System for variably configurable, adaptable electrode arrays and effectuating software
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Publication Number
US-11633595-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Electrical non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) delivers weak electrical currents to the brain via electrodes that are affixed to the scalp. NIBS can excite or inhibit the brain in areas that are impacted by that electrical current during and for a short time following stimulation. Electrical NIBS can be used to change brain structure in terms of increasing white matter integrity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging. Together the electrical NIBS can induce changes in brain structure and function. The present methods and devices are adaptable to and configurable for facilitating the enhancement of brain performance, and the treatment of neurological diseases and tissues. The present methods and devices are advantageously designed to utilize modern electrodes deployed with, inter alia, various spatial arrangements, polarities, and current strengths to target brain areas or networks to thereby enhance performance or deliver therapeutic interventions.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to recording a first level brain activity corresponding to a low performance state and recording a second level brain activity corresponding to a high performance state. A difference between the recorded first level and the recorded second level is determined to produce a difference image. The difference image is modeled to determine a corresponding pattern of electrical activity.
One or more regions of maximal current density on a scalp surface are identified corresponding to the pattern of electrical activity. The invention further stimulates the one or more regions on the scalp surface such that the corresponding regions of the brain are stimulated.
The described approach is neuroimaging-guided non-invasive brain stimulation, including neuroimaging-guided TDCS (ng-TDCS), using a difference image between desirable brain state and undesirable brain state or low versus high performance state and targeting scalp regions associated with the modeled current-density pattern.
The disclosed system includes variably configurable electrode arrays with adjustable spatial arrangements and electrode polarity, and uses finite element modeling to model the difference image for determining the electrical activity pattern and maximal current density on the scalp. The system further includes equipment and control components for multi-channel electrical stimulation, including independent current sources and impedance monitoring with ramp up and ramp down, together with portable electrode housing/headgear and gel-filled circular or toroid electrodes.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover three claim categories: method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium. Each independent claim includes the same core sequence of inventive operations: comparing low and high performance states to form a difference image, modeling that difference image to determine a pattern of electrical activity, identifying maximal current-density scalp regions, and stimulating corresponding brain regions.
Low and high performance state difference imaging
Recording a first level brain activity corresponding to a low performance state; recording a second level brain activity corresponding to a high performance state; determining a difference between the recorded first level and the recorded second level to produce a difference image.
Modeling the difference image to an electrical activity pattern
Modeling the difference image to determine a corresponding pattern of electrical activity.
Maximal current density scalp targeting
Identifying one or more regions of maximal current density on a scalp surface corresponding to the pattern of electrical activity.
Electrode stimulation of targeted scalp regions
Stimulating the one or more regions on the scalp surface such that the corresponding regions of the brain are stimulated.
Processor-executable instructions implementing the neuroimaging difference/model/target/stimulate workflow
An apparatus having at least one processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions to execute the method comprising recording a first level brain activity corresponding to a low performance state; recording a second level brain activity corresponding to a high performance state; determining a difference to produce a difference image; modeling the difference image to determine a pattern of electrical activity; identifying one or more regions of maximal current density on a scalp surface; and causing at least one electrode to stimulate the one or more regions such that corresponding regions of the brain are stimulated.
Computer-readable medium executing the difference/model/target/stimulate workflow
A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions to cause at least one processor to execute a method comprising recording a first level brain activity corresponding to a low performance state; recording a second level brain activity corresponding to a high performance state; determining a difference to produce a difference image; modeling the difference image to determine a pattern of electrical activity; identifying one or more regions of maximal current density on a scalp surface; and causing at least one electrode to stimulate the one or more regions such that corresponding regions of the brain are stimulated.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on using brain activity recordings from low and high performance states to form a difference image, modeling that difference image to determine a pattern of electrical activity, selecting scalp regions of maximal current density corresponding to that pattern, and stimulating those scalp regions so that corresponding brain regions are stimulated. The apparatus and computer-readable medium claims cover processor-executable instruction implementations of the same workflow.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Cognitive enhancement, training, rehabilitation, and neurological/psychiatric conditions.
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