An Arizona State University technology forum has recently taken place. William J. Tyler gave a presentation at that forum about brain stimulation using ultrasound pulses. You can view the powerpoint presentation here (Lab Website PDF removed). Slide 64 on that powerpoint presentation is where the information about ultrasonic neuromodulation begins.I would think that an ultrasound transducer array positioned around the head could enable the non-invasive stimulation of practically any brain area. So this could be a whole new way of altering brain functioning in a more selective way compared to currently used drugs or other brain stimulation techniques. Perhaps it will allow the fine tuning of emotions in much the same way as a graphic equalizer works, increasing or decreasing brain activity with millimeter precision. It seems like this could open up the possibility of altering numerous brain regions at once. Future work will likely focus on shaping the brain for a longer period of time as well. Further development of this technology could allow for an even greater ability to alter neurochemistry. Here are a few salient excerpts from some of the slides.
Noninvasive Paradigm Shift ultrasound offers better focusing capabilities and deeper brain penetration compared to rTMSThey have already laid out their marketing strategy for developing this new brain stimulation technology.
Initiate SynSonix R&D ActivitiesIt looks like they are fairly ambitious for the potential uses of ultrasonic neuromodulation. It's probably still a little too early to say for sure what it will find use for, though.
+6-month - Facilities Established
Cambridge, MA or Phoenix, AZ
+12-month - R&D/Patent Filing
Gen | Ultrasonic Neuromodulation
+18-month - Prototype First Devices
+24-month - Market Evaluation/Liscencing
+36-month - Test,evaluate, seek FDA clearance through a de novo 510K process
Focused Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Device
+40-month - Prototype FUND
+48-month - Market/Liscensing
The SynSonix Vision for Ultrasonic Neuromodulation TechnologyUltrasound could have a lot of future uses. Perhaps it could be used to correctly position neurons into specific locations in the brain. Researchers are also using ultrasound for brain imaging purposes. So how about a device that both manipulates the brain and images it at the same time? Obviously there is an enormous promise for this technology.
+Therapeutic Neurostimulation (replace DBS/VNS/rTMS)
neuropsychiatric treatment; neurological treatment; trauma management
+Rapid Response Medical Devices
+Military Defense Applications
+Brain-Computer Interfaces
+Entertainment Industry
+Neurodiagnostics
Update;
William Tyler gives an interesting interview here(10.9 MB mp3. He discusses a little about ultrasound neuromodulation.
2 comments:
Is the reason this technology might achieve such astounding focality explained in the slideshow?
Their time scale does seem a bit off to me (maybe by a factor of 2) unless they get tons of VC money... It took Brainsway what, 4-6 years to get their relatively simple machine into trials, how would they be any different? Unless maybe money starts flowing into the industry when Brainsway tech starts to spread. Although I suppose that there's no serious entertainment potential with rTMS but come on, no way in hell is FDA going to easily approve an entertainment brain gizmo! (unless the bribes are big enough???)
It's fun, yeah.
I wouldn't say FDA will not approve such a gadget. But it will take more time. A lot depends on the speed of important technological breakthroughs.
But then, a GWB-like administration might slow this process even further.
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