Ultrasound deep brain stimulation method and system

Abstract

The invention discloses an ultrasound deep brain stimulation method and system. The ultrasound deep brain stimulation method comprises steps as follows: medical imaging is performed on the head of an animal or a human being, and image data are generated; a head three-dimensional digital model is established according to the image data; a three-dimensional digital model of an ultrasound transducer array is established according to structure, density and acoustic parameter information of the ultrasound transducer array; a first ultrasound emission sequence is generated according to the head three-dimensional digital model, the three-dimensional digital model of the ultrasound transducer array, structure, density and acoustic parameters of skull and brain tissue and the structure, density and acoustic parameter information of the ultrasound transducer array; the ultrasound transducer array is controlled to emit ultrasound waves according to the first ultrasound emission sequence, and ultrasound deep brain stimulation is implemented on to-be-stimulated brain nerve nuclei. With adoption of the method and the system, ultrasound can noninvasively penetrate through a skull and is concentrated in a deep brain area; by means of different ultrasound emission sequences, ultrasound nerve regulation can be realized, and an action mechanism can be researched.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to ultrasonic brain stimulation technology, in particular to an ultrasonic deep brain stimulation method and system. Background technique [0002] With the influence of factors such as social aging and deepening psychological pressure, the number of patients with neuropsychiatric diseases such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and epilepsy has increased sharply worldwide. Five hundred and sixty million. Scientists in Germany reported that electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex of dogs can trigger specific physical responses. This major discovery gave birth to a series of intervention technologies such as brain electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, and neural implantation in the following century, which greatly promoted people's understanding of the functional location of the cerebral cortex and the research and development of brain disease research instruments, and...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, DBS is an invasive technique, and the device and operation are expensive, and there are certain risks such as surgical complications, target tolerance, rejection, etc., and the battery life of the power supply is 4-5 years. Internal stimulators, which cause greater pain and financial burden to users, largely limit the popularity of DBS

Non-invasive tDCS and TMS techniques have high requirements for operators and experimental conditions, and the results are affected by factors such as treatment frequency, stimulation site, stimulation duration, severity of disease, drug treatment, etc. The efficacy evaluation is still controversial

There are limitations in the neural regulation of light-sensing genes. For example, the wide-field stimulation mode can activate or inhibit neurons, but it will activate the entire animal sample or the entire neural circuit, and it is impossible to achieve selective light-stimulated activation of specific cells or a group of cells. ; such as scanning mirrors, acousto-optic deflectors, light-emitting diode arrays, spatial light modulators, liquid crystals or micro-mirror technologies, although stimulation and activation of cells with high temporal and spatial resolution can be achieved, but usually must be combined with an inverted or upright fluorescence microscope In general, it is only suitable for the activation of light stimulation of cultured cells and brain slices, and the range of light stimulation is small, so it is not suitable for studying large neural networks and regulating the behavior of living animals.

These limit the application of light-sensing gene neuromodulation technology in the study of neural circuits

In addition, the compatibility issue of the above devices with MRI has not been properly resolved

[0010] Transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation technology utilizes low-frequency and low-voltage ultrasound to achieve brain nerve regulation, but the current ultrasonic regulation device is simple and single-point regulation, and the mechanism of ultrasonic neuromodulation is still unclear

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