Development of a subject-specific guide system for Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) brain stimulation

2019 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haeyoung Joe ◽  
Ki Joo Pahk ◽  
Shinsuk Park ◽  
Hyungmin Kim
2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 777-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongchae Baek ◽  
Ki Joo Pahk ◽  
Min-Ju Kim ◽  
Inchan Youn ◽  
Hyungmin Kim

Background. Stroke affects widespread brain regions through interhemispheric connections by influencing bilateral motor activity. Several noninvasive brain stimulation techniques have proved their capacity to compensate the functional loss by manipulating the neural activity of alternative pathways. Over the past few decades, brain stimulation therapies have been tailored within the theoretical framework of modulation of cortical excitability to enhance adaptive plasticity after stroke. Objective. However, considering the vast difference between animal and human cerebral cortical structures, it is important to approach specific neuronal target starting from the higher order brain structure for human translation. The present study focuses on stimulating the lateral cerebellar nucleus (LCN), which sends major cerebellar output to extensive cortical regions. Methods. In this study, in vivo stroke mouse LCN was exposed to low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU). After the LIFU exposure, animals underwent 4 weeks of rehabilitative training. Results. During the cerebellar LIFU session, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were generated in both forelimbs accompanying excitatory sonication parameter. LCN stimulation group on day 1 after stroke significantly enhanced sensorimotor recovery compared with the group without stimulation. The recovery has maintained for a 4-week period in 2 behavior tests. Furthermore, we observed a significantly decreased level of brain edema and tissue swelling in the affected hemisphere 3 days after the stroke. Conclusions. This study provides the first evidence showing that LIFU-induced cerebellar modulation could be an important strategy for poststroke recovery. A longer follow-up study is, however, necessary in order to fully confirm the effects of LIFU on poststroke recovery.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
pp. 1650003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed K. Metwally ◽  
Hee-Sok Han ◽  
Hyun Jae Jeon ◽  
Sang Beom Nam ◽  
Seung Moo Han ◽  
...  

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a new noninvasive brain stimulation technique where ultrasound is applied with low frequency and intensity to focus at a target region within the brain in order to exhibit or inhibit neuronal activity. In applying LIFU to the human brain, the skull is the main barrier due to its well-known high anisotropic mechanical properties which will affect the ultrasound focusing thereby affecting the neuromodulation or brain stimulation. This study aims at investigating the influence of the anisotropic mechanical properties of the skull on ultrasound propagation and focusing in LIFU. In this study, we used 2D finite element (FE) head models incorporating the isotropic and anisotropic properties of the skull. Three kinds of stresses were examined and shown within the skull: namely the normal stress in the direction of wave propagation ([Formula: see text]-stress), normal stress in the transverse direction to the wave propagation ([Formula: see text]-stress), and shear stress. Our analysis show that although most of the pressure that reaches to the brain is due to the longitudinal wave propagation through the skull, the stress in the transverse direction to the wave propagation direction ([Formula: see text]-stress) has the main influence on the pressure profile inside the brain. The results also show that the anisotropic properties of the skull broaden the focal size about 19% and 13% in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively more than the case of considering the isotropic properties in the realistic 2D FE head model. The results indicate the importance of considering the anisotropic properties of the skull in practicing LIFU to achieve accurate targeting within the brain.


Author(s):  
Ling Long ◽  
yunxiao zhong ◽  
Xiaodong Cai ◽  
Jinchi Liao ◽  
Xu Liu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disease. A new brain-stimulation method, low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS), has been shown to improve PD-associated motor symptoms and permeabilize the blood-brain barrier. LIFUS is especially attractive due to its non-invasive nature and represents a treatment option that could be incorporated into the future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. In this paper, we describe the current state and future outlook of LIFUS for the treatment of PD. We also focus on the stimulation principles that underly the effects of LIFUS during PD treatment. The safety and limitations of LIFUS are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135977
Author(s):  
Abigail Hellman ◽  
Alicia Clum ◽  
Teresa Maietta ◽  
Adithya Srikanthan ◽  
Vraj Patel ◽  
...  

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