Detection, localization, and/or suppression of neural activity using acoustic waves and/or ultrasound
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsButrus T. Khuri-Yakub, Kamyar Firouzi, George Quintin Stedman
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.
Claims20
A system for detecting seizures, the system comprising:
- sensors configured to detect, from outside of a skull encasing a brain, acoustic waves associated with neural activity in the brain;
- and
- a processor in communication with the sensors, the processor configured to process output signals from the sensors, to detect a seizure based on the output signals from the sensors, and to localize a source of the seizure with millimeter scale resolution.
A method of detecting seizures from acoustic waves, the method comprising:
- sensing, with sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing a brain, acoustic waves associated with neural activity of the brain, wherein the acoustic waves comprise compressional waves having a wavelength on the order of a meter;
- and
- detecting, with a processor in communication with the sensors, a seizure based on output signals of the sensors.
A method of detecting and suppressing seizures, the method comprising:
- sensing, with sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing a brain, acoustic waves associated with neural activity of the brain at a plurality of locations;
- comparing, with a processor in communication with the sensors, data derived using the sensors with a model associated with the skull;
- based on the comparing, determining a location of the neural activity of the brain with a resolution on the order of a millimeter;
- and
- applying, using one or more ultrasonic transducers, ultrasound energy to the location of the neural activity in the brain through the skull within a millisecond time range from the determining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.