Systems for the detection and delivery of neurochemical and electrical signals for functional restoration
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- detecting, using one or more probes of a first implantable device located within a first region of a brain of a mammal, first neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within said first region of said brain or first electrical signals that indicate electrical activity of said first region of said brain;
telemetering, from a first control unit of said first implantable device and to a second control unit of a second implantable device that is located proximal to a targeted nerve tissue downstream of a damaged or severed nerve tissue of said mammal outside of said brain of said mammal, first information about said first neurochemical signals or about said first electrical signals;
receiving, by said second control unit of said second implantable device, said first information about said first neurochemical signals or about said first electrical signals;
delivering, using one or more electrodes of said second implantable device, electrical stimulation to said targeted nerve tissue based on said first information about said first neurochemical signals;
detecting, using one or more probes of said second implantable device, second neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within a region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue or second electrical signals that indicate electrical activity of said region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue;
telemetering, from said second control unit of said second implantable device and to a third control unit of a third implantable device that is located within a second region of said brain of said mammal, second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals, wherein said second region is different from said first region of said brain of said mammal;
receiving, by said third control unit of said third implantable device, said second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals; and
delivering, using one or more electrodes or one or more microfluidic delivery components of said third implantable device, electrical stimulation or one or more neurochemicals to said second region of said brain of said mammal based on said second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals.
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Abstract
This document provides methods and materials involved in detecting and delivering neurochemical signals, electrophysiological signals, ions, or combinations thereof within a mammal. For example, systems that can include one or more implantable devices containing probes configured to detect neurochemical signals (e.g., neurotransmitter concentrations), electrical signals, ions, or combinations thereof and one or more implantable devices containing electrodes and/or microfluidic delivery components configured to deliver neurochemical signals (e.g., neurotransmitters), electrical signals, ions, or combinations thereof to one or more locations within a mammal are provided.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting, using one or more probes of a first implantable device located within a first region of a brain of a mammal, first neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within said first region of said brain or first electrical signals that indicate electrical activity of said first region of said brain; telemetering, from a first control unit of said first implantable device and to a second control unit of a second implantable device that is located proximal to a targeted nerve tissue downstream of a damaged or severed nerve tissue of said mammal outside of said brain of said mammal, first information about said first neurochemical signals or about said first electrical signals; receiving, by said second control unit of said second implantable device, said first information about said first neurochemical signals or about said first electrical signals; delivering, using one or more electrodes of said second implantable device, electrical stimulation to said targeted nerve tissue based on said first information about said first neurochemical signals; detecting, using one or more probes of said second implantable device, second neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within a region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue or second electrical signals that indicate electrical activity of said region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue; telemetering, from said second control unit of said second implantable device and to a third control unit of a third implantable device that is located within a second region of said brain of said mammal, second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals, wherein said second region is different from said first region of said brain of said mammal; receiving, by said third control unit of said third implantable device, said second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals; and delivering, using one or more electrodes or one or more microfluidic delivery components of said third implantable device, electrical stimulation or one or more neurochemicals to said second region of said brain of said mammal based on said second information about said second neurochemical signals or about said second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a first implantable device comprising (i) a first control unit configured to provide wireless communication capabilities for said first implantable device and (ii) a first probe configured to detect, within a first region of a brain of a mammal, at least one of electrical signals within said first region of said brain or neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within said first region of said brain; a second implantable device comprising (i) a second control unit configured to provide wireless communication capabilities for said second implantable device, (ii) a first electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to targeted nerve tissue that is located outside of said brain and downstream of damaged or severed nerve tissue of said mammal and (iii) a second probe configured to detect neurochemical signals that indicate concentrations of one or more neurotransmitters within a region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue; and a third implantable device comprising (i) a third control unit configured to provide wireless communication capabilities for said third implantable device and (ii) a second electrode configured to deliver electrical signals to a second region of said brain that is different from said first region of said brain or a microfluidic delivery component configured to administer a neurochemical to said second region of said brain; wherein said first implantable device is configured to use said first control unit to wirelessly telemeter first information about said electrical signals or said neurochemical signals detected by said first probe of said first implantable device within said first region of said brain, wherein said second implantable device is configured to receive with said second control unit said first information that was wirelessly telemetered from said first implantable device, or to receive information derived from said first information, and to deliver electrical stimulation to said targeted nerve tissue outside of said brain based on said first information, or based on said information derived from said first information, wherein said second implantable device is configured to use said second control unit to wirelessly telemeter second information about said neurochemical signals detected by said second implantable device within said region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue outside of said brain, and wherein said third implantable device is configured to receive with said third control unit said second information that was wirelessly telemetered from said second implantable device, or to receive information derived from said second information, and to deliver electrical stimulation or administer neurochemicals to said second region of said brain based on said second information, or based on said information derived from said second information, about said neurochemical signals detected by said second implantable device within said region proximal to said targeted nerve tissue outside of said brain. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification