Brain-machine interface systems and methods

• US 20040133118A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York University
• Original Assignee: New York University
• Inventors: Llinas, Rodolfo R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

A system and method for interfacing a brain with a machine. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention employs a vascular approach in which one or more nano-electrodes are deployed in vasculature having a close geometric relationship with proximal innervation. Each nano-electrode is preferably deployed in a blood vessel so that its sensing end is at or near a nerve passing close to or intersecting the blood vessel. The sensing end of each nano-electrode is adapted so as to be carried along in the blood stream so as to position the sensing end at a desired point within the blood vessel. An array of nano-electrodes of varying lengths can be used to monitor multiple nerves or neurons along a blood vessel.

Claims

1. A method of sensing the activity of neural tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an electrode in a blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue; and

monitoring a signal on the electrode,

wherein the signal is indicative of the activity of the neural tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a sensing end, the sensing end of the electrode being placed in the blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is inserted into the blood vessel at a point upstream of a junction with another blood vessel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a sensing end of the electrode is deployed to a point downstream of the junction.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

placing a further electrode on the neural tissue proximate to the electrode;

applying a stimulus to the neural tissue;

monitoring a further signal on the further electrode; and

comparing the signal to the further signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a nano-electrode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises an array of nano-electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the nano-electrodes have different lengths.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the nano-electrode comprises a cup-like end.

10. A device for sensing the activity of neural tissue comprising:

a catheter; and

an electrode, the electrode being deployed from the catheter in a blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue, wherein a signal on the electrode is indicative of the activity of the neural tissue.

11. The device of claim 10 comprising:

a signal processor, the signal processor being arranged in the catheter and being coupled to the electrode.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the signal processor includes:

an amplifier, the amplifier being coupled to the electrode; and

a digital converter, the digital converter converting the output of the amplifier into a digital representation.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the digital converter includes a Schmitt trigger.

14. The device of claim 10 comprising a plurality of electrodes.

15. The device of claim 14 comprising:

a signal processor, the signal processor being arrange in the catheter and being coupled to the plurality of electrodes.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the signal processor includes:

a plurality of amplifiers, each of the plurality of amplifiers being coupled to one of the plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of digital converters, each of the plurality of digital converters converting the output of one of the plurality of amplifiers into a binary representation; and

a multiplexer, the multiplexer being coupled to an output of each of the plurality of digital converters and multiplexing the outputs of the digital converters onto an output signal line.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein each of the electrodes includes a nano-wire and the output signal line includes a micro-wire.