Ultrasound systems and associated devices and methods for modulating brain activity
Inventors
Murphy, Keith R. • Villoslada, Pablo • Mahadevan, Rajiv
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11730960-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present specification discloses a neuromodulation system comprising a transcranially mounted neuromodulation device and a stimulation control computing environment. The disclosed neuromodulation device comprising at least one ultrasound transducer and at least one EEG electrode and the disclosed stimulation control computing environment comprises a stimulation control unit and offline computing device, the disclosed stimulation control unit including associated systems and methods for controlling the neuromodulation device functionality using acoustic simulations performed on brain image data as well as methods and uses of such neuromodulation systems in modulating brain activity using focused ultrasound stimulation of the thalamus and thalamic sub regions during certain phases of slow wave brain oscillations in order to treat various neural-based disorders or conditions including sleep disorders.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a wearable neuromodulation system that includes a wearable device housing having one or more EEG electrodes and one or more EEG signal amplifiers coupled to the one or more EEG electrodes for analyzing brain function in real time, together with one or more ultrasound-emitting elements. The system includes a stimulation control computing environment having a stimulation control unit and an offline computing device, where the stimulation control unit is configured to focus ultrasound emission to a centromedian thalamus.
The stimulation control computing environment includes an offline algorithmic mapping element that uses brain image data to identify the centromedian thalamus and performs one or more acoustic simulations to determine information for focusing ultrasound emissions from the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements to the centromedian thalamus. An online algorithmic stimulation application element processes the real-time data acquired by the one or more EEG electrodes to detect the phase of the at least one slow wave, and controls ultrasound emissions from the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements in accordance with waveform parameters determined by the offline algorithmic mapping element.
The ultrasound emissions constructively interfere at the centromedian thalamus to form a plurality of ultrasound pulses focused on the centromedian thalamus during a certain slow wave phase range. The ultrasound emissions are phase locked to the at least one slow wave such that the ultrasound pulses have a frequency in a range below 2 Hertz, and the system enhances the at least one slow wave based on the detected phase of the at least one slow wave.
In addition, a processor is configured to identify the sleep stage based on the real-time data acquired by the one or more EEG electrodes and to control the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements to deliver the ultrasound emissions to the centromedian thalamus in response to identification of the sleep stage by the at least one processor, thereby improving a quality of sleep by the user during a sleep stage.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Both claims share the core concept of phase-locked EEG-guided ultrasound focused on the centromedian thalamus to enhance at least one slow wave and improve sleep quality during a sleep stage, with ultrasound pulse frequency below 2 Hertz and timing tied to a detected slow-wave phase.
Real-time EEG phase detection with wearable neuromodulation device and ultrasound emitters
A neuromodulation system including a wearable device housing, one or more EEG electrodes for analyzing brain function in real time, one or more EEG signal amplifiers coupled to the one or more EEG electrodes, and one or more ultrasound-emitting elements.
Offline acoustic mapping for centromedian thalamus focusing
A stimulation control computing environment comprising a stimulation control unit and an offline computing device, wherein an offline algorithmic mapping element uses brain image data to identify the centromedian thalamus and performs one or more acoustic simulations to determine information for focusing ultrasound emissions from the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements to the centromedian thalamus.
Closed-loop phase-locked constructively interfering ultrasound pulses for slow-wave enhancement
An online algorithmic stimulation application element configured to process real-time data acquired by the one or more EEG electrodes to detect a phase of at least one slow wave and to control ultrasound emissions from the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements so that the ultrasound emissions constructively interfere at the centromedian thalamus to form a plurality of ultrasound pulses focused on the centromedian thalamus during a certain slow wave phase range, with ultrasound emissions phase locked to the at least one slow wave such that the ultrasound pulses have a frequency in a range below 2 Hertz, thereby enhancing the at least one slow wave and improving a quality of sleep by the user during a sleep stage.
Sleep-stage identification to trigger ultrasound delivery
The at least one processor configured to identify the sleep stage based on the real-time data acquired by the one or more EEG electrodes and to control the one or more ultrasound-emitting elements to deliver the ultrasound emissions to the centromedian thalamus in response to identification of the sleep stage by the at least one processor.
Phase-locked ultrasound pulses with frequency fluctuation constraint and specified period of time
Control waveform parameters of ultrasound emissions such that the ultrasound emissions constructively interfere at a centromedian thalamus to form a plurality of ultrasound pulses focused on the centromedian thalamus for a specified period of time and such that the ultrasound emissions are phase locked to at least one slow wave with a frequency that fluctuates in a range below 2 Hertz.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on a wearable EEG-and-ultrasound neuromodulation system that detects slow-wave phase in real time and drives phase-locked ultrasound pulses with constructive interference focused to the centromedian thalamus, including an offline acoustic simulation mapping element in one claim, constrained by ultrasound pulse frequency below 2 Hertz and configured to enhance at least one slow wave to improve sleep quality during a sleep stage.
Stated Advantages
Improving a quality of sleep by the user during a sleep stage.
Enhancing the at least one slow wave based on the detected phase of the at least one slow wave.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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