Neuromodulation targeting using voxel utility values
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neuromodulation techniques for neuropsychiatric functions often rely on coarse modulation settings and require a timely titration period to achieve desired effects, lacking precision in targeting specific brain areas based on individual nervous system pathways.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize connectomes of the brain to determine optimal locations for neuromodulation by acquiring structural and connectivity images, calculating utility values for voxels within a region of interest, and delivering neuromodulation to specific areas, incorporating bioparameter-guided detection and prediction of functional status and symptom status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If coarse modulation settings are used for neuromodulation, then the treatment can be applied broadly to multiple brain areas, but the precision in targeting specific brain areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by calculating individual utility values for each voxel within the region of interest based on patient-specific structural and connectivity images. This allows the treatment to be highly specific to the individual patient's brain anatomy and neural pathways, transforming a coarse broad-coverage approach into a precise localized treatment that adapts to each patient's unique brain architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the brain into individual voxels within a region of interest and evaluates each voxel's utility separately. By dividing the treatment space into discrete volumetric elements and assessing their individual contribution to the therapeutic goal, the system can identify and target the most effective specific locations rather than applying uniform coarse modulation across the entire region.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional neuromodulation methods are used, then the treatment protocol is simpler to implement, but a timely titration period is required to achieve desired effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by calculating utility values for all voxels before treatment delivery begins. By pre-evaluating the structural and connectivity images and determining the optimal target voxel in advance, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming titration periods where treatment parameters would need to be gradually adjusted and evaluated. The optimal treatment parameters are determined upfront based on individual patient anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms by using patient-specific structural and connectivity imaging data to guide treatment targeting. This feedback loop allows the system to optimize treatment delivery from the start based on individual patient characteristics, reducing the trial-and-error titration period required by traditional methods that lack such personalized feedback.
3Manufacturing precision
If individualized voxel-level utility calculation is performed, then the targeting precision is improved, but the computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for treatment targeting from the complex imaging data. By focusing calculation on utility values for voxels within a defined region of interest rather than processing the entire brain volume, and by using this extracted information to identify a single optimal target voxel, the system achieves high precision while managing computational complexity through selective data extraction and focused analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for targeting neuromodulation. A first image, representing a structure of the brain, is acquired from a first imaging system and a second image, representing a connectivity of the brain, is acquired from either the first imaging system or a second imaging system. A first utility value associated with directly modulating tissue within a region of interest is determined for each of a plurality of voxels within the region of interest from the first image. A second utility value associated with indirectly modulating tissue outside of the region of interest by modulating tissue within the region of interest is determined for each of the plurality of voxels from the second image. An overall utility value for each of the plurality of voxels is determined from the first utility value and the second utility value, and an optimal location is determined from the overall utility values.