Christopher R Bawiec, Peter J Hollender, Sarah B Ornellas, Jessica N Schachtner, Jacob F Dahill-Fuchel, Soren D Konecky, John J B Allen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: Transcranial low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) offers unique opportunities for precisely neuromodulating small and/or deep targets within the human brain, which may be useful for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. This article presents a novel ultrasound system that delivers focused ultrasound through the forehead to anterior brain targets and evaluates its safety and usability in a volunteer study.
Methods: The ultrasound system and workflow are described, including neuronavigation, LIFU planning, and ultrasound delivery components. Its capabilities are analyzed through simulations and experiments in water to establish its safe steering range. A cohort of 20 healthy volunteers received a LIFU protocol aimed at the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (amPFC), using imaging and questionnaires to screen for adverse effects. Additional development after the study also analyzes the effect of the skull and sinus cavities on delivered ultrasound energy.
Results: Simulations and hydrophone readings agreed with <5% error, and the safe steering range was found to encompass a 1.8 cm × 2.5 cm × 2 cm volume centered at a depth 5 cm from the surface of the skin. There were no adverse effects evident on qualitative assessments, nor any signs of damage in susceptibility-weighted imaging scans. All participants tolerated the treatment well. The interface effectively enabled the users to complete the workflow with all participants. In particular, the amPFC of every participant was within the steering limits of the system. A post hoc analysis showed that "virtual fitting" could aid in steering the beams around subjects' sinuses.
Conclusions: The presented system safely delivered LIFU through the forehead while targeting the amPFC in all volunteers, and was well-tolerated. With the capabilities validated here and positive results of the study, this technology appears well-suited to explore LIFU's efficacy in clinical neuromodulation contexts.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (JUM) is dedicated to the rapid, accurate publication of original articles dealing with all aspects of medical ultrasound, particularly its direct application to patient care but also relevant basic science, advances in instrumentation, and biological effects. The journal is an official publication of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and publishes articles in a variety of categories, including Original Research papers, Review Articles, Pictorial Essays, Technical Innovations, Case Series, Letters to the Editor, and more, from an international bevy of countries in a continual effort to showcase and promote advances in the ultrasound community.
Represented through these efforts are a wide variety of disciplines of ultrasound, including, but not limited to:
-Basic Science-
Breast Ultrasound-
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound-
Dermatology-
Echocardiography-
Elastography-
Emergency Medicine-
Fetal Echocardiography-
Gastrointestinal Ultrasound-
General and Abdominal Ultrasound-
Genitourinary Ultrasound-
Gynecologic Ultrasound-
Head and Neck Ultrasound-
High Frequency Clinical and Preclinical Imaging-
Interventional-Intraoperative Ultrasound-
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound-
Neurosonology-
Obstetric Ultrasound-
Ophthalmologic Ultrasound-
Pediatric Ultrasound-
Point-of-Care Ultrasound-
Public Policy-
Superficial Structures-
Therapeutic Ultrasound-
Ultrasound Education-
Ultrasound in Global Health-
Urologic Ultrasound-
Vascular Ultrasound