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Publication Number
US-11344725-B2
Publication Date
2022-05-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for providing neuronal stimulation signals configured to elicit sensory percepts in the cortex of an individual, comprising means for obtaining spatial information relating to the actual or planned position of at least one neuronal stimulation means relative to at least one afferent axon targeting at least one sensory neuron in the cortex of the individual and means for determining at least one neuronal stimulation signal to be applied to at least one afferent axon via the at least one neuronal stimulation means based at least in part on the obtained spatial information.The present invention further relates to a system for communicating conceptual information to an individual, comprising means for selecting at least one neuronal stimulation signal to be applied to at least one afferent axon targeting at least one sensory neuron in the cortex of the individual, wherein the at least one neuronal stimulation signal corresponds to the conceptual information to be communicated and means for transmitting the at least one neuronal stimulation signa to at least one neuronal stimulation means of the individual.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a neuronal communication system for stimulating sensory neurons in a cortex of an individual. It stores relations between a plurality of sensory percepts of the individual and a plurality of respective corresponding neuronal stimulation signals to be applied to at least one afferent axon targeting the sensory neurons in the cortex. Different sensory percepts are associated with distinct information to be communicated to the individual, and the stimulation signals are configured to evoke corresponding sensory percepts in the cortex.
The processor selects and transmits at least one neuronal stimulation signal via transmitter circuitry to at least one neuronal stimulation device configured to induce a sequence of action potentials in the at least one afferent axon. The selected neuronal stimulation signal is adapted to induce the sequence of action potentials and thereby evoke, in the cortex of the individual, at least one respective sensory percept corresponding to the selected neuronal stimulation signal. This is used to communicate distinct information associated with the respective sensory percept to the individual.
The system further supports individualized and spatially informed communication by using spatial information of the electrode versus afferent axon, neuronal connectivity information, an electric field distribution, tractography and neuronal connectivity information, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and finite element method (FEM) and neuronal compartment modeling. It also uses cortical excitation data, perceptual learning data, and conceptual learning data together with stimulation parameter spaces to form and select stimulation signals.
The approach enables conceptual information communication by selecting stimulation signals from an individual-calibrated personalized library of relations between sensory percepts/VTAs and conceptual message blocks. The document describes channel formation by selectively recruiting distinct axon populations/VTAs and using multi-contact electrical/DBS hardware and a digital signal processor/RF/transmitter architecture.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are directed to a system, a method, and a non-transitory memory that center on individualized relations between sensory percepts and corresponding neuronal stimulation signals, and on selecting and transmitting those signals to induce sequences of action potentials in afferent axons to evoke specific sensory percepts for communicating distinct information.
Percept-to-neuronal stimulation signal relations for evoking sensory percepts
A processor coupled to a digital signal processor and a non-transitory memory, wherein the non-transitory memory stores relations between a plurality of sensory percepts of the individual and a plurality of respective corresponding neuronal stimulation signals to be applied to at least one afferent axon targeting the sensory neurons in the cortex of the individual, wherein different sensory percepts of the plurality of sensory percepts are associated with distinct information to be communicated to the individual.
Selecting and transmitting stimulation signals to induce action potentials
The processor is coupled to transmitter circuitry and is configured to select and transmit at least one neuronal stimulation signal of the plurality of neuronal stimulation signals via the transmitter circuitry to at least one neuronal stimulation device configured to induce a sequence of action potentials in the at least one afferent axon corresponding to the at least one selected neuronal stimulation signal.
Evoke corresponding sensory percepts for communicating distinct information
The at least one selected neuronal stimulation signal is adapted to induce said sequence of action potentials in the at least one afferent axon and thereby evoke, in the cortex of the individual, at least one respective sensory percept corresponding to the at least one selected neuronal stimulation signal to communicate the distinct information associated with the at least one respective sensory percept to the individual.
Memory with program instructions to select and transmit stimulation signals
The non-transitory memory further stores program instructions executable by a processor to select and transmit at least one neuronal stimulation signal of the plurality of neuronal stimulation signals via transmitter circuitry to at least one neuronal stimulation device configured to induce a sequence of action potentials in the at least one afferent axon corresponding to the at least one selected neuronal stimulation signal.
Across independent claims, the coverage centers on individualized relations between sensory percepts and corresponding neuronal stimulation signals, selection and transmission of those signals via transmitter circuitry to a neuronal stimulation device, and adaptation of the selected stimulation signal to induce sequences of action potentials in afferent axons so that corresponding sensory percepts are evoked in the cortex to communicate distinct information.
Stated Advantages
Communicates distinct information to the individual by evoking sensory percepts corresponding to selected neuronal stimulation signals in the cortex.
Allows different sensory percepts to be associated with distinct information through stored relations between sensory percepts and neuronal stimulation signals.
Enables individualized selection of stimulation signals using an individual-calibrated personalized library of relations.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic DBS neuromodulator unused contacts are used for sensory communication and potential biofeedback transfer.
Conceptual information communication using selected stimulation signals from an individual-calibrated personalized library of relations between sensory percepts/VTAs and conceptual message blocks.
Communication channels formed by selectively recruiting distinct axon populations/VTAs for conveying information via evoked sensory percepts in cortex.
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