APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NEURAL-SIGNAL CAPTURE TO DRIVE NEUROPROSTHESES OR CONTROL BODILY FUNCTION
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one light source, the at least one light source configured to output a light pulse having a wavelength onto a volume of human tissue;
at least one light detector configured to receive light reflected and transmitted by the volume of human tissue and to transmit an electrical signal, wherein the light reflected and transmitted by the volume of human tissue provides an indication of neural activity; and
a signal-processing unit operatively coupled to the at least one light detector and configured to receive and signal-process the electrical signal from the at least one light detector and to output a signal based on the signal-processed electrical signal from the at least one light detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting nerve activity of an animal. Some embodiments include outputting a light pulse having a wavelength onto a volume of animal tissue such that the light pulse interacts with active nerves of the tissue; measuring a light signal resulting from the interaction of the light pulse with the tissue; transmitting an electrical signal based on the measured light signal; signal-processing the electrical signal; and outputting a response signal, which can optionally be used to control a prosthetic device, stimulate another nerve, or display/ diagnose a condition. Some embodiments output a plurality of light wavelengths and/or pulses, which are optionally high-frequency intensity modulated. Some embodiments analyze DC, AC, and phase components of signals to spatially resolve locations of neural activity. Some embodiments output light pulse(s) and detect the resultant light from outside a human skull to detect neural activity of human brain tissue inside the skull.
203 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one light source, the at least one light source configured to output a light pulse having a wavelength onto a volume of human tissue; at least one light detector configured to receive light reflected and transmitted by the volume of human tissue and to transmit an electrical signal, wherein the light reflected and transmitted by the volume of human tissue provides an indication of neural activity; and a signal-processing unit operatively coupled to the at least one light detector and configured to receive and signal-process the electrical signal from the at least one light detector and to output a signal based on the signal-processed electrical signal from the at least one light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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outputting a light pulse having a wavelength onto a volume of human tissue such that the light pulse interacts with the volume of human tissue; detecting neural signal activity by measuring a resulting light signal from the interaction; transmitting an electrical signal based on the measured light signal; processing the electrical signal to generate a response signal; and outputting the response signal to a prosthetic device based on the processing of the electrical signal to effect an action by the prosthetic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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means for outputting a light pulse having a wavelength onto a volume of human tissue such that the light pulse interacts with the volume of human tissue; means for detecting neural signal activity by measuring a resulting light signal from the interaction and for transmitting an electrical signal based on the measured light signal; means for processing the electrical signal to generate a response signal; and means for outputting the response signal to a prosthetic device based on the processing of the electrical signal to effect an action by the prosthetic device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification