# US 11,305,133 B2 · Efficient acoustic energy transfer through skull via excitation of Lamb waves

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- Number: US 11,305,133 B2
- Document ID: US11305133B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/937,549
- Filed: 2018-03-27
- Published: 2018-10-04
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-31
- Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Inventors: Butrus T. Khuri-Yakub; Kamyar Firouzi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305133B2

## CPC

- A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
- A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092})
- A61B 8/0808: {for diagnosis of the brain}
- A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer}
- A61B 2018/00446: {Brain}
- A61N 2007/0021: {Neural system treatment}
- A61N 2007/0026: {Stimulation of nerve tissue}
- A61N 2007/0056: {Beam shaping elements}
- A61N 2007/0078: {with multiple treatment transducers}
- A61N 2007/0082: {Scanning transducers}
- A61N 2007/0095: {by modifying an excitation signal}
- G01N 2800/52: Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

We provide a novel technique for coupling focused ultrasound into the brain. The ultrasound beam can be used for therapy or neuro-modulation. We excite a selected Lamb wave mode in the skull that mode converts into longitudinal waves in the brain. The benefits of our approach is in improved efficiency, reduction in heating of the skull, and the ability to address regions in the brain that are close or far from the skull.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for providing acoustic energy to a brain of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
an acoustic transducer configured to excite a selected Lamb wave mode in a skull of the patient via phase matching to the selected Lamb wave mode;
wherein the selected Lamb wave mode excites a longitudinal acoustic wave in the brain;
wherein the acoustic transducer comprises a heating element configured to deliver thermal energy to the skull of the patient, and wherein thermal expansion of the skull of the patient excites the selected Lamb wave mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer is configured as a ring to provide focusing of the longitudinal acoustic wave in the brain.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer comprises an electro-mechanical wedge transducer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a wedge angle of the electro-mechanical wedge transducer provides the phase matching to the selected Lamb wave mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer comprises an electro-mechanical interdigitated transducer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a periodicity of the electro-mechanical interdigitated transducer provides the phase matching to the selected Lamb wave mode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pattern of thermal energy provided to the skull of the patient provides the phase matching to the selected Lamb wave mode.