US 12,329,566 B2
Systems and methods for modulation of deep brain circuits
Jan Kubanek, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/093,220.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/296,252, filed on Jan. 4, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0210493 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61N 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/0808 (2013.01) [A61N 7/00 (2013.01); A61N 7/02 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0021 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0026 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0078 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0095 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for applying ultrasound to a target brain location, the method comprising:
driving at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer to generate ultrasound waves to achieve an intended ultrasonic stimulation intensity at a target location in a free-field volume, the target location in the free-field volume corresponding to the target brain location;
measuring the ultrasound waves using at least one receiving ultrasound transducer positioned at a fixed distance and orientation relative to the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer on an opposite side of the free-field volume;
positioning the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving ultrasound transducer on opposite sides of a head, wherein a stationary distance and orientation of the at least one receiving ultrasound transducer relative to the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer remains fixed;
driving the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer to generate the ultrasound waves into the head, wherein the ultrasound waves into the head are the same as the ultrasound waves generated to achieve the intended ultrasonic stimulation intensity at the target location in a free-field volume;
measuring altered ultrasound waves exiting the head using the at least one receiving ultrasound transducer, wherein the altered ultrasound waves are attenuated and phase-shifted due at least in part to a presence of the head in an ultrasound path between the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer and the at least one receiving ultrasound transducer;
determining one or more adjusted ultrasound waves based on differences between the measured ultrasound waves through the free-field volume and the measured altered ultrasound waves through the head, wherein the one or more adjusted ultrasound waves are adjusted to compensate for the attenuation and the phase-shift due to obstacles in the ultrasound path in order to cause an actual ultrasonic stimulation intensity at the target brain location to approach the intended ultrasonic stimulation intensity at the target brain location; and
driving the at least one transmitting ultrasound transducer to generate the one or more adjusted ultrasound waves into the head at the intended ultrasonic stimulation intensity at the target brain location.