Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation

Abstract

For more than 70 years, the promise of noninvasive neuromodulation using focused ultrasound has been growing while diagnostic ultrasound established itself as a foundation of clinical imaging. Significant technical challenges have been overcome to allow transcranial focused ultrasound to deliver spatially restricted energy into the nervous system at a wide range of intensities. High-intensity focused ultrasound produces reliable permanent lesions within the brain, and low-intensity focused ultrasound has been reported to both excite and inhibit neural activity reversibly. Despite intense interest in this promising new platform for noninvasive, highly focused neuromodulation, the underlying mechanism remains elusive, though recent studies provide further insight. Despite the barriers, the potential of focused ultrasound to deliver a range of permanent and reversible neuromodulation with seamless translation from bench to the bedside warrants unparalleled attention and scientific investment. Focused ultrasound boasts a number of key features such as multimodal compatibility, submillimeter steerable focusing, multifocal, high temporal resolution, coregistration, and the ability to monitor delivered therapy and temperatures in real time. Despite the technical complexity, the future of noninvasive focused ultrasound for neuromodulation as a neuroscience and clinical platform remains bright.

Transcranial Pulse Stimulation with Ultrasound in Alzheimer's Disease—A New Navigated Focal Brain Therapy

“…(3) Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis of the dependent variables (CERAD CTS, LR score, PCA factors) was done with SPSS v24 applying a Test mixed ANOVA with TIME as within-subject factor (baseline, poststim, one month poststim, three months poststim), and CENTER (1,2) as between-subject factor. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate correlations between the CERAD variables and the depression scores (GDS, BDI).…”

“…[1,2] However, in contrast to ultrasound tissue ablation, [3] for clinical brain stimulation no certified systems and clinical data exist and the current techniques have to be further developed. [1,2] However, in contrast to ultrasound tissue ablation, [3] for clinical brain stimulation no certified systems and clinical data exist and the current techniques have to be further developed.…”

“…Recently, several publications have reported the potential of ultrasound to stimulate the human brain in a highly focal and precisely targeted manner . However, in contrast to ultrasound tissue ablation, for clinical brain stimulation no certified systems and clinical data exist and the current techniques have to be further developed.…”

Indications for MRI in fetal isolated mild ventriculomegaly… ‘And then, there were none’

“…It is not impossible that, in the not‐too‐distant future, fetal ultrasound may turn from diagnostic to therapeutic. In fact, experiments are underway using high‐ and low‐intensity focused ultrasound, for treatment of brain lesions and non‐invasive neuromodulation, respectively. These approaches are promising in the adult; their application in the fetus with a brain malformation or other acquired pathological condition may soon leave the realms of science fiction to become a reality.…”

A New Era for Surgical Neurotherapeutics

“…Addressing a field about which there is currently much buzz, Prada and colleagues [12] discuss the evolution of high-intensity focused ultrasound, providing an overview of current and future ablative applications in oncology and cerebrovascular neurology. Darrow [13] then describes the potential for low-intensity focused ultrasound, which can both excite and inhibit neural activity reversibly to deliver a range of reversible neuromodulation therapies.…”