Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States of America.
Phys Med Biol. 2018 Jan 26;63(3):035011. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa9fc2.
Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been employed on a wide range of clinical applications to safely and non-invasively achieve desired effects that have previously required invasive and lengthy procedures with conventional methods. Conventional electrical neuromodulation therapies that are applied to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are invasive and/or non-specific. Recently, focused ultrasound has demonstrated the ability to modulate the central nervous system and ex vivo peripheral neurons. Here, for the first time, noninvasive stimulation of the sciatic nerve eliciting a physiological response in vivo is demonstrated with FUS. FUS was applied on the sciatic nerve in mice with simultaneous electromyography (EMG) on the tibialis anterior muscle. EMG signals were detected during or directly after ultrasound stimulation along with observable muscle contraction of the hind limb. Transecting the sciatic nerve downstream of FUS stimulation eliminated EMG activity during FUS stimulation. Peak-to-peak EMG response amplitudes and latency were found to be comparable to conventional electrical stimulation methods. Histology along with behavioral and thermal testing did not indicate damage to the nerve or surrounding regions. The findings presented herein demonstrate that FUS can serve as a targeted, safe and non-invasive alternative to conventional peripheral nervous system stimulation to treat peripheral neuropathic diseases in the clinic.
聚焦超声（FUS）已广泛应用于各种临床应用中，可安全、非侵入性地实现以前需要传统方法进行侵入性和冗长程序才能达到的效果。应用于周围神经系统（PNS）的传统电神经调节疗法具有侵入性和/或非特异性。最近，聚焦超声已证明能够调节中枢神经系统和离体周围神经元。在这里，首次证明了 FUS 可无创刺激坐骨神经，在体内引起生理反应。在小鼠的坐骨神经上施加 FUS，同时在前胫骨肌肉上进行肌电图（EMG）。在超声刺激期间或直接在超声刺激后检测到 EMG 信号，同时观察到后肢肌肉收缩。在 FUS 刺激下游横切坐骨神经可消除 FUS 刺激期间的 EMG 活动。发现峰峰值 EMG 响应幅度和潜伏期与传统电刺激方法相当。组织学以及行为和热测试均未表明神经或周围区域受损。本文的研究结果表明，FUS 可以作为一种靶向、安全和非侵入性的替代传统周围神经系统刺激方法，用于临床治疗周围神经性疾病。
