KR20220016566A - apparatus and method for controlling ultrasonic wave for brain stimulation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasound stimulus control device including: an ultrasound control unit determining a target position on a brain to be stimulated and controlling an ultrasound focal position in accordance with the target position; an ultrasound generating unit stimulating the brain with ultrasound in accordance with the ultrasound focal position; a cerebral biometric signal measuring unit measuring a biometric signal of the brain during the ultrasound stimulation of the brain; a neural activity determination unit determining the stimulated position of the ultrasound-stimulated brain based on the measured biometric signal; and a compensation unit determining a compensation value for the ultrasound focal position by error calculation between the target position and the stimulated position. The ultrasound control unit adjusts the ultrasound focal position in accordance with the compensation value for the ultrasound focal position.

Description

Apparatus and method for controlling ultrasonic wave for brain stimulation

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling ultrasound stimulation, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling ultrasound for optimizing ultrasound stimulation to enhance neuroplasticity in stroke patients.

[Description of state-funded R&D]

This study was conducted with the support of the National Institute of Science and Technology Creative Convergence Research Project (No. CAP-18-01-KIST) under the supervision of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

As the aging population progresses around the world, chronic diseases such as stroke are emerging as a social problem, and as the number of stroke patients in Korea continues to increase in recent years, it is becoming a social issue in relation to treatment and rehabilitation after the onset.

Conventionally, an invasive brain stimulation technique for giving an electrical impulse by making a small hole in the skull or cutting the brain to treat brain diseases has been used. However, there is a problem that infection or permanent brain damage such as cerebral hemorrhage, paralysis, paralysis, and speech disorders may occur due to craniotomy.

Accordingly, the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for stimulating a specific part of the brain that causes a disease without craniotomy is increasing. Specifically, low-intensity ultrasound stimulation is a method for enhancing neuroplasticity. Determining the optimal ultrasound parameters is the key to maximizing ultrasound stimulation. Until now, since ultrasound parameters have been determined heuristically, a parameter determination technique using objective indicators is required. In addition, since the ultrasound stimulation is a non-invasive stimulation, the target position is inevitably inaccurate, so an ultrasound stimulation position control technique is required.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and relates to an ultrasound control apparatus and method for providing an optimal ultrasound stimulation position and ultrasound parameters.

An ultrasonic stimulation control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising: determining a target location of the brain to be stimulated; controlling an ultrasound focus position according to the target position; stimulating the brain with ultrasound according to the ultrasound focal position; measuring a biosignal of the brain while stimulating the brain with the ultrasound; determining a stimulation location of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals; determining a compensation value of an ultrasound focal position by calculating an error between the target position and the stimulation position; and adjusting the ultrasonic focus position according to a compensation value of the ultrasonic focus position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the determining of the stimulation position includes determining the neural activity of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the determining of the stimulation position includes determining the stimulation position based on the determined nerve activity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising: determining a compensation value of an ultrasound parameter according to the determined neural activity; and adjusting the ultrasound parameter according to the compensation value of the ultrasound parameter.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound parameter includes at least one of an ultrasound intensity, a frequency, and a pulse duration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring of the biosignal of the brain includes measuring an EEG signal, and the determining of the stimulation position of the brain includes the EEG signal based on the measured EEG signal. generating a topographic map; and determining, as the stimulation position, a position where nerve activity is most changed in the EEG topography.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring the biosignal of the brain includes measuring the fNIRs signal, and the determining of the stimulation position of the brain includes the fNIRs based on the measured fNIRs signal. generating a topographic map; and determining, as the stimulation position, a position where nerve activity is most changed on the topography of the fNIRs.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of stimulating the brain with ultrasound includes the step of non-invasively stimulating the brain outside the skull.

An ultrasound stimulation control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an ultrasound controller for determining a target position of a brain to be stimulated, and controlling an ultrasound focus position according to the target position; an ultrasonic wave generator for stimulating the brain with ultrasonic waves according to the ultrasonic focus position; a brain bio-signal measuring unit that measures a bio-signal of the brain while stimulating the brain with the ultrasound; a nerve activity determining unit that determines a stimulation position of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals; and a compensator configured to calculate an error between the target position and the stimulation position to determine a compensation value of the ultrasound focus position, wherein the ultrasound controller adjusts the ultrasound focus position according to the compensation value of the ultrasound focal position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the neural activity determining unit determines the neural activity of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the nerve activity determining unit determines the stimulation location based on the determined nerve activity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compensator determines a compensation value of the ultrasound parameter according to the determined nerve activity, and the ultrasound controller adjusts the ultrasound parameter according to the compensation value of the ultrasound parameter.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound parameter includes at least one of an ultrasound intensity, a frequency, and a pulse duration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brain biosignal measuring unit includes an EEG measuring unit measuring an EEG signal, and the neural activity determining unit is an EEG topographical map generating unit generating an EEG topographic map based on the measured EEG signal. ; and a stimulation position determining unit configured to determine a position where nerve activity changes the most on the EEG topography as the stimulation position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brain biosignal measuring unit includes measuring an fNIRs signal, and the neural activity determining unit includes: an fNIRs topographic map generating unit that generates a fNIRs topographic map based on the measured fNIRs signal; and a stimulation position determining unit configured to determine a position at which nerve activity is most changed in the fNIRs topography as the stimulation position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound generator non-invasively stimulates the brain outside the skull.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brain can be stimulated at an optimal ultrasound focus position by comparing the stimulation position with the target position in real time.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the brain can be stimulated with optimal ultrasound parameters by checking the neural activity of the brain in real time.

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating local regional neural plasticity sensing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an ultrasonic focus position control according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position using an EEG topographic map according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart of an ultrasound parameter control method using an EEG topography according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position using a topographical map of fNIRs according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart of an ultrasound parameter control method using a topographical map of fNIRs according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position and parameters using an EEG topography and fNIRs topography according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the possessor of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Accordingly, in some embodiments, well-known process steps, well-known device structures, and well-known techniques have not been specifically described in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, "comprises" and/or "comprising" refers to the presence of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements mentioned. or addition is not excluded.

In this specification, terms such as first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second or third component, and similarly, the second or third component may be alternately named.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used with the meaning commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in a commonly used dictionary are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless clearly defined in particular.

In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 .

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the ultrasound control apparatus includes an ultrasound control unit 100 , an ultrasound generation unit 200 , a brain biosignal measurement unit 300 , an evaluation unit 400 , and a compensation unit 500 .

First, the ultrasound generator 200 performs a function of non-invasively inputting ultrasound to stimulate a specific part of a specific user's brain into the patient's brain through one or more ultrasound transducer units. The ultrasound generator 200 may be configured with only one transducer unit, or may be configured with a transducer array including a plurality of transducer units. The ultrasound generator 200 may stimulate the brain at a specific position with ultrasound according to the ultrasound focus position and/or ultrasound parameters adjusted under the control of the ultrasound controller 100 .

The ultrasound control unit 100 may include a target position determiner 110 , an ultrasound focus position control unit 120 , and a parameter control unit 130 .

The target location determiner 110 may determine the target location based on the topographic map generated by the EEG topographic map generator 410 and the fNIRs topographic map generator 420 to be described later. The target position determiner 110 may calculate an ultrasound target position to be irradiated with ultrasound based on the previously acquired image of the user's skull. The pre-acquired image of the user's skull may include at least one of an MRI image, a CT image, and an X-ray image obtained by photographing the user's skull, but is not limited thereto. Brain imaging may be included.

More specifically, the target position determiner 110 extracts the location of the brain that needs stimulation from the topographic map or the previously acquired image of the user's skull, and calculates the ultrasound target position to be irradiated with ultrasound according to the shape of the user's skull. .

The ultrasound focus position controller 120 adjusts the ultrasound focus position according to the ultrasound target position. The ultrasonic focus position controller 120 adjusts the initial position of the ultrasonic generator 100 to a position where ultrasonic stimulation is easy in consideration of the ultrasonic target position, and later, according to the focus position compensation value of the compensator 500 , the ultrasonic generator Correct the position of (200).

The ultrasound focus position control unit 120 serves to adjust the position of the focus on the brain of the ultrasound generating unit 200 with reference to the stimulation position determined by the stimulation position determining unit 430 .

The ultrasound focus position control unit 120 adjusts the focus position of the ultrasound input to the user on the user's brain in a state with three degrees of freedom (eg, x-axis, y-axis, z-axis). This is possible, and all of these three degrees of freedom can be adjusted by software, or two degrees of freedom out of three degrees of freedom can be adjusted by hardware, and the remaining one degrees of freedom can be adjusted by software. Here, the method of adjusting the degree of freedom in software is performed by adjusting the characteristics of ultrasonic waves such as intensity, frequency, period, phase difference, and launch angle of ultrasonic waves input to the user through the ultrasonic generator 200 , and adjusting the degrees of freedom in hardware. What is done is to physically adjust the position of the ultrasound generator 200 on the user's head (ie, skull). For example, by adjusting the intensity, phase difference, frequency, period, launch angle, etc. of the ultrasonic generator 200, the focused position and depth of ultrasonic waves can be adjusted (when all three degrees of freedom are adjusted by software), xy The position of the direction can be adjusted through the physical position movement of the ultrasonic transducer module 11, and the z-axis (ie, the depth direction) can be adjusted through software intensity or phase difference adjustment of ultrasonic waves (2 degrees of freedom are adjusted by hardware. and the remaining one degree of freedom is adjusted by software).

The parameter control unit 130 may perform a function of correcting characteristics of ultrasound to be input to the user through the ultrasound generator 200 with reference to the thickness of the user's brain, the thickness of the scalp, or the internal fat layer.

Just as the size and location of the brain differs from person to person, the thickness of the skull and the scalp are different for each person, the thickness of the inner fat layer is also different, and the ultrasound transmission characteristics of the skull, skin, and brain, for example, in the skull of ultrasound The refractive index varies from person to person. Accordingly, the parameter control unit 130 refers to the ultrasound transmission characteristics including reflection and/or refraction characteristics in the skull of the user's brain, and the ultrasound generation unit 200 so that the ultrasound can be focused on a specific part of the brain desired. It functions to correct the parameters of ultrasound to be input to the user. The ultrasound parameters include information on the intensity, period, frequency, duration, and phase of the ultrasound pulse.

The parameter control unit 130 determines the initial parameters with reference to the ultrasound passage characteristics including the reflection and/or refraction characteristics of the skull of the user's brain, and then refers to the parameter correction values determined by the correction unit 500 later. to correct

The brain biosignal measuring unit 300 measures a brain biosignal capable of evaluating the neural activity or neural plasticity of the brain in a local area.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the brain biosignal measuring unit 300 may include at least one of an EEG measuring unit 310 and an fNIRs measuring unit 320 .

The EEG measurement unit 310 outputs an EEG (electroencephalogram, 　EEG) signal. The EEG measuring unit 310 may include a plurality of EEG electrodes and may simultaneously measure EEG in multiple channels. The EEG measurement unit 310 may include a plurality of transmitters and receivers in order to increase location resolution. The EEG measuring unit 310 may be used independently of the ultrasound generating unit 200 and may be freely disposed between or around each of the ultrasound transducers of the ultrasound generating unit 200 . The EEG measurement unit 310 outputs an EEG signal in real time when the user's brain is stimulated by ultrasound.

The fNIRs measuring unit 320 may measure neural activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRs). The fNIRs measuring unit 320 measures the amount of oxygen consumption in the brain, including a transmitter (Emitter) and a receiver (Receiver). The fNIRs measuring unit 320 may include a plurality of transmitters and receivers to increase location resolution. The fNIRs measuring unit 320 may be used independently of the ultrasound generating unit 200 and may be freely disposed between or around each of the ultrasound transducers of the ultrasound generating unit 200 .

The evaluation unit 400 may include an EEG topographic map generator 410 , an fNIRs topographic map generator 420 , a stimulus location determiner 430 , and a neural activity determiner 440 .

The EEG topography generating unit 410 generates an EEG topography by analyzing the EEG signal output by the EEG measuring unit 310 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the EEG topographic map generating unit 410 may calculate neural activity at each location of the brain using an inverse problem technique and image it (distributed source localization). For example, the EEG signal y _eeg is expressed by the following equation,

y _eeg = A*x _source

For the inverse problem, a specific local neural activity x _source may be extracted from the EEG signal y _eeg output from the EEG measurement unit 310 using the following function.

y _eeg is the measured EEG vector, x _source is the brain current source vector, and A is the lead field matrix.

The fNIRs topography generating unit 420 generates an fNIRs topography by analyzing the fNIRs signal output by the fNIRs measuring unit 320 . Like the EEG topographic map generator 410 , the fNIRs topographic map generator 420 may use an inverse problem technique to calculate neural activity at each location of the brain and image it.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the stimulation location determining unit 430 determines the location of the brain actually stimulated by ultrasound, ie, the stimulation location, based on the EEG topography or fNIRs topography. In the EEG topography or fNIRs topography, the location where the nerve activity changes the most after ultrasound stimulation can be determined as the stimulation location.

Referring to FIG. 3 , since ultrasound stimulation according to an embodiment of the present invention is non-invasive, it is difficult to accurately focus ultrasound on a target position. In addition, the thickness of the skull is different for each person, the scalp is different, and the thickness of the inner fat layer is also different. Accordingly, the target position and the stimulation position actually stimulated by ultrasound may be different for each person, or optimal ultrasound parameters may be different.

The neural activity determining unit 440 determines the neural activity of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals. Neural activity can be determined based on EEG signals or fNIRs. Alternatively, the neural activity may be determined based on brain activity signals measured by various methods such as fMRI and CT.

The compensator 500 may adjust an ultrasound focal position and ultrasound parameters based on a change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation in the EEG topography or fNIRs topography.

The compensator 500 may include an ultrasonic focus position compensation value determiner 510 and a parameter compensation value determiner 520 . The ultrasonic focus position compensation value determiner 510 compares the target position with the stimulation position and determines the difference value as the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The parameter compensation value determiner 520 determines an optimal parameter based on a change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation, and determines a difference value between the determined optimal ultrasound parameter and the current ultrasound parameter as a parameter compensation value.

The ultrasonic focus position controller 120 adjusts the ultrasonic focus position according to the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The ultrasonic focus position controller 120 may adjust the position of the ultrasonic generator 200 according to the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The parameter controller 130 adjusts the ultrasound parameter according to the ultrasound parameter compensation value. Accordingly, the ultrasonic generator 200 generates ultrasonic waves to be input to the user through the ultrasonic transducer unit according to the correction value determined by the correction part 500 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound stimulation effect can be maximized by real-time monitoring of the EEG signal and/or the fNIRs signal to determine the focal position, intensity, frequency, period, phase difference, etc. of ultrasound and feedback it in real time.

3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an ultrasonic focus position control according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position using an EEG topographic map according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the target position determiner 110 determines the target position of the brain to be stimulated (S110).

Next, the ultrasound focus position controller 120 adjusts the focal position of the initial ultrasound according to the ultrasound target position ( S120 ).

Next, the ultrasound generator 200 inputs the ultrasound according to the ultrasound focal position adjusted by the ultrasound focal position control unit 120 to the brain ( S200 ).

Next, the EEG measurement unit 310 measures the EEG signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S310). The EEG topography generating unit 410 analyzes the EEG signal output by the EEG measuring unit 310 to generate an EEG topography (S410).

Next, the stimulation position determining unit 430 determines the position of the brain actually stimulated by the ultrasound, that is, the stimulation position based on the EEG topographic map ( S430 ). In the EEG topography, the location where the nerve activity changes the most after ultrasound stimulation may be determined as the stimulation location.

Next, the ultrasonic focus position compensation value determining unit 510 compares the target position with the stimulation position and determines the difference value as the ultrasonic focus position compensation value ( S510 ).

Next, the ultrasonic focus position controller 120 adjusts the ultrasonic focus position according to the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasonic focus position compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold.

5 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound parameter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the parameter control unit 130 adjusts the parameters of the initial ultrasound to be input to the user through the ultrasound generator 200 with reference to the thickness of the user's brain, the thickness of the scalp, or the internal fat layer (S130).

Next, the ultrasound generator 200 inputs ultrasound according to the ultrasound parameters adjusted by the parameter control unit 130 to the brain ( S200 ).

Next, the EEG measurement unit 310 measures the EEG signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S310). The neural activity determining unit 440 analyzes the EEG signal output by the EEG measuring unit 310 to determine the neural activity ( S410 ).

Next, the parameter compensation value determiner 520 determines an optimal parameter based on the change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation, and determines a difference value between the determined optimal ultrasound parameter and the current ultrasound parameter as a parameter compensation value (S520) .

Next, the parameter controller 130 adjusts the ultrasound parameter according to the ultrasound parameter compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasound parameter compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold.

6 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position using a topographical map of fNIRs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the target position determiner 110 determines the target position of the brain to be stimulated (S110).

Next, the ultrasound focus position controller 120 adjusts the focal position of the initial ultrasound according to the ultrasound target position ( S120 ).

Next, the ultrasound generator 200 inputs the ultrasound according to the ultrasound focal position adjusted by the ultrasound focal position control unit 120 to the brain ( S200 ).

Next, the fNIRs measuring unit 320 measures the fNIRs signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S320). The fNIRs topography generating unit 420 generates an fNIRs topography by analyzing the fNIRs signal output by the fNIRs measuring unit 320 ( S420 ).

Next, the stimulation position determining unit 430 determines the position of the brain actually stimulated by ultrasound, ie, the stimulation position, based on the fNIRs topographic map ( S430 ). In the topography of fNIRs, the position with the largest change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation may be determined as the stimulation position.

Next, the ultrasonic focus position compensation value determining unit 510 compares the target position with the stimulation position and determines the difference value as the ultrasonic focus position compensation value ( S510 ).

Next, the ultrasonic focus position controller 120 adjusts the ultrasonic focus position according to the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasonic focus position compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold.

7 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound parameter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the parameter control unit 130 adjusts the parameters of the initial ultrasound to be input to the user through the ultrasound generator 200 with reference to the thickness of the user's brain, the thickness of the scalp, or the internal fat layer (S130).

Next, the ultrasound generator 200 inputs ultrasound according to the ultrasound parameters adjusted by the parameter control unit 130 to the brain ( S200 ).

Next, the fNIRs measuring unit 320 measures the fNIRs signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S320). The neural activity determining unit 440 analyzes the fNIRs signal output by the fNIRs measuring unit 320 to determine the neural activity ( S420 ).

Next, the parameter compensation value determiner 520 determines an optimal parameter based on the change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation, and determines a difference value between the determined optimal ultrasound parameter and the current ultrasound parameter as a parameter compensation value (S520) .

Next, the parameter controller 130 adjusts the ultrasound parameter according to the ultrasound parameter compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasound parameter compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold.

8 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an ultrasound focus position and parameters using an EEG topography and fNIRs topography according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the target position determiner 110 determines the target position of the brain to be stimulated (S110).

Next, the ultrasound focus position controller 120 adjusts the focal position of the initial ultrasound according to the ultrasound target position ( S120 ).

Next, the parameter control unit 130 adjusts the parameters of the initial ultrasound to be input to the user through the ultrasound generator 200 with reference to the thickness of the skull of the user's brain and the thickness of the scalp or internal fat layer (S130) .

Next, the ultrasound generator 200 inputs the ultrasound according to the ultrasound focus position adjusted by the ultrasound focus position control unit 120 and the ultrasound parameters adjusted by the parameter control unit 130 to the brain ( S200 ).

Next, the EEG measurement unit 310 measures the EEG signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S310). In addition, the fNIRs measuring unit 320 measures the fNIRs signal while stimulating the brain with ultrasound (S320).

The EEG topography generating unit 410 analyzes the EEG signal output by the EEG measuring unit 310 to generate an EEG topography (S410). In addition, the fNIRs topography generating unit 420 generates an fNIRs topography by analyzing the fNIRs signal output by the fNIRs measuring unit 320 ( S420 ).

Next, the stimulation position determining unit 430 determines the position of the brain actually stimulated by ultrasound, ie, the stimulation position, based on the EEG topography and the fNIRs topography ( S430 ). In the EEG topography or fNIRs topography, the location with the largest change in neuronal activity after ultrasound stimulation may be determined as the stimulation location. If the stimulation locations determined on the EEG topography and fNIRs topography are different, average them or select one by referring to other information about the user's brain, such as the thickness of the skull and the thickness of the internal fat layer, or each stimulation location weights can be applied.

Next, the ultrasonic focus position compensation value determining unit 510 compares the target position with the stimulation position and determines the difference value as the ultrasonic focus position compensation value ( S510 ). Also, the parameter compensation value determiner 520 determines an optimal parameter based on the change in neural activity after ultrasound stimulation, and determines a difference value between the determined optimal ultrasound parameter and the current ultrasound parameter as the parameter compensation value ( S520 ).

Next, the ultrasonic focus position controller 120 adjusts the ultrasonic focus position according to the ultrasonic focus position compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasonic focus position compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold. Also, the parameter controller 130 adjusts the ultrasound parameter according to the ultrasound parameter compensation value. The above steps may be repeated until the ultrasound parameter compensation value is less than a predetermined threshold.

Meanwhile, in the embodiments of the present invention, in particular, the evaluation unit 400 and the compensation unit 500 may be implemented as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes any type of recording device in which data readable by a computer system is stored.

Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc. include In addition, the computer-readable recording medium is distributed in a computer system connected to a network, so that the computer-readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. And functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by real-time monitoring of the EEG signal and/or fNIRs signal to determine the focal position, intensity, frequency, period, phase difference, etc. of ultrasound, and feedback it in real time, the ultrasound stimulation effect can be maximized. have.

In the above, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. You will understand that you can. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Ultrasonic control unit (100)
Target positioning unit 110
Ultrasonic focus position control unit 120
parameter control unit 130
Ultrasonic generator 200
Brain biosignal measurement unit 300
EEG measurement unit 310
fNIRs measuring unit 320
evaluation unit 400
EEG topographic map generator 410
fNIRs topographic map generator 420
Magnetic pole positioning unit 430
Nerve activity determination unit 440
Compensation unit (500)
Ultrasonic focus position compensation value determining unit 510
Parameter compensation value determining unit 520

Claims (16)

determining a target location of the brain to be stimulated;
controlling an ultrasound focus position according to the target position;
stimulating the brain with ultrasound according to the ultrasound focal position;
measuring a biosignal of the brain while stimulating the brain with the ultrasound;
determining a stimulation location of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals;
determining a compensation value of an ultrasound focal position by calculating an error between the target position and the stimulation position; and
and adjusting the ultrasound focal position according to a compensation value of the ultrasound focal position. According to claim 1,
And determining the neural activity of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signals, ultrasound stimulation control method. 3. The method of claim 2,
determining a compensation value of an ultrasound parameter according to the determined neural activity; and
and adjusting an ultrasound parameter according to a compensation value of the ultrasound parameter. 4. The method of claim 3,
The ultrasound parameter comprises at least one of ultrasound intensity, frequency and pulse duration. According to claim 1,
The determining of the stimulation position includes generating a topographic map of a brain based on the measured biosignal, and determining the stimulation position based on the generated topography of the brain. According to claim 1,
Measuring the biosignal of the brain includes measuring the EEG signal,
The step of determining the location of the stimulation of the brain,
generating an EEG topography based on the measured EEG signal; and
and determining, as the stimulation position, a position where nerve activity changes the most on the EEG topography. According to claim 1,
Measuring the biosignal of the brain includes measuring the fNIRs signal,
The step of determining the location of the stimulation of the brain,
generating an fNIRs topography based on the measured fNIRs signal; and
and determining, as the stimulation position, a position where nerve activity is most changed in the fNIRs topography. According to claim 1,
The step of stimulating the brain with ultrasound comprises stimulating the brain non-invasively outside the skull. an ultrasound control unit that determines a target position of a brain to be stimulated and controls an ultrasound focus position according to the target position;
an ultrasonic wave generator for stimulating the brain with ultrasonic waves according to the ultrasonic focus position;
a brain bio-signal measuring unit that measures a bio-signal of the brain while stimulating the brain with the ultrasound;
a stimulation position determining unit configured to determine a stimulation position of the brain stimulated by ultrasound based on the measured biosignal; and
and a compensator configured to calculate an error between the target position and the magnetic pole position to determine a compensation value for the ultrasound focal position;
The ultrasound control unit, the ultrasound stimulation control device for adjusting the ultrasound focus position according to the compensation value of the ultrasound focal position. 10. The method of claim 9,
The ultrasonic stimulation control apparatus further comprising a nerve activity determination unit for determining the nerve activity of the brain stimulated by the ultrasound based on the measured bio-signal. 11. The method of claim 10,
The compensator determines a compensation value of the ultrasound parameter according to the determined nerve activity,
The ultrasound control unit, the ultrasound stimulation control device for adjusting the ultrasound parameter according to the compensation value of the ultrasound parameter. 12. The method of claim 11,
The ultrasound parameter includes at least one of ultrasound intensity, frequency, and pulse duration. 11. The method of claim 10,
The stimulation position determining unit generates a topographic map of the brain based on the measured biosignal, and determines the stimulation position based on the generated topography of the brain. 10. The method of claim 9,
The brain biosignal measuring unit includes an EEG measuring unit measuring an EEG signal,
The ultrasonic stimulation control device further comprises an EEG topographic map generating unit that generates an EEG topographic map based on the measured EEG signal,
The stimulation position determining unit determines, as the stimulation position, the position where the neural activity changes the most on the EEG topography. 10. The method of claim 9,
The brain biosignal measuring unit comprises the step of measuring the fNIRs signal,
The ultrasonic stimulation control device further includes an fNIRs topographic map generator configured to generate an fNIRs topographic map based on the measured fNIRs signal,
The stimulation position determining unit determines, as the stimulation position, a position in the fNIRs topography where the neural activity changes the most. 10. The method of claim 9,
The ultrasonic stimulation control device, wherein the ultrasonic generator non-invasively stimulates the brain outside the skull.

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