Method for stimulating, and apparatuses performing the same

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for more locally stimulating a desired stimulation region in a predetermined part of an object, the apparatus including a first ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object, a second ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object, and a controller configured to control the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator are disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam is a predetermined angle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0083748 filed on Jun. 30, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

One or more example embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for more locally stimulating a desired stimulation region in a predetermined part of an object.

2. Description of Related Art

An ultrasonic brain stimulator using an existing technology stimulates a relatively wide region. Thus, a brain region requiring no stimulation may be exposed to physical energy.

In addition, for non-invasive brain stimulation, an ultrasonic wave needs to pass through a skull, and an intensity of the ultrasonic wave is attenuated greatly when the ultrasonic wave passes through the skull. Thus, it is difficult to deliver a sufficient intensity of energy using a single ultrasonic device.

SUMMARY

An aspect provides technology that may maximize the stimulation efficiency and the stability by stimulating a desired region, for example, brain cells of the desired region, with minimal energy.

Another aspect also provides technology that may localize a stimulation region, increase the stimulation energy efficiency, and increase the stability by minimizing energy to be delivered to an inevitably exposed region.

According to an aspect, there is provided a stimulating apparatus including a first ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object, a second ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object, and a controller configured to control the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator may be disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be a predetermined angle.

The controller may be configured to control an arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that focus points of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator may match.

The controller may be configured to control an output intensity of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that intensities of the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be equalized at the focus points.

The stimulating apparatus may further include a power device configured to adjust an arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator.

The stimulating apparatus may further include a variable resistor configured to adjust a voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator.

The stimulating apparatus may further include a radio frequency (RF) amplifier configured to adjust a gain of the voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator.

The power device may be implemented as a three-dimensional (3D) axis motor.

The stimulating apparatus may further include an electro-stimulator configured to output an electrical stimulation to a crossing point between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam in the predetermined part.

The electro-stimulator may include a plurality of electrodes positioned relative to the crossing point such that an electric field may be formed to pass through the crossing point, and an electric field generator configured to generate the electric field.

According to another aspect, there is also provided a stimulating method including outputting, by a first ultrasonic wave generator, a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object, outputting, by a second ultrasonic wave generator, a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object, and controlling the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator may be disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be a predetermined angle.

The controlling may include adjusting an arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that focus points of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator may match.

The controlling may further include adjusting an output intensity of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that intensities of the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be equalized at the focus points.

The adjusting of the output intensity may include adjusting a voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator.

The adjusting of the output intensity may further include adjusting a gain of the voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator.

The stimulating method may further include outputting an electrical stimulation to a crossing point between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam in the predetermined part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following structural or functional descriptions are exemplary to merely describe the example embodiments, and the scope of the example embodiments is not limited to the descriptions provided herein.

Various alterations and modifications may be made to the examples. Here, the examples are not construed as limited to the disclosure and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure.

It should be noted that if it is described that one component is “connected”, “coupled”, or “joined” to another component, a third component may be “connected”, “coupled”, and “joined” between the first and second components, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled, or joined to the second component. On the contrary, it should be noted that if it is described that one component is “directly connected”, “directly coupled”, or “directly joined” to another component, a third component may be absent. Expressions describing a relationship between components, for example, “between”, directly between”, or “directly neighboring”, etc., should be interpreted to be alike.

Hereinafter, the example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present application is not limited to the example embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used for like elements.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an operation of stimulating a predetermined part of an object according to an example embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 1, a first ultrasonic wave generator100may output a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object. A second ultrasonic wave generator200may output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object. For example, the object may be a living thing, and the predetermined part of the object may be a brain.

In a case of outputting ultrasonic beams to the predetermined part of the object using the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200, a region stimulated by the ultrasonic beams in the predetermined part may be localized.

To localize the region stimulated by the ultrasonic beams in the predetermined part using the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200, arrangements of the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200may be used.

For example, the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200may be disposed such that central axes (axial axes) of the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200may be disposed (or positioned) on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be a predetermined angle.

In this example, the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200may be disposed such that focus points or focal spots of the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200may match.

Further, to localize the region stimulated by the ultrasonic beams in the predetermined part using the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200, the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200may be controlled such that intensities of ultrasonic beams (or ultrasonic waves) to be generated at the focus points may be equalized.

When the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed and the ultrasonic beams at the focus points are controlled as described above, a focus area generated as the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam cross may be reduced. For example, the focus area may be an area corresponding to a half of a maximum intensity of an ultrasonic mean, that is, a full width half maximum (FWHM).

Thus, the focus area generated as the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam cross in the predetermined part of the object may be localized, a region corresponding to the focus area in the predetermined part may be localized and stimulated, and an inevitably exposed region in the predetermined part may be minimized such that an unnecessary stimulation may not be delivered thereto.

FIGS. 2A through 2Dillustrate shapes of ultrasonic beams generated according to arrangements of ultrasonic wave generators, andFIGS. 3A through 3Dare graphs illustrating parameters of ultrasonic waves generated according to arrangements of ultrasonic wave generators.

InFIGS. 2A through 2D, cases in which the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed such that central axes (axial axes) of the two are on a single plane and a crossing angle of the central axes (or ultrasonic beams) is 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees are illustrated.

As shown inFIGS. 2A through 2D, in a case in which the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed such that the central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed on the same plane and the crossing angle is a predetermined angle, it may be verified that a focus area generated as a first ultrasonic beam and a second ultrasonic beam cross is reduced greatly, when compared to a case of using a single ultrasonic wave generator.

In this example, parameters of ultrasonic beams (for example, ultrasonic beams in the focus area generated as the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam cross) generated in a case of using a single ultrasonic wave generator and cases of using arrangements of the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200may be as shown in Table 1.

Further, the parameters of the ultrasonic beams of Table 1 may be arranged as shown inFIGS. 3A through 3D. As shown in Table 1 andFIGS. 3A through 3D, in the cases of using the arrangements of the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200, the focus area of the ultrasonic beams (for example, the ultrasonic beams in the focus area generated as the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam cross), an axial resolution, and a lateral resolution may be reduced greatly. In this example, intensities of the ultrasonic beams may increase in the focus area.

That is, in a case of using the arrangements of the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200, a region stimulated by ultrasonic beams in a predetermined part may be localized, and intensities of the ultrasonic beams in the stimulated region may increase. Thus, in a case in which the predetermined part is a brain, the ultrasonic beams may easily pass through a skull, and intensities of ultrasonic beams output from the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200may be reduced.

AlthoughFIGS. 2A through 2Dillustrate only the cases in which the crossing angle of the central axes (or the ultrasonic beams) of the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200is 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees, example embodiments are not limited thereto. The crossing angle may be set to be greater than or less than a predetermined angle, for example, 90 degrees.

FIGS. 4A through 4Dillustrate shapes of ultrasonic beams generated according to arrangements of ultrasonic wave generators.

InFIGS. 4A through 4D, cases in which the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed such that central axes (axial axes) of the two are on a single plane and a crossing angle of the central axes (or ultrasonic beams) is 90 degrees and 45 degrees, and there is a difference between a distance from a focus point to the first ultrasonic wave generator100and a distance from a focus point to the second ultrasonic wave generator200are illustrated.

Changes in the distance from the focus point to the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the distance from the focus point to the second ultrasonic wave generator200may cause phase changes in the ultrasonic beams output from the respective ultrasonic wave generators100and200. In this example, it may be verified that a focus area generated as a first ultrasonic beam and a second ultrasonic beam cross is reduced, when compared to a case of using a single ultrasonic wave generator.

However, as shown inFIGS. 4A through 4D, when compared to a case in which there is no change in the distance from the focus point to the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the distance from the focus point to the second ultrasonic wave generator200, in a case in which there are changes in the distance from the focus point to the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the distance from the focus point to the second ultrasonic wave generator200, the localization of the focus area may be performed imperfectly and a stimulation shape corresponding to the focus area may be changed.

That is, in a case in which the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200are disposed such that the focus points of the first ultrasonic wave generator100and the second ultrasonic wave generator200may match, the stimulation shape corresponding to the focus area may be formed well such that the localization of the focus area may be performed more effectively, and the stimulation may be delivered well. Thus, the localized stimulation region may receive the stimulation more effectively.

In this example, by controlling the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200such that intensities of ultrasonic beams (or ultrasonic waves) to be generated by the plurality of ultrasonic wave generators100and200at the focus points may be equalized, the localization of the focus area may be achieved more effectively, and the stimulation shape corresponding to the focus area may be formed well such that the stimulation may be delivered well.

FIG. 5illustrates an operation of stimulating a predetermined part of an object according to an example embodiment,FIGS. 6A and 6Bare photos of an experiment for determining an effect of the operation of stimulating a predetermined part described inFIG. 5, andFIG. 7illustrates stimulation success rates of the experiment ofFIG. 6.

Referring toFIG. 5, an ultrasonic wave generator300may output an ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object. An electro-stimulator400may output an electric field to the predetermined part of the object.

In a case of simultaneously applying an ultrasonic stimulation by the ultrasonic wave generator300and an electrical stimulation (or electric field stimulation) by the electro-stimulator400to the predetermined part, the stimulation efficiency at a crossing point of the two stimulations in the predetermined part may increase.

Thresholds for the ultrasonic stimulation by the ultrasonic wave generator300and the electrical stimulation by the electro-stimulator400may be lowered. That is, output intensities (or output energy) of the ultrasonic wave generator300and the electro-stimulator400may be lowered. Thus, a region inevitably exposed to the ultrasonic stimulation and/or the electrical stimulation, other than the crossing point of the two stimulations in the predetermined part, may be reduced, whereby the stability may be assured.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate in vivo experiment results for a case of simultaneously applying two stimulations. In the case of applying an electrical stimulation and an ultrasonic stimulation at the same time through an in vivo experiment, it may be verified that the two stimulations create a synergy effect to increase a success rate of brain cell stimulation.

That is, if an ultrasonic stimulation and an electrical stimulation are applied simultaneously in a case of desiring to apply stimulations of the same efficiency to a stimulation region, the ultrasonic wave generator300may only have to output an ultrasonic beam (or ultrasonic wave) of a lower intensity to the stimulation region.

Since the stimulations of the same effect may be delivered to the stimulation region at a relatively low ultrasonic intensity, the stimulations may be delivered to the stimulation region effectively, and a stimulation area (for example, focus area) may be localized.

FIG. 8is a block diagram illustrating an object stimulating apparatus according to an example embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 8, an object stimulating apparatus800may stimulate a desired region (for example, brain cells or stimulation region) in a predetermined part (for example, brain) of an object, for example, a living thing. The object stimulating apparatus800may be a brain stimulator.

The object stimulating apparatus800may include a plurality of ultrasonic wave generators810and820and a controller830. The object stimulating apparatus800may further include a power device840, a variable resistor850, and an radio frequency (RF) amplifier860. The object stimulating apparatus800may further include an electro-stimulator870.

The first ultrasonic wave generator810may output a first ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object. The second ultrasonic wave generator820may output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object. Each of the ultrasonic wave generators810and820may be implemented as an ultrasonic transducer. For example, the ultrasonic transducer may be manufactured with a curved surface to focus an ultrasonic beam.

The controller830may control an overall operation of the object stimulating apparatus800. For example, the controller830may control operations of the elements810,820,840,850,860and870of the object stimulating apparatus800.

The controller830may control an arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820.

The power device840may adjust the arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820based on a control of the controller830. For example, the power device840may be implemented as a three-dimensional (3D) axis motor.

The power device840may include power devices843and845implemented with respect to the ultrasonic generators810and820to adjust arrangement positions of the ultrasonic generators810and820, respectively.

When the controller830adjusts the arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820through the power device840, central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820may be disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be a predetermined angle. Further, focus points of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820may match.

Further, the controller830may control an output intensity (or output strength) of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820.

Further, the controller830may control the output intensity of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820such that intensities of the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be equalized at the focus points.

The variable resistor850may adjust a voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820based on a control of the controller830.

The variable resistor850may include variable resistors853and855implemented with respect to the ultrasonic generators810and820to adjust voltages to be applied to the ultrasonic generators810and820, respectively.

The RF amplifier860may adjust a gain of the voltage to be applied to at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820based on a control of the controller830.

The RF amplifier860may include RF amplifiers863and865implemented with respect to the ultrasonic generators810and820to adjust gains of the voltages to be applied to the ultrasonic generators810and820, respectively.

When the controller830adjusts the output intensity of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820through the variable resistor850and/or the RF amplifier860, the intensities of the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be equalized at the matching focus point of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820.

The object stimulating apparatus800may adjust the arrangement position of at least one of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820and control the intensities of the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam at the focus points, thereby localizing a focus area generated as the first ultrasonic beam and second ultrasonic beam cross in the predetermined part of the object.

In this example, the object stimulating apparatus800may output an electrical stimulation to a crossing point between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam in the predetermined part through the electro-stimulator870, thereby increasing the stimulation efficiency at a stimulation region corresponding to the focus area.

The electro-stimulator870may include a plurality of electrodes873and an electric field generator875. The plurality of electrodes873may be positioned relative to the crossing point such that an electric field may be formed to pass through the crossing point. The electric field generator875may generate the electric field, and output the electric field through the plurality of electrodes873. The plurality of electrodes873may be positioned relative to the crossing point such that the first ultrasonic beam, the second ultrasonic beam and the electric field may be formed to cross at the crossing point.

FIG. 9is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of the object stimulating apparatus ofFIG. 8.

Referring toFIG. 9, in operation S910, the first ultrasonic wave generator810may output a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object. In operation S930, the second ultrasonic wave generator820may output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object.

In operation S950, the controller830may control the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820such that central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator810and the second ultrasonic wave generator820may be disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam may be a predetermined angle.

The above example embodiments may more locally stimulate brain cells of an object, for example, a living thing, and more effectively deliver energy thereto than an existing technology.

The example embodiments may be helpful for various brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and depression, or metal illness, expected to have effects on exercise capacity, concentration and sleeping through brain stimulation, and contribute to development of various studies such as brain circuit investigations and experiments using brain stimulation.

Further, when implementing the above-mentioned possibilities, unnecessary stimulation of brain parts or tissues may be minimized, whereby side effects or unintended results may be reduced.

The example embodiments relate to an apparatus that may be applied to animal testing for research on various brain diseases or brain circuit investigations and brain disease treatments through physical therapy, and may be applicable to a wide range of fields associated with the brain.