METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION VIA TRANSCRANIAL-FOCUSED-ULTRASOUND

• Main Authors: LEA-BANKS, Harriet, HYNYNEN, Kullervo
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.05.2025
• Subjects: BABY COMFORTERS; CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICALPURPOSES; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGINGPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ORADMINISTERING FORMS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE

A minimally invasive method for the reduction of hypertension is provided using focused ultrasound. After injection of ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets loaded with a therapeutic agent (e.g. barbiturates), focused ultrasound is delivered to a norepinephrine-producing region, such as the periaqueductal gray region, thereby locally releasing the therapeutic agent payload from the nanodroplets and achieving a therapeutic reduction in blood pressure. Acoustic emissions from vaporizing droplets may be employed, for example, to infer one or more therapeutic parameters based on a pre-established correlation. For example, plasma hormone content and/or the change in blood pressure may be inferred, thereby providing a means of real-time treatment monitoring. The present example methods may be employed to achieve a reduction in blood pressure for subjects exhibiting drug-resistant hypertension.