US2011213266A1PendingUtilityA1

Closed Loop Neural Activity Triggered Rehabilitation Device And Method

34
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 1, 2010Filed: Mar 1, 2010Published: Sep 1, 2011
Est. expiryMar 1, 2030(~3.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Justin WilliamsVivek Prabhakaran
A61B 2505/09A61N 1/36031A61N 1/36003A61B 5/369A61B 5/4836A61B 5/375A61B 5/0036A61N 1/36014
34
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A closed loop, neural activity triggered rehabilitation device and method are provided for facilitating recovery of a patient from the effects of a sensory motor disability. The device includes a sensor system positionable adjacent the brain of the patient. The sensor system detects neural signals. A functional stimulation component is operatively connectable to at least one body part, such as a muscle or a nerve. The functional stimulation component stimulates the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected. A sensory stimulation module is operatively connected to the patient to provide sensory feedback thereto.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A closed loop, neural activity triggered rehabilitation device for facilitating recovery of a patient from the effects of a sensory motor disability, the patient including a brain and a body part, the device comprising:
 a sensor system positionable adjacent the brain, the sensor system for detecting neural signals; and   a functional stimulation component operatively connectable to at least one body part, the functional stimulation component stimulating the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a sensory stimulation module operatively connected to the patient to provide sensory feedback thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the sensory stimulation module includes a tongue stimulator operatively connectable to a tongue of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a central processing unit interconnecting the sensor system and the functional stimulation component, the central processing unit causing the functional stimulation component to stimulate the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sensor system includes an electroencephalography sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body part is at least one muscle and wherein:
 the sensor system includes a plurality of sensors; 
 the functional stimulation component includes a plurality of muscle stimulators connectable to the at least one muscle; and 
 
       wherein the device further comprises:
 a central processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of muscle stimulators; and 
 a multichannel amplifier interconnecting each of the plurality of sensors to the central processing unit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising a sensory stimulation module operatively connected to the central processing unit and to the patient to provide sensory feedback thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the sensory stimulation module includes a tongue stimulator operatively connectable to a tongue of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the functional stimulation component stimulates the at least one body part in response to predetermined parameters including a location of the sensory motor disability and a time period since the onset of the sensory motor disability. 
     
     
         10 . A closed loop, neural activity triggered rehabilitation device for facilitating recovery of a patient from the effects of a sensory motor disability, the patient including a brain and a body part, the device comprising:
 a plurality of sensors positionable adjacent the brain for detecting neural signals; and   a plurality of stimulators operatively connectable to the at least one body part, the plurality of stimulators stimulating the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a sensory stimulation module operatively connected to the patient to provide sensory feedback thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the sensory stimulation module includes a tongue stimulator operatively connectable to a tongue of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a central processing unit interconnecting the plurality of sensors and the plurality of stimulators, the central processing unit causing the plurality of stimulators to stimulate the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of sensors are electroencephalography sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a central processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of stimulators; and 
 a multichannel amplifier interconnecting each of the plurality of sensors to the central processing unit. 
 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a sensory stimulation module operatively connected to the central processing unit and to the patient to provide sensory feedback thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the sensory stimulation module includes a tongue stimulator operatively connectable to a tongue of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . A method for facilitating the recovery of a patient from the effects of a sensory motor disability, comprising the steps of:
 measuring neural signals from a brain using scalp-electroencephalography waves; and   applying electrical stimulation to a body part in response to the measured neural signals.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising the additional step of applying general sensory stimulation to the patient in conjunction with the electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the general sensory stimulation is applied to a tongue of the patient. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  comprising the additional step of positioning scalp electrodes on the patient to measure the neural signals. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the scalp electrodes are electroencephalography sensors. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  comprising the additional step of conducting a functional magnetic resonance imaging test to determine a proper position of the scalp electrodes to measure the neural signals. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the body part is a muscle. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the body part is a nerve.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2011213266A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.