Methods and devices for modulating cellular activity using ultrasound

摘要

The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.

主权项

1. An ultrasound wave generating device for modulating neuronal cellular activity of a neuronal cellar site in a subject, comprising
at least one component for generating an ultrasound wave, adapted to deliver a stimulus waveform to the neuronal cellular site; and a controller coupled to the at least one component, the controller comprising a process to determine the stimulus waveform delivered to the neuronal cells, wherein the controller is configured with the process to provide the stimulus waveform comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse of the plurality comprising a plurality of cycles having one or more frequencies in a range from about 0.02 MHz to about 100 MHz at the site of the cells to be modulated, wherein said each pulse of the plurality of pulses comprises a plurality of frequencies and wherein pulses of the plurality are repeated at a pulse repetition frequency ranging from about 0.001 to about 100 kHz to produce spatial-peak temporal-average intensities ranging from 0.0001 to 900 mW/cm2.