NEURON SYSTEM WITH BIO-MEDICAL UNITS

• US 20110077697A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROFOUGARAN, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/848,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An in vivo neuron system includes a plurality of bio-medical units, each of which includes a power harvesting module, an electrical signal detection module, and a communication module. The power harvesting module generates a supply voltage from a wireless signal, where the supply voltage powers the other modules. The electrical signal detection module detects an electrical signal associated with a neuron to produce a detected electrical signal. The communication module communicates a representation of the detected electrical signal. Of the bio-medical units, at least one detects an input electrical signal to the neuron and at least another one detects the electrical signal of an axon of the neuron.

Claims

1. An in vivo neuron system comprises:

a plurality of bio-medical units, each of the plurality of bio-medical units includes;

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless signal sourced from a device external to a host body;

an electrical signal detection module powered by the supply voltage and operable to detect an electrical signal associated with a neuron to produce a detected electrical signal; and

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to communicate a representation of the detected electrical signal, wherein;

an input bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units is operable to detect an input electrical signal to the neuron; and

an axon bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units is operable to detect the electrical signal of an axon of the neuron.

2. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1, wherein the axon bio-medical unit further comprises:

the communication module further operable to receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal from the communication module of the input bio-medical unit; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal;

determine whether the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of another neuron;

when the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to the action potential of the other neuron, determine whether the electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of the neuron based on the action potential of the other neuron; and

when the electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the neuron, determine a simulated action potential for the neuron in accordance with neural decoding; and

an electrical stimulus module operable to;

generate a stimulus electrical signal based on the simulated action potential; and

induce the stimulus electrical signal into the axon.

3. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1, wherein the axon bio-medical unit further comprises:

the communication module further operable to receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal from the communication module of the input bio-medical unit; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal;

determine whether the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of another neuron;

determine whether the electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of the neuron;

when the electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the neuron or when the representation of the detected input electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the other neuron, indicate a neuron communication error.

4. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

one or more coils operable to generate a voltage based on current of the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

5. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

a probe module operable to electrically couple to receive the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

6. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency signal;

a millimeter wave signal; and

an electromagnetic signal.

7. The in vivo neuron system of claim 1 further comprises at least one of:

the communication module communicating the representation of the detected electrical signal with the device external to the host body; and

the communication module communicating the representation of the detected electrical signal with the other bio-medical unit.

8. A bio-medical unit for implanting into a host body comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless signal sourced from an external device to the host body;

an electrical signal detection module powered by the supply voltage and operable to detect an electrical signal associated with a neuron to produce a detected electrical signal; and

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to communicate a representation of the detected electrical signal to the external device.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 8 further comprises:

the communication module further operable to receive a representation of a detected input electrical signal from a communication module of another bio-medical unit associated with the neuron; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal;

determine whether the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of another neuron;

when the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to the action potential of the other neuron, determine whether the electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of the neuron based on the action potential of the other neuron; and

when the electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the neuron, determine a simulated action potential for the neuron in accordance with neural decoding; and

an electrical stimulus module operable to;

generate a stimulus electrical signal based on the simulated action potential; and

induce the stimulus electrical signal into the axon.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 8 further comprises:

the communication module further operable to receive a representation of a detected input electrical signal from a communication module of another bio-medical unit associated with the neuron; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the representation of the detected input electrical signal;

determine whether the representation of the detected input electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of another neuron;

determine whether the electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of the neuron;

when the electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the neuron or when the representation of the detected input electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the other neuron, indicate a neuron communication error.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 8, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

one or more coils operable to generate a voltage based on current of the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

12. The bio-medical unit of claim 8, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

a probe module operable to electrically couple to receive the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

13. A neuron electrical bridge system comprises:

an external communication device; and

a plurality of bio-medical units operable to monitor electrical signals produced by a plurality of neurons, wherein;

the external communication device or one of the plurality of bio-medical units detects a deviation of one of the electrical signals from an expected electrical signal based on a neuron stimulus to neuron response mapping;

the external communication device determines a preceding bio-medical unit that monitoring an electrical signal preceding the one of the electrical signals and determines a following bio-medical unit that is monitoring an electrical signal following the one of the electrical signals;

the preceding bio-medical unit and the following bio-medical unit establish a communication link such that the following bio-medical unit receives a representation of the electrical signal preceding the one of the electrical signals;

the following bio-medical unit generates a simulated electrical signal based on the representation of the electrical signal preceding the one of the electrical signals and the neuron stimulus to neuron response mapping; and

the following bio-medical unit inputs the simulated electrical signal to a neuron of the plurality of neurons, wherein the following bio-medical unit monitors the electrical signal of the neuron.

14. The neuron electrical bridge system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of bio-medical units comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless signal sourced from the external communication device;

an electrical signal detection module powered by the supply voltage and operable to detect the electrical signal associated with a corresponding neuron of the plurality of neurons to produce a detected electrical signal; and

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to communicate a representation of the detected electrical signal.

15. The neuron electrical bridge system of claim 14, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

one or more coils operable to generate a voltage based on current of the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

16. The neuron electrical bridge system of claim 14, wherein the electrical signal detection module comprises:

a probe module operable to electrically couple to receive the electrical signal;

a transition detection circuit operable to detect transitions of the voltage;

a peak detection circuit operable to detect a peak of the voltage; and

a signal processing module to generate the representation of the detected electrical signal based on the transitions of the voltage and the peak of the voltage.

17. The neuron electrical bridge system of claim 14, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:

the communication module further operable to receive a representation of a detected electrical signal from a communication module of the preceding bio-medical unit; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the representation of the detected electrical signal;

determine whether the representation of the detected electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of another neuron;

when the representation of the detected electrical signal corresponds to the action potential of the other neuron, determine whether the electrical signal corresponds to an action potential of the neuron based on the action potential of the other neuron; and

when the electrical signal does not correspond to the action potential of the neuron, determine a simulated action potential for the neuron in accordance with neural decoding; and

an electrical stimulus module operable to;

generate the stimulus electrical signal based on the simulated action potential; and

induce the stimulus electrical signal into an axon of the neuron.