based on microbubbles and focused ultrasound (FUS) are continuously being studied. However, most studies are being conducted in preclinical trial environments using small animals. The use of the human skull shows differences between the clinical and preclinical trials. BBBD results from preclinical trials are difficult to represent in clinical trials because various distortions of ultrasound by the human skull are excluded in the former. Therefore, in our study, a clinical validation platform based on a preclinical trial environment, using a human skull fragment and a rat model, was developed to induce BBBD under conditions similar to clinical trials. For this, a human skull fragment was inserted between the rat head and a 250 kHz FUS transducer, and optimal ultrasound parameters for the free field (without human skull fragment) and human skull (with human skull fragment) were derived by 300 mVpp and 700 mVpp, respectively. BBBD was analyzed according to each case using magnetic resonance images, Evans blue dye, cavitation, and histology. Although it was confirmed using magnetic resonance images and Evans blue dye that a BBB opening was induced in each case, multiple BBB openings were observed in the brain tissues. This phenomenon was analyzed by numerical simulation, and it was confirmed to be due to standing waves owing to the small skull size of the rat model. The stable cavitation doses (SCDh and SCDu) in the human skull decreased by 13.6- and 5.3-fold, respectively, compared to those in the free field. Additionally, the inertial cavitation dose in the human skull decreased by 1.05-fold compared to that of the free field. For the histological analysis, although some extravasated red blood cells were observed in each case, it was evaluated as recoverable based on our previous study results. Therefore, our proposed platform can help deduct optimal ultrasound parameters and BBBD results for clinical trials in the preclinical trials with small animals because it considers variables relevant to the human skull.
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49
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Tseng HA, Sherman J, Bortz E, Mohammed A, Gritton HJ, Bensussen S, Tang RP, Zemel D, Szabo T, Han X. Region-specific effects of ultrasound on individual neurons in the awake mammalian brain. iScience 2021; 24:102955. [PMID: 34458703 PMCID: PMC8379692 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound modulates brain activity. However, it remains unclear how ultrasound affects individual neurons in the brain, where neural circuit architecture is intact and different brain regions exhibit distinct tissue properties. Using a high-resolution calcium imaging technique, we characterized the effect of ultrasound stimulation on thousands of individual neurons in the hippocampus and the motor cortex of awake mice. We found that brief 100-ms-long ultrasound pulses increase intracellular calcium in a large fraction of individual neurons in both brain regions. Ultrasound-evoked calcium response in hippocampal neurons exhibits a rapid onset with a latency shorter than 50 ms. The evoked response in the hippocampus is shorter in duration and smaller in magnitude than that in the motor cortex. These results demonstrate that noninvasive ultrasound stimulation transiently increases intracellular calcium in individual neurons in awake mice, and the evoked response profiles are brain region specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-an Tseng
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jack Sherman
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Emma Bortz
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ali Mohammed
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Howard J. Gritton
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Seth Bensussen
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Rockwell P. Tang
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Dana Zemel
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Thomas Szabo
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Xue Han
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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50
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Koh H, Park TY, Chung YA, Lee JH, Kim H. Acoustic simulation for transcranial focused ultrasound using GAN-based synthetic CT. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 26:161-171. [PMID: 34388098 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2021.3103387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising non-invasive technique for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. One of the challenges for tFUS is the disruption of wave propagation through the skull. Consequently, despite the risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, computed tomography (CT) is required to estimate the acoustic transmission through the skull. This study aims to generate synthetic CT (sCT) from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigate its applicability to tFUS acoustic simulation. We trained a 3D conditional generative adversarial network (3D-cGAN) with 15 subjects. We then assessed image quality with 15 test subjects: mean absolute error (MAE) = 85.72± 9.50 HU (head) and 280.25±24.02 HU (skull), dice coefficient similarity (DSC) = 0.88±0.02 (skull). In terms of skull density ratio (SDR) and skull thickness (ST), no significant difference was found between sCT and real CT (rCT). When the acoustic simulation results of rCT and sCT were compared, the intracranial peak acoustic pressure ratio was found to be less than 4%, and the distance between focal points less than 1 mm.
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