This technology is a wearable focused ultrasound device that can simultaneously modulate and map the brain by temporarily disrupting the blood brain barrier (BBB).
Unmet Need: Non-invasive and localized technique for brain modulation and monitoring
Current focused ultrasound techniques can be used for non-invasive treatment of brain tissue during various neurological disorders that would be otherwise difficult to treat due to the impermeability of the BBB. Repetitive courses of focused ultrasound treatment can be used to provide consistent drug delivery or neuromodulation. However, most systems for focused ultrasound utilize bulky and immovable equipment that can be unsuitable for use outside of a clinical setting. There are currently no convenient and simple techniques for modulation and mapping of brain tissue using functional ultrasound.
The Technology: Focused, wearable ultrasound system for temporarily disrupting the BBB
This device is a wearable ultrasound assembly for use in modulating and mapping brain tissue. This wearable ultrasound device includes a housing and ultrasound transducer that can be secured to the patient’s head and aligned to target specific regions of brain tissue. As a result, focused ultrasound can be provided at an acoustic pressure to modulate the target region. Microbubbles can then be introduced prior to or during treatment to induce mechanical stress into the brain tissue and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier. This device, therefore, offers a simplified and effective approach for using focused ultrasound for numerous neurological conditions such as Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease.
This technology has been validated in mouse models.
Applications:
- Research tool for brain circuitry
- Ultrasonic therapeutic for neurological and psychiatric disorders
- Validation of passive cavitation monitoring via ultrasound
- Precision drug delivery
- Surgical tool for non-invasive tissue destruction
- Alternative technique to using MRI
- Treatment for CNS diseases
- Drug delivery to treat neurodegenerative diseases
Advantages:
- Cost-effective
- Non-invasive
- Local effect in brain modulation
- Signals are processed and displayed in real time
- Temporary disruption of blood-brain barrier
- Focal zone penetrates deeper than other ultrasound mapping techniques
Lead Inventor:
Elisa Konofagou, Ph.D.
Patent Information:
Patent Issued
Related Publications:
Burgess MT, Apostolakis I, Konofagou EE. “Power cavitation-guided blood-brain barrier opening with focused ultrasound and microbubbles” Phys Med Biol. 2018 Mar 15;63(6): 065009.
Karakatsani MEM, Samiotaki GM, Downs ME, Ferrera VP, Konofagou EE. “Targeting effects on the volume of the focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening in nonhuman primates in vivo” IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2017 May;64(5): 798-810.
Samiotaki G, Karakatsani ME, Buch A, Papadopoulos S, Wu SY, Jambawalikar S, Konofagou EE. “Pharmacokinetic analysis and drug delivery efficiency of the focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening in non-human primates” Magn Reson Imaging. 2017 Apr;37: 273-281.
Sierra C, Acosta C, Chen C, Wu SY, Karakatsani ME, Bernal M, Konofagou EE. “Lipid microbubbles as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery using focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening” J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2017 Apr; 37(4): 1236-1250.
Marquet F, Teichert T, Wu SY, Tung YS, Downs M, Wang S, Chen C, Ferrera V, Konofagou EE. “Real-time, transcranial monitoring of safe blood-brain barrier opening in non-human primates” PLoS One. 2014 Feb 5; 9(2):e84310.
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