Embedded neural prosthesis
First Claim
1. An embedded neural prosthesis, comprising:
- two or more component devices comprising a network of devices, each device having one or more functions as a sensor, communicator, computer, data distributor, energy source, or therapeutic effector, and self-organizing into a hierarchy of various levels of devices within the network, the devices being implanted in the human body, placed on the human body, placed in the environment within which the human body is located, or distributed in any combination thereof, at least one of a direct communication link between the devices via cryptography and communication protocols or an indirect communication link between the devices via intermediate devices, each of the devices containing data, algorithms and protocols to perform at least one of the following functions;
sense physiologic parameters process data distributed in the system exchange, modify, reconfigure data, algorithms, and protocols in the prosthesis autonomously allocate data storage, computational, communication, energy supply, sensory and therapeutic tasks among the devices in the prosthesis, wherein the therapeutic effector delivers an intended therapeutic effect upon completion of tasks or functions of underlying levels of devices of the network.
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Abstract
A neural prosthesis comprised of a network of component devices that sense, analyze, and communicate data to deliver a therapeutic effect to a patient. The network of component devices establish systems and methods for sensing physiological parameters in, on or around a human body and achieving a therapeutic effect based thereon. A network of various levels of component devices sense, process and communicate data between corresponding component devices, and self-organize into a hierarchy of peer groups of component devices to perform the task or function of the therapeutic effect upon completion of the tasks or functions of the various underlying levels of component devices. An overall Peer Group encompasses the various underlying levels of peer groups having the component devices therein. The sensing, computational, data distribution, communication or therapeutic effect tasks at the various levels are accomplished by the coordination of communication and functions between the plurality of relatively simple component devices of the network. Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography and other communication protocols are used to co-ordinate the tasks and functions of the component devices of the network. Therapeutic tasks such as drug delivery, executable actions, and stimuli delivery or suppression are thus efficiently distributed to a patient via the network. Component peer devices of the network can be implants, wearable devices with respect to a patient, or may be devices that are in the environment within which the patient is located.
52 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An embedded neural prosthesis, comprising:
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two or more component devices comprising a network of devices, each device having one or more functions as a sensor, communicator, computer, data distributor, energy source, or therapeutic effector, and self-organizing into a hierarchy of various levels of devices within the network, the devices being implanted in the human body, placed on the human body, placed in the environment within which the human body is located, or distributed in any combination thereof, at least one of a direct communication link between the devices via cryptography and communication protocols or an indirect communication link between the devices via intermediate devices, each of the devices containing data, algorithms and protocols to perform at least one of the following functions;
sense physiologic parameters process data distributed in the system exchange, modify, reconfigure data, algorithms, and protocols in the prosthesis autonomously allocate data storage, computational, communication, energy supply, sensory and therapeutic tasks among the devices in the prosthesis, wherein the therapeutic effector delivers an intended therapeutic effect upon completion of tasks or functions of underlying levels of devices of the network. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A neural prosthesis comprising:
a hierarchical network of various levels of self-organizing devices provided in, on or about a patient and having anonymous and accountable communication capabilities, each device further having at least one task allocated thereto, the network providing a therapeutic effect that repairs, replaces or restores neural functions upon completion of the allocated tasks at the various levels of the self-organizing devices. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. An embedded neural prosthesis comprising:
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a network for delivering a therapeutic effect to a patient, the network comprised of self-organizing component devices arranged hierarchically at various levels of peer groups to form one or more overall Peer Group, each overall Peer Group having a task or function to perform upon completion of underlying tasks or functions of the various levels of peer groups of the component devices comprising a respective Peer Group, such that completion of the tasks of functions of each Peer Group results in the network delivering the therapeutic effect that repairs, replaces or restores neural functions;
in-range communication links between those of the component devices within a pre-determined communication range; and
out-of-range communication links between those component devices beyond the pre-determined communication range. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of replacing, repairing or restoring neural function to a patient, comprising:
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placing a network of two or more component devices in, on or about the patient, each component device performing at least one of sensing, computing data, distributing data, communicating, task allocating and scheduling, and delivery of a therapeutic effect;
hierarchically arranging the network of two or more component devices into various levels of peer groups, the various levels of peer groups and component devices comprising an overall Peer Group and each peer group level assigned a task or function to execute;
communicating the completion of underlying tasks or functions from one peer group level to a successor peer group level until all peer group levels have executed their assigned tasks or functions, thereby resulting in the overall Peer Group having delivered the intended therapeutic effect to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An embedded neural prosthesis comprising:
a network of hierarchically arranged peer groups, the peer groups comprised of component devices arranged in, on or about a patient, the component devices configured to self-organize to accomplish various levels of tasks or functions. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of monitoring physiological and environmental parameters and adjusting a therapeutic effect for repairing, replacing or restoring neural function in response thereto, the method comprising:
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organizing a plurality of component devices in, on or about a patient;
collecting data of the physiological parameters of the patient via at least some of the component devices;
collecting data of the environmental parameters of the patient via at least some of the component devices;
computing the collected data;
communicating the computed data to the component devices having capacity to deliver a therapeutic effect;
delivering a therapeutic effect in response to the collected, computed and communicated data; and
repeating the collecting, computing, communicating and delivering steps continuously to adjust to changed physiological, environmental or component device conditions. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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Specification