Method for obtaining near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral signal
Inventors
IBAÑEZ BALLESTEROS, Joaquin • Molina Rodriguez, Sergio • Belmonte Martinez, Carlos
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11589750-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for obtaining a near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cerebral signal in a subject includes: placing a near-infrared emitter and respective proximal and distal near-infrared detectors on a skin of a head of a subject; during a baseline recording stage with the subject in resting-state, record near-infrared signals, the recorded signals including a baseline deep-signal and a baseline shallow-signal; calculate a scaling factor between amplitudes of the baseline deep-signal and the baseline shallow-signal at a given task-frequency; with the subject undergoing a cyclic cerebral stimulation at the task-frequency during a stimulation recording stage, record near-infrared signals, the recorded signals comprising a shallow-signal and a deep-signal; and applying the scaling factor to the shallow-signal, calculating the cerebral signal at the task-frequency as a difference between the deep-signal and the scaled shallow-signal, at the task-frequency.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method to obtain a near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cerebral signal in a subject by placing a near-infrared emitter, a first near-infrared detector, and a second near-infrared detector on a skin of a head. The first detector is placed closer to the emitter than the second detector, so that the second detector receives a baseline deep-signal and the first detector receives a baseline shallow-signal during a baseline recording stage with the subject in resting-state.
During the baseline recording stage, the method records near-infrared signals received from the emitter in the first and second detectors and calculates, by a computer, a scaling factor between amplitudes of the baseline deep-signal and the baseline shallow-signal at a given frequency. The subject then undergoes a cyclic cerebral stimulation according to an activity that occurs at the given frequency during a stimulation recording stage.
During the stimulation recording stage, the method records near-infrared signals comprising a shallow-signal received by the first detector and a deep-signal received by the second detector. A cerebral signal at the given frequency is then obtained by applying the scaling factor to the shallow-signal, and calculating the cerebral signal at the given frequency as a difference between the deep-signal and the scaled shallow-signal, at the given frequency. The same concept is reflected in the system claim by a device configured to place the emitter and detectors and a computer configured to perform these baseline and stimulation operations.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims: a method for obtaining an fNIRS cerebral signal and a corresponding system. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features relate to baseline deep/shallow signal acquisition, frequency-specific amplitude scaling, and cerebral-signal computation at a given frequency as a deep-signal minus a scaled shallow-signal.
Deep and shallow detector placement for fNIRS cerebral signal
Placing a near-infrared emitter, a first near-infrared detector, and a second near-infrared detector on a skin of a head of a subject, the first near-infrared detector being placed closer to the near-infrared emitter than the second near-infrared detector.
Baseline resting-state recording to obtain deep and shallow signals
During a baseline recording stage with the subject in resting-state, recording, by a computer, near-infrared signals received from the near-infrared emitter in the first and second near-infrared detectors, comprising a baseline deep-signal received by the second near-infrared detector, and a baseline shallow-signal received by the first near-infrared detector.
Frequency-specific scaling factor between baseline deep and shallow amplitudes
Calculating, by the computer, a scaling factor between amplitudes of the baseline deep-signal and the baseline shallow-signal at a given frequency.
Cyclic cerebral stimulation at the given frequency with paired deep and shallow recordings
With the subject undergoing a cyclic cerebral stimulation according to an activity that occurs at the given frequency during a stimulation recording stage, recording, by the computer, near-infrared signals received from the near-infrared emitter in the first and second near-infrared detectors, comprising a shallow-signal received by the first near-infrared detector, and a deep-signal received by the second near-infrared detector.
Cerebral signal at the given frequency as deep minus scaled shallow
Obtaining, by the computer, a cerebral signal at the given frequency during stimulation by applying the scaling factor to the shallow-signal; and calculating the cerebral signal at the given frequency as a difference between the deep-signal and the scaled shallow-signal, at the given frequency.
System with emitter/detectors device and computer configured for baseline scaling and deep-minus-scaled-shallow cerebral signal
A system comprising a device comprising a near-infrared emitter, a first near-infrared detector, and a second near-infrared detector adapted for placing the near-infrared emitter and the first and second near-infrared detectors on a skin of a head of a subject, the first near-infrared detector being placed closer to the near-infrared emitter than the second near-infrared detector; and a computer configured to perform baseline resting-state recording, calculate a scaling factor between amplitudes of the baseline deep-signal and the baseline shallow-signal with respect to a task that occurs at a given frequency, record signals during cyclic cerebral stimulation, apply the scaling factor to the shallow-signal, and calculate the cerebral signal at the given frequency as a difference between the deep-signal and the scaled shallow-signal.
The independent claims consistently require a paired deep/shallow measurement arrangement, baseline resting-state amplitude comparison to compute a frequency-specific scaling factor, and computation of a cerebral signal at the given frequency during cyclic cerebral stimulation as the difference between a deep-signal and the scaled shallow-signal.
Stated Advantages
Obtain a cerebral signal at a given frequency during stimulation by separating a deep-signal and a scaled shallow-signal.
Documented Applications
Diagnosis and assessment of a clinical entity involving a brain functional change using a cerebral signal and a relation to an extracerebral response.
Diagnosis and assessment of brain functional change in dementias such as Alzheimer’s.
Diagnosis and assessment of brain functional change in neurodevelopment disorders.
Diagnosis and assessment of brain functional change in affective disorders.
Diagnosis and assessment of brain functional change in autonomic dysfunction.
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