Remus: System for remote deep brain interventions.
Authors: Webb TD, Wilson MG, Odéen H, Kubanek J
Transcranial-focused ultrasound brings personalized medicine to the human brain. Ultrasound can modulate neural activity or release drugs in specific neural circuits but this personalized approach requires a system that delivers ultrasound into specified targets flexibly and on command. We developed a remote ultrasound system (Remus) that programmatically targets deep brain regions with high spatiotemporal precision and in a multi-focal manner. We validated these functions by modulating two deep brain nuclei-the left and right lateral geniculate nucleus-in a task-performing nonhuman primate. This flexible system will enable researchers and clinicians to diagnose and treat specific deep brain circuits in a noninvasive yet targeted manner, thus embodying the promise of personalized treatments of brain disorders.
Introduction
Purpose
Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
Study Objective
Develop and validate Remus, a remote, programmatically controlled transcranial-focused ultrasound system that noninvasively and precisely targets deep brain regions in a flexible, multi-focal manner.
Animal model / Human subject
rhesus macaque, Macaca mulatta, 5 years, male
Disease model
healthy
Targeted brain region(s)
Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Outcomes and Safety
Summary of Outcomes
Low-intensity FUS to the LGN transiently biased visual choice behavior towards the ipsilateral side
Duration of biological effect
seconds
Safety-related matter
No adverse effects reported; estimated temperature rise was 0.01–0.1°C.
Brain Region
Ultrasound Parameters
Ultrasound instrument
256-element ultrasound phased array
FUS Frequency
650 kHz
FUS Intensity
not reported
FUS Pressure
1 MPa
FUS Mode
pulsed
Pulse duration
0.5 ms
Duration of a single FUS session
not reported
Focal Characteristics
20 mm
Treatment frequency
Multiple sessions
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