Methods for modifying electrical currents in neuronal circuits
First Claim
1. A method for modifying neuronal activity in a subject with an ultrasound system, the steps comprising:
- a) identifying a location in the subject that is to receive pulses of focused ultrasound;
b) applying, with the ultrasound system and to the identified location, pulses of focused ultrasound, each pulse of focused ultrasound having a tone burst duration (TBD) in a range of 2-100 milliseconds (ms) and being applied during a sonication period having a duration less than around 2 seconds in order to increase neuronal activity, and each pulse of focused ultrasound having a TBD less than around 2 ms and being applied during a sonication period having a duration greater than around 2 seconds in order to decrease neuronal activity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for modifying neuronal activity in a subject with focused ultrasound pulses (“FUP”) is provided. Such a methods is applicable for research, treatment, and diagnosis of psychiatric, neurological, and neuroendocrine disorders whose biological mechanisms include neuronal circuits in the brain. The application of focused ultrasound pulses is generally via multiple ultrasound transducers that are housed in a cap worn by the subject. The application of FUP at different tone burst duration, total sonication duration, and pulse repetition frequency settings results in either the inducement of either an increase or decrease in neuronal activity.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for modifying neuronal activity in a subject with an ultrasound system, the steps comprising:
-
a) identifying a location in the subject that is to receive pulses of focused ultrasound; b) applying, with the ultrasound system and to the identified location, pulses of focused ultrasound, each pulse of focused ultrasound having a tone burst duration (TBD) in a range of 2-100 milliseconds (ms) and being applied during a sonication period having a duration less than around 2 seconds in order to increase neuronal activity, and each pulse of focused ultrasound having a TBD less than around 2 ms and being applied during a sonication period having a duration greater than around 2 seconds in order to decrease neuronal activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for modifying neuronal activity in a subject with an ultrasound system, the steps comprising:
-
a) identifying a location in the subject that is to receive pulses of focused ultrasound; b) applying, with the ultrasound system and to the identified location, pulses of focused ultrasound at a selected pulse repetition frequency (PRF) in the range of 100-1000 hertz (Hz) in order to decrease neuronal activity, and at a selected PRF below around 100 Hz in order to increase neuronal activity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for adjusting a magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment plan with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and an ultrasound system, the steps comprising:
-
a) positioning a subject in the MRI system; b) identifying a location in the subject that is to receive treatment; c) applying pulses of focused ultrasound to the identified location with the ultrasound system in order to modify neuronal activity at the identified location; d) acquiring, with the MRI system and substantially contemporaneously with step c), functional image data from the subject; e) reconstructing a series of functional images of the subject using the functional image data, the functional images being indicative of the modified neuronal activity; and f) adjusting a parameter of the MRgFUS treatment plan using the reconstructed series of functional images. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification