Mobile in vivo infra red data collection and diagnoses comparison system

• US 20090012402A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Mintz, Frederick W., Moynihan, Philip I., Gunapala, Sarath D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats

Abstract

Described is a mobile in vivo infrared brain scan and analysis system. The system includes a data collection subsystem and a data analysis subsystem. The data collection subsystem is a helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes. Each of the IR thermometer probes includes an IR photodetector capable of detecting IR radiation generated by evoked potentials within a user'"'"'s skull. The helmet is formed to collect brain data that is reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject and transmit the brain data to the data analysis subsystem. The data analysis subsystem is configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons. The data analysis subsystem is also configured to compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, and notify a user of any detected anomaly in the brain data.

Claims

1. A mobile in vivo infrared brain scan system, comprising:

a helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes, each of the IR thermometer probes having an IR photodetector capable of detecting IR radiation generated by evoked potentials within a user'"'"'s skull, whereby while wearing the helmet, a user can collect in vivo brain data.

2. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the IR thermometer probes is affixed with the helmet using a mounting cap assembly, the mounting cap assembly housing a pressure-apparatus that is formed to force the IR thermometer probe away from the mounting cap assembly and toward a user'"'"'s scalp.

3. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the helmet further comprises shock absorbing pads and a chin strap to stabilize the helmet while worn by a user.

4. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a cold finger attached with the IR photodetector and a cold source passing through the mounting cap assembly and attached with the cold finger to cool the cold finger and thereby cool the IR photodetector.

5. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the IR thermometer probe further includes an optical window in alignment with the IR photodetector for passing IR radiation to the IR photodetector.

6. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the IR thermometer probe is configured to acquire data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter.

7. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter is formed to transmit data to a data analysis subsystem.

8. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a data analysis subsystem, the data analysis subsystem being configured to receive brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes, the brain data being reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject, and wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons.

9. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to:

compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, the anomaly being indicative of an abnormal brain function; and

notify a user of any detected anomaly in the brain data.

10. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the data analysis subsystem further comprises:

a receiver system, the receiver system being configured to receive the transmitted brain data from the data collection subsystem;

a data processing system, the data processing system having a relational database management system (RDBMS) controller for connecting with and operating an RDBMS having a library of brain data, and further being configured to receive the brain data from the receiver system and compare the brain data to the RDBMS to detect an anomaly in the brain data.

11. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare a detected anomaly in the brain data with an RDBMS to generate a diagnosis of the detected anomaly.

12. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the three-dimensional image with a RDBMS having a library of three-dimensional images to detect an anomaly in the brain data.

13. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cold finger attached with the IR photodetector and a cold source passing through the mounting cap assembly and attached with the cold finger to cool the cold finger and thereby cool the IR photodetector.

14. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IR thermometer probe further includes an optical window in alignment with the IR photodetector for passing IR radiation to the IR photodetector.

15. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IR thermometer probe is configured to acquire data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter.

16. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter is formed to transmit data to a data analysis subsystem.

17. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data analysis subsystem, the data analysis subsystem being configured to receive brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes, the brain data being reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject, and wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons.

18. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to:

compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, the anomaly being indicative of an abnormal brain function; and

notify a user of any detected anomaly in the brain data.

19. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data analysis subsystem further comprises:

a receiver system, the receiver system being configured to receive the transmitted brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes;

a data processing system, the data processing system having a relational database management system (RDBMS) controller for connecting with and operating an RDBMS having a library of brain data, and further being configured to receive the brain data from the receiver system and compare the brain data to the RDBMS to detect an anomaly in the brain data.

20. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare a detected anomaly in the brain data with an RDBMS to generate a diagnosis of the detected anomaly.

21. A brain scan system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the three-dimensional image with a RDBMS having a library of three-dimensional images to detect an anomaly in the brain data.