Bi-directional cerebral interface system

• US 6,560,486 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ivan Osorio, Mark Frei
• Inventors: Frei, Mark, Osorio, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/416,471
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/378, 600/377, 600/383, 600/544, 600/545, 607/2, 607/45, 607/62, 607/36, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37514 Brain implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

A cerebral interface system has a housing mechanism configured to be at least partially spaced in a cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull; an attaching mechanism for attaching the housing mechanism to the subject'"'"'s skull; a sealing mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between the housing mechanism and the subject'"'"'s skull; a control mechanism spaced within the housing mechanism; a communication mechanism with one or more sensors embedded in the subject'"'"'s brain connecting the control mechanism to the subject'"'"'s brain; and a power source spaced within the housing mechanism. Preferably, an inner wall thereof is substantially aligned with the surrounding inner surface of the subject'"'"'s skull and an outer wall thereof is substantially aligned with the surrounding outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull, or may include an auxiliary portion extending tangentially outwardly from the cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull and having substantially the same profile as the subject'"'"'s skull thereunder. The system may include a communication link wirelessly connecting the control mechanism to external apparatus for transmitting or receiving information related to detecting, predicting, controlling, or aborting abnormal brain activity of the subject. Alternatively, the control mechanism may be self-contained without need for such external apparatus. An output mechanism is provided that is activatable by the control mechanism. The attaching mechanism may include removable fastening means. The housing mechanism is preferably constructed of titanium. The invention also comprises a method for practicing the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing and controlling changes in brain activity in a subject whether normal or abnormal, comprising:

(a) a housing mechanism;

(b) attaching means configured to attach said housing mechanism to the subject'"'"'s skull;

(c) a control mechanism spaced within said housing mechanism;

(d) a communication mechanism configured to communicatingly connect the subject'"'"'s brain to said control mechanism;

(e) a power source configured to operatively power said apparatus;

(f) a communication link configured to connect said control mechanism in wireless communication with a receiving mechanism external to the subject;

(g) an output mechanism; and

(h) said control mechanism, in conjunction with said communication link, configured to;

(1) receive output signals from external equipment configured to detect and/or predict abnormal brain activity of the subject, and

(2) in response to said output signals indicating such detection and/or prediction, activate said output mechanism in response thereto.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism is configured to be flush-mounted relative to the subject'"'"'s skull.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a warning mechanism spaced within said housing mechanism wherein said warning mechanism is configured to be activated by said control mechanism.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising sealing means configured to provide a fluid-tight seal between said housing mechanism and the subject'"'"'s skull.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sealing means is configured to provide a bio-compatible interface between said housing mechanism and the subject.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said interface includes a bio-compatible coating.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said interface includes a layer of resilient material.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said layer is constructed of plastic.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power source is spaced within said housing mechanism.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism is constructed of material that is translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, non-attenuating, or partially attenuating to sound, ultrasound, electromagnetic waves, or other interactive phenomena being applied therethrough directly to the brain of the subject.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism includes an inner wall having an inner surface substantially aligned with an inner surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said inner wall includes at least one port therethrough;

(b) said communication mechanism includes at least one connector extending through said at least one port; and

further including

(c) sealing means providing a fluid-tight seal between said at least one connector and said inner wall.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism further includes an outer wall having an outer surface substantially aligned with an outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism is constructed of titanium.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes removable fastening means advanced into the subject'"'"'s skull that is spaced adjacently to said housing mechanism.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said removable fastening means includes at least one screw.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism includes a flanged edge configured to be spaced in abutting engagement with an outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism is oval shaped.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control mechanism, in conjunction with said communication mechanism, is configured to operatively detect, predict, warn of, or control changes in a normal or abnormal brain activity state of the subject.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

(a) an output mechanism; and

(b) said control mechanism being further configured, upon detecting and predicting abnormal brain activity of the subject, to operatively activate said output mechanism.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication mechanism includes at least one sensor implanted in the subject'"'"'s brain.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing mechanism is configured to be spaced in a cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said housing mechanism further comprises an auxiliary housing portion extending tangentially outwardly from the cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein at least a portion of said control mechanism is spaced within said auxiliary housing portion.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said attaching means is configured to attach said auxiliary housing portion to the subject'"'"'s skull.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said attaching means includes removable fastening means.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said removable fastening means includes at least one screw.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said auxiliary housing portion is constructed of titanium.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said auxiliary housing portion has substantially the same profile as the subject'"'"'s skull thereunder, with the edges thereof grading into the outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes a microprocessor.

31. An apparatus for sensing and controlling changes in brain activity in a subject whether normal or abnormal, comprising:

(a) a housing mechanism;

(b) attaching means configured to attach said housing mechanism to the subject'"'"'s skull;

(c) a control mechanism spaced within said housing mechanism;

(d) a communication mechanism configured to communicatingly connect the subject'"'"'s brain to said control mechanism; and

(e) a power source configured to operatively power said apparatus;

wherein said housing mechanism is configured to be spaced in a cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull and wherein said housing mechanism comprises an auxiliary housing portion extending tangentially outwardly from the cavity formed in the subject'"'"'s skull.

32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising a communication link configured to connect said control mechanism in wireless communication with a receiving mechanism external to the subject.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said control mechanism, in conjunction with said communication mechanism and said communication link, is configured to transmit signals received from the subject'"'"'s brain to external equipment configured to detect and predict abnormal brain activity of the subject.

34. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

(a) an output mechanism; and

(b) said control mechanism, in conjunction with said communication link, configured to;

(1) receive output signals from external equipment configured to detect and/or predict abnormal brain activity of the subject, and

(2) in response to said output signals indicating such detection and/or prediction, activate said output mechanism in response thereto.

35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein at least a portion of said control mechanism is spaced within said auxiliary housing portion.

36. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said attaching means is configured to attach said auxiliary housing portion to the subject'"'"'s skull.

37. The apparatus as set forth in claim 36, wherein said attaching means includes removable fastening means.

38. The apparatus as set forth in claim 37, wherein said removable fastening means includes at least one screw.

39. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said auxiliary housing portion is constructed of titanium.

40. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said housing mechanism is constructed of material that is translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, non-attenuating, or partially attenuating to sound, ultrasound, electromagnetic waves, or other interactive phenomena being applied therethrough directly to the brain of the subject.

41. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said auxiliary housing portion has substantially the same profile as the subject'"'"'skull thereunder, with the edges thereof grading into the outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

42. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising a warning mechanism spaced within said housing mechanism wherein said warning mechanism is configured to be activated by said control mechanism.

43. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising sealing means configured to provide a fluid-tight seal between said housing mechanism and the subject'"'"'s skull.

44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43 wherein said sealing means is configured to provide a bio-compatible interface between said housing mechanism and the subject.

45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 44, wherein said interface includes a bio-compatible coating.

46. The apparatus as set forth in claim 44, wherein said interface includes a layer of resilient material.

47. The apparatus as set forth in claim 46, wherein said layer is constructed of plastic.

48. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said power source is spaced within said housing mechanism.

49. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said housing mechanism includes an inner wall having an inner surface substantially aligned with an inner surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.

50. The apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein:

(a) said inner wall includes at least one port therethrough;

(b) said communication mechanism includes at least one connector extending through said at least one port; and

further including

(c) sealing means providing a fluid-tight seal between said at least one connector and said inner wall.

51. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said housing mechanism is constructed of titanium.

52. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said attaching means includes removable fastening means advanced into the subject'"'"'s skull that is spaced adjacently to said housing mechanism.

53. The apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein said removable fastening means includes at least one screw.

54. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said housing mechanism is oval shaped.

55. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said communication mechanism includes at least one sensor implanted in the subject'"'"'s brain.

56. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said attaching means includes removable fastening means.

57. The apparatus as set forth in claim 56, wherein said removable fastening means includes at least one screw.

58. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said control mechanism includes a microprocessor.

59. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said control mechanism, in conjunction with said communication mechanism, is configured to operatively detect, predict, warn of, or control changes in a normal or abnormal brain activity state of the subject.

60. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said housing mechanism includes a flanged edge configured to be spaced in abutting engagement with an outer surface of the subject'"'"'s skull.