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Publication Number
US-11738194-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a closed loop computer brain interface device for an individual comprising a receiver module configured to obtain at least one sensor signal indicative of a movement or action of the individual, a processing module operably connected to the receiver module and configured to determine at least one neuronal feedback signal based at least in part on the obtained sensor signal and a transmitter module operably connected to the processing module and configured to transmit the determined neuronal feedback signal to a neurostimulation device of the individual or a neurostimulation module operably connected to the processing module, wherein the neuronal feedback signal is configured to elicit a sensory percept in the cortex of the individual via stimulating afferent sensory axons of the central nervous system targeting sensory neurons of the cortex of the individual and wherein the elicited sensory percept indicates movement support information related to the obtained sensor signal to support the execution of the movement or action of the individual.The present invention further relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing a closed loop computer brain interface device when being executed by signal processing and transceiver modules of a signal and data processing device, a neuronal stimulation device or system.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a closed loop computer brain interface (CLCBI) device for an individual. A receiver obtains a sensor signal indicative of a movement or action of the individual, and a processor determines, based on the obtained sensor signal, a first neuronal feedback signal from a stored plurality of neuronal feedback signals. The selected neuronal feedback signal is provided to stimulate afferent sensory axons of a central nervous system targeting sensory neurons of the cortex, so that a first sensory percept is elicited in the cortex.
The memory stores the plurality of neuronal feedback signals configured to elicit corresponding respective sensory percepts in a cortex of the individual. The plurality of sensory percepts is linked to a plurality of respective movement support information through a training procedure carried out by the individual. The first sensory percept elicited by the first neuronal feedback signal indicates first movement support information related to the obtained sensor signal, to assist the individual with execution of the movement or action of the individual.
In this closed loop framework, the disclosed system relates movement or action sensor information to neuronal feedback signals that elicit cortical sensory percepts conveying movement support information. The stored plurality of neuronal feedback signals and the associated percept-to-information linkage are established via the training procedure carried out by the individual. The interface is further described as using stimulating afferent sensory axons targeting cortical sensory neurons of the individual to communicate movement support information through elicited sensory percepts.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claim sets: a CLCBI device, a non-transitory computer readable memory medium, and a method. Collectively, the independent claims define a sensory-signal-to-stored-neuronal-feedback selection and stimulation process that elicits cortical sensory percepts indicating movement support information, where the percepts are linked to movement support information through a training procedure.
Closed loop computer brain interface device for movement support through cortical sensory percepts
A CLCBI device comprising a receiver to obtain a sensor signal indicative of a movement or action; non-transitory memory storing a plurality of neuronal feedback signals configured to elicit corresponding sensory percepts in a cortex by stimulating afferent sensory axons targeting cortical sensory neurons; where the sensory percepts are linked to movement support information through a training procedure carried out by the individual; and a processor that accesses the memory, determines a first neuronal feedback signal based on the obtained sensor signal, and provides the first neuronal feedback signal to stimulate the afferent sensory axons to elicit a sensory percept indicating movement support information related to the obtained sensor signal to assist execution of the movement or action.
Program instructions and neuronal feedback signals in a memory medium for cortical percept-based movement support
A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions and a plurality of neuronal feedback signals configured to elicit corresponding sensory percepts in a cortex via stimulating afferent sensory axons targeting sensory neurons of the cortex; where the sensory percepts are linked to movement support information through a training procedure carried out by the individual; and program instructions executable by a processor to obtain a sensor signal indicative of a movement or action, access the memory to determine a neuronal feedback signal based at least in part on the obtained sensor signal, and transmit the neuronal feedback signal to a neurostimulation device or module to stimulate afferent sensory neurons to elicit a sensory percept indicating movement support information related to the obtained sensor signal to assist execution of the movement or action.
Method of selecting neuronal feedback signals to elicit movement-support sensory percepts in cortex
A method comprising obtaining a sensor signal indicative of a movement or action; storing in a non-transitory computer-readable memory medium a plurality of neuronal feedback signals configured to elicit corresponding sensory percepts in a cortex via stimulating afferent sensory axons targeting cortical sensory neurons, where the sensory percepts are linked to movement support information through a training procedure carried out by the individual; and by a processor accessing the memory and determining, based on the obtained sensor signal, a first neuronal feedback signal; and providing the first neuronal feedback signal to stimulate the afferent sensory axons and elicit a first sensory percept in the cortex indicating movement support information related to the obtained sensor signal to assist execution of the movement or action.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the same: a sensor signal indicative of movement/action is used to select a stored neuronal feedback signal, the neuronal feedback signal is delivered to stimulate afferent sensory axons targeting cortical sensory neurons, and the resulting cortical sensory percept indicates movement support information. The linkage between sensory percepts and movement support information is established via a training procedure carried out by the individual.
Stated Advantages
Assists the individual with execution of the movement or action of the individual by indicating movement support information through a first sensory percept in the cortex.
Indicates movement support information to the individual by eliciting sensory percepts in the cortex linked to movement support information through a training procedure carried out by the individual.
Documented Applications
Behavioral training and neurorehabilitation using a closed-loop computer brain interface that elicits sensory percepts conveying movement support information linked to patient movement/action.
Prosthetic system control interface using the closed-loop computer brain interface described in the partial content.
Reach-and-grasp with cueing training tasks.
Balance rehabilitation using accelerometers.
Motion correction using quasi-continuous feedback.
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