Wearable transcranial dual-mode ultrasound transducers for neuromodulation
Inventors
Assignees
University of Minnesota System
Publication Number
US-12329991-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-17
Expiration Date
2039-04-05
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Abstract
An ultrasound transducer array is incorporated in a light-weight, conformable, and wearable patch that may be used to deliver, monitor, and control localized transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS). The patch may include full-duplex transmit-receive circuitry that may be used for continuous monitoring of transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) application. The circuitry may include a circulator. The ultrasound transducer array may be coupled to an aperture interface having irregularly sized or shaped channel conductors to provide a coarse aperture for the array. The coarse aperture may be designed using a method that provides a reduced channel count.
Core Innovation
The invention presents a wearable ultrasound transducer system, specifically designed for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation and imaging. This system incorporates a lightweight, conformable, and wearable patch containing a dual-mode ultrasound transducer array. The patch is capable of delivering, monitoring, and controlling localized tFUS, utilizing full-duplex transmit-receive circuitry, including a circulator, to enable continuous monitoring of the ultrasound application.
The core challenge addressed is the impracticality of existing dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) applicators in mobile or non-clinical environments, due to their bulkiness, as well as limitations in feedback regarding tFUS-tissue interactions when using non-invasive approaches guided by MR. The disclosed system overcomes these issues by providing a portable, minimally invasive, or non-invasive patch solution, facilitating precise spatial and temporal neuromodulation without the need for invasive surgery and enabling real-time monitoring.
Innovative aspects include the decouplable coarse and fine aperture layers, which utilize irregularly sized or shaped channel conductors to achieve a reduced channel count while maintaining targeting efficacy. The patch also may include a lens layer to compensate for ultrasound beam distortion by skull anatomy and a backing layer to optimize bandwidth and resonance. The associated method enables the design of coarse apertures by clustering sampling elements based on excitation waveform similarity, thus reducing channel complexity while ensuring effective energy deposition at targeted brain locations.
Claims Coverage
There are two independent claims, each defining a set of inventive features for the ultrasound transducer system.
Wearable ultrasound transducer system with interchangeable coarse and fine aperture layers
The system comprises: - An ultrasound transducer configured to provide a transmit ultrasound wavefront in response to an excitation waveform and capture a reflection waveform from reflected ultrasound, serving both neuromodulation and imaging functions. - A coarse aperture layer that can decouple from the ultrasound transducer layer, and a fine aperture layer that can couple to the ultrasound transducer layer, the fine layer having more channel conductors than the coarse layer. - A circulator operably coupled to the transducer, the circulator including: - A first port to receive the excitation waveform from a transmit circuit. - A second port to provide the excitation waveform to the transducer and to receive the reflection waveform during or after transmission. - A third port to provide the reflection waveform to a receive circuit during or after transmission. The system is specifically arranged for wearability and the capacity to swap between coarse and fine aperture modes for channel count optimization.
Ultrasound transducer system with lens layer for beam distortion compensation and removable aperture layers
This system includes: - An ultrasound transducer configured for dual-mode operation (neuromodulation and imaging) with an excitation waveform and reflection waveform handling. - A circulator attached to the transducer comprising: - A first port for excitation waveform input from a transmit circuit. - A second port for outputting the excitation waveform to the transducer and inputting the reflection waveform. - A third port for delivering the reflection waveform to a receive circuit. - A lens layer positioned to receive the transmit wavefront from the transducer, designed to partially or completely compensate for ultrasound beam distortion associated with an ultrasound obstacle (such as the skull). - An aperture layer coupled to the transducer, this layer having multiple channel conductors as sampling elements, and being defined by either a removable coarse aperture or a removably coupled fine aperture layer, with the fine layer having more channel conductors than the coarse.
The inventive features cover a wearable ultrasound system with modular aperture layers for flexible channel management, a circulator enabling full-duplex operation, and optional lens and backing layers for enhanced beam control and adaptability to skull geometry.
Stated Advantages
The device allows precise, minimally invasive, or non-invasive neuromodulation, eliminating the need for invasive surgery in treating neurological conditions.
The portable, lightweight, and conformable patch enables continuous delivery, monitoring, and control of localized tFUS in mobile or awake subjects, facilitating use outside clinical settings.
The system's dual-mode operation (imaging and therapy) with full-duplex transmit-receive capability enables real-time monitoring and feedback of tFUS effects, improving safety and therapeutic specificity.
The reduction in channel count through coarse aperture design maintains targeting efficacy while minimizing system complexity, size, and power requirements.
Site-specific lens layers compensate for skull-induced beam distortion, ensuring accurate and effective ultrasound targeting despite anatomical variability.
Documented Applications
Non-invasive neuromodulation and therapy for neurological and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy, depression, anxiety disorders, movement disorders, and traumatic brain injury.
Continuous delivery, monitoring, and control of tFUS in human patients, awake rodents, and freely roaming large animals for research and clinical applications.
Imaging and therapy in mobile or freely moving patients using portable, patch-based transducers outside of clinical environments.
Site-specific brain targeting using custom-designed patches informed by 3D skull and scalp imaging, such as for deep brain stimulation targets.
Research or non-medical settings using the ultrasound transducer device and system for ultrasound-based studies beyond direct patient therapy.
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