CN-122003278-A - System and method for ultrasound modulation of blood cells

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices, systems, and methods for reducing inflammation. A method of reducing inflammation includes directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells, wherein directing ultrasound to the plurality of blood cells causes a reduction in inflammation associated with the plurality of blood cells. A system configured to reduce inflammation includes an ultrasound transducer configured to direct ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells to cause a reduction in inflammation caused by or associated with the plurality of blood cells.

Inventors

• Herbert Lim
• Morgan Nieuhoff
• Adam Tuma
• Daniel. Zax
• Claire Kaiser
• Anna Ogen

Assignees

• 明尼苏达大学董事会

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20240911

Priority Date

20230911

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method of reducing inflammation comprising: ultrasound is directed to a plurality of blood cells, Wherein directing ultrasound to the plurality of blood cells causes a reduction in inflammation caused by or associated with the plurality of blood cells.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring an inflammatory marker of at least a portion of the plurality of blood cells.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: ultrasound is directed to a plurality of blood cells in a subject.
4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in a subject, Wherein the plurality of blood cells are disposed within a pooled or slowly moving blood reservoir.
5. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject further comprises: directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject, Wherein the plurality of blood cells are disposed within at least one of spleen, liver, kidney, pancreas, lymph node, lymphoid tissue, heart, brain, intestine, blood vessels, veins, arteries, capillaries, swelling in joints, swelling in tissue, muscle, tumor, eyeball, bruise or hematoma, outer ear region, inner ear region, gum, nasal cavity region of the subject.
6. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject further comprises: directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject, Wherein the plurality of blood cells are disposed within a meninges of a brain of the subject.
7. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject further comprises: Ultrasound is directed to a plurality of blood cells in the subject, while ultrasound is not directed to neural tissue in the subject.
8. 8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of blood cells comprises immune cells.
9. 9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of blood cells comprises Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs).
10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the PBMCs comprise at least one of T cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes or dendritic cells.
11. 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the inflammatory marker comprises at least one of ESR, CRP, ferritin/d-dimer, IL-1 β, IFN- γ, MCP-1, IL-8, TNF- α, NF- κ B, IL-6, IL-10, MAPK14, and MCP-1.
12. 12. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: ultrasound is directed to the plurality of blood cells using a1 MHz transducer.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: ultrasound was directed to the plurality of blood cells using the 1 MHz transducer for 20 minutes at 780 kPa pressure, 136 μs pulse width, and 1 or 2 kHz repetition frequency.
14. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: Ultrasound was directed to the plurality of blood cells using the 1 MHz transducer for 10 minutes at 550 kPa pressure, 136 μs pulse width, and 1 or 2 kHz repetition frequency.
15. 15. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: Ultrasound is directed to the plurality of blood cells using a wearable transducer.
16. 16. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein prior to directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells, the method comprises: the subject is imaged to identify the plurality of blood cells.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein imaging the subject to identify the plurality of blood cells further comprises: the object is imaged using ultrasound.
18. 18. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in a subject, Wherein the plurality of blood cells are arranged in at least two different locations within the subject.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells further comprises: In at least two different locations of the blood vessel, directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject, Wherein the ultrasound is directed to at least two different locations in the blood vessel based on the flow of blood through the blood vessel.
20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells in the subject in at least two different locations of the blood vessel further comprises: Ultrasound is directed to a plurality of blood cells in the subject in at least two different locations of the blood vessel based on the addition of a tracer substance to the blood.

Description

System and method for ultrasound modulation of blood cells Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application is based on and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/537,752, filed on 9/11 at 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Statement regarding federally sponsored research The invention was completed with government support under 140D0419C0092 awarded by the national defense advanced research planning Agency (DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH Projects Agency). The government has certain rights in this invention. Background Recent research efforts seek to suppress inflammatory responses by applying ultrasonic stimulation to the nervous system, such as by stimulating the vagus and splenic nerves. The stimulus is thought to drive neurological effects in the spleen, thereby causing a cascade of physiological effects that drive anti-inflammatory effects. However, their mechanisms and cellular targets are not fully understood. Thus, there is a need to further investigate and understand this anti-inflammatory response. Disclosure of Invention Embodiments of the present invention provide devices, systems, and methods for reducing inflammation. In one embodiment, a method of reducing inflammation includes directing ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells, wherein directing ultrasound to the plurality of blood cells causes a reduction in inflammation associated with the plurality of blood cells. In another embodiment, a system for reducing inflammation is provided. The system includes an ultrasound transducer configured to direct ultrasound to a plurality of blood cells to cause a reduction in inflammation associated with the plurality of blood cells. Drawings Various objects, features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. Fig. 1A is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process of applying ultrasonic stimulation to blood cells in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. Fig. 1B is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of applying ultrasonic stimulation to blood cells in an ex vivo environment in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Fig. 1C is a flow chart illustrating another exemplary process of applying ultrasonic stimulation to blood cells in an ex vivo environment in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is an exemplary ultrasound stimulation system that may be used in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an ultrasound system that may be used in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 4A is a block diagram of one non-limiting example of an ultrasound device for providing stimulation. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of one non-limiting exemplary treatment module housing. Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of one non-limiting exemplary treatment module base (base). Fig. 4D is a cross-sectional view of one non-limiting exemplary assembled treatment module. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of one non-limiting exemplary ultrasound system configuration. Fig. 6A shows exemplary data from a first embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 6B illustrates additional exemplary data from a first embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 6C illustrates additional exemplary data from a first embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 7A shows exemplary data from a second embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 7B illustrates additional exemplary data from a second embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 7C illustrates additional exemplary data from a second embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 8A shows exemplary data from a third embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 8B shows additional exemplary data from a third embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Fig. 8C shows additional exemplary data from a third embodiment of experimental results obtained using the systems and methods of the present disclosure. Detailed Description Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illust