Devices and methods for modulating brain activity

Abstract

Devices and methods for brain modulation are provided herein. A device may comprise a body and components for activating the brain. Such components include ultrasound transducers. The devices are used to provide ultrasound waves to brain structures in a subject wearing a device for methods to treat traumatic brain injury, affect postural control, affect wakefulness, attention, and alertness, to provide memory control, to alter cerebrovascular hemodynamics, to minimize stress, and to reinforce behavioral actions.

1 . A device for modulating the brain activity of a user using ultrasound, said device comprising:
 a structure configured to be placed on, adjacent to, or over at least a portion of a head of a user; and   at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the structure and configured to emit ultrasound energy, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to deliver the ultrasound energy to a target tissue site in the user's brain.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting electrical brain activity or changes in electrical brain activity by any one of photoacoustic tomography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), magnetoencepholography (MEG), and electroencephalography (EEG). 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a remote or local microprocessor connected to receive the data regarding brain activity acquired from the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the remote or local microprocessor processes the data from the sensor and transmits instructions to the device to modulate one or more of an ultrasound waveform and a frequency, intensity or waveform characteristic to adjust the ultrasound being delivered to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises an MEG or EEG sensor adapted to detect specific thalamocortical oscillations. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising controls which are located to allow user access. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the controls are configured for the user to control components of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means to activate the ultrasound transducer to reduce the likelihood of entering sleep cycles or to prevent microsleep for a user engaged in a long-term activity. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to be controlled from a portable remote command center that comprises a screen. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to drive the ultrasound transducer to deliver transcranial pulsed ultrasound to stimulate one or more intact brain circuits. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to provide a predominantly non-thermal mechanism of action. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to provide a predominantly non-thermal mechanism of action. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to deliver ultrasound energy at a frequency in a range from 0.1 MHz to 1.5 MHz at the target tissue site. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to deliver ultrasound energy with an intensity in a range of about 10 mW/cm 2  to about 500 mW/cm 2  at the target tissue site. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to deliver ultrasound energy with a pulse duration in the range from 100 to 10000 microseconds. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the pulse duration is a variable pulse duration. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a chassis for supporting the at least one ultrasound transducer in a desired position relative to the head of the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a helmet attached to the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the transducers are affixed to the chassis and the structure further comprises components for attaching the chassis to the helmet, such as mounting straps, and a suspension system. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the structure further comprises a battery for powering the transducers. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the structure further comprises one or more cooling components. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling unit comprises a cooling unit which functions as an ultrasound coupling pad to aid in transmission of the ultrasound waves. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more power sources, components for transmitting or receiving data, components for remote activation of the ultrasound transducers, and global positioning components. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one electromagnetic wave producing component. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more components for harvesting energy from the movements of a user to power the device. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more components for measuring or detecting physiological status indicators. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the component for measuring or detecting physiological status indicators is selected from the group consisting of heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, blood oxygenation monitors, hormone monitors, and brain activity monitors. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one component for focusing the acoustical energy to one or more sites in the brain of the user. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein at least one component for focusing comprises an acoustic hyperlens or an acoustic metamaterial. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers positioned in an array of transducers. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the array of transducers is a circular array of transducers. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the array of transducers operates as a phased array to focus ultrasound through the skull to the target tissue site.