Brain-machine interface systems and methods

• US 7,257,439 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New York University
• Original Assignee: New York University
• Inventors: Llinas, Rodolfo R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha; Navin
• Application Number:
  US10/645,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 600531-538, 600/506, 600/547, 600/544, 600/545, 600/372, 600/373, 600/377, 600/378, 606/32, 606/4, 606/35, 607/45, 607/46, 607/72, 607/76, 607/2, 607/43
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

A system and method for interfacing a brain with a machine. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention employs a vascular approach in which one or more nano-electrodes are deployed in vasculature having a close geometric relationship with proximal innervation. Each nano-electrode is preferably deployed in a blood vessel so that its sensing end is at or near a nerve passing close to or intersecting the blood vessel. The sensing end of each nano-electrode is adapted so as to be carried along in the blood stream so as to position the sensing end at a desired point within the blood vessel. An array of nano-electrodes of varying lengths can be used to monitor multiple nerves or neurons along a blood vessel.

Claims

1. A method of sensing the activity of neural tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an electrode in a blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue, said electrode being smaller than 10 μ

m in diameter; and

monitoring a signal on the electrode by way of a wire connected to the electrode,

wherein the signal is indicative of the electrical brain activity of the neural tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a sensing end, the sensing end of the electrode being placed in the blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is inserted into the blood vessel at a point upstream of a junction with another blood vessel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a sensing end of the electrode is deployed to a point downstream of the junction.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

placing a further electrode on the neural tissue proximate to the electrode;

applying a stimulus to the neural tissue;

monitoring a further signal on the further electrode after applying the stimulus to the neural tissue; and

comparing the signal to the further signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a nano-electrode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises an array of nano-electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the nano-electrodes have different lengths.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the nano-electrode comprises a cup-like end.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of stimulating neural tissue by providing a stimulation signal to said electrode.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

placing a second electrode in a second blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue, said second electrode being of sufficiently small size such that it is capable of being inserted into a capillary; and

providing a stimulation signal to said second electrode.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering the signal from said electrode.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a differential signal as said electrode signal.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of classifying brain states based on one of neuronal unit activity and field potential analysis.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of correlating electrical activity of neurons with brain states.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of performing pattern classification to determine brain states.

17. A method of sensing the activity of neural tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting an electrode in a blood vessel at a point upstream of a junction with another blood vessel to position the electrode proximate to the neural tissue, said electrode being smaller than 10 μ

m in diameter; and

monitoring a signal on the electrode by way of a wire connected to the electrode,

wherein the signal is indicative of the electrical brain activity of the neural tissue.

18. A method of stimulating neural tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an electrode in a blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue, said electrode being smaller than 10 μ

m in diameter; and

providing a signal on the electrode by way of a wire connected to the electrode,

wherein the signal stimulates the electrical brain activity of the neural tissue.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode comprises an end, the end of the electrode being placed in the blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode is inserted into the blood vessel at a point upstream of a junction with another blood vessel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein an end of the electrode is deployed to a point downstream of the junction.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode comprises a nano-electrode.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode comprises an array of nano-electrodes.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the nano-electrodes have different lengths.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the nano-electrode comprises a cup-like end.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of monitoring a monitor signal on said electrode.

27. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

placing a second electrode in a second blood vessel proximate to the neural tissue, said second electrode being of sufficiently small size such that it is capable of being inserted into a capillary; and

providing a monitor signal to said second electrode.