Calibration systems and methods for neural interface devices

• US 8,386,050 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braingate Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Braingate Co., LLC
• Inventors: Donoghue, John P., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Serruya, Mijail D., Caplan, Abraham H., Saleh, Maryam, Korver, Kirk F., Branner, Almut
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US12/285,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 607/62, 600/378, 600/381
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method for a neural interface system with integral calibration elements may include a sensor including a plurality of electrodes to detect multicellular signals, an interface to process the signals from the sensor into a suitable control signal for a controllable device, such as a computer or prosthetic limb, and an integrated calibration routine to efficiently create calibration output parameters used to generate the control signal. A graphical user interface may be used to make various portions of the calibration and signal processing configuration more efficient and effective.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a neural interface system, comprising:

detecting a set of multicellular signals emanating from a central nervous system of a patient using a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for chronic detection of the set of multicellular signals, while the patient imagines multiple movements;

receiving the set of multicellular signals from the sensor on an interface and processing the set of multicellular signals to generate a processed signal, wherein the processing includes excluding a multicellular signal from the set of multicellular signals, and wherein the processed signal is generated using one or more calibration output parameters;

transmitting the processed signal from the interface to a controlled device;

receiving the processed signal on the controlled device, and

entering into a lockout condition wherein the patient is prevented from controlling the controlled device prior to successfully completing the calibrating of the neural interface system and wherein a repeat calibration is required before the processed signals are transmitted to the controlled device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient imagines the movement of a part of the body.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing the multiple imagined movements to select the calibration output parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising categorizing the set of multicellular signals into three or more classifications for further processing into the processed signal for transmission to the controlled device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting the set of multicellular signals is performed by a sensor having a two dimensional array of multiple protruding electrodes.

6. A method of calibrating a neural interface system, comprising:

detecting a set of multicellular signals emanating from a central nervous system of a patient using a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for chronic detection of the set of multicellular signals, while the patient thinks of an imagined movement, imagined state, or imagined event;

receiving the set of multicellular signals from the sensor on an interface and processing the set of multicellular signals to generate a processed signal, wherein the processing includes excluding a multicellular signal from the set of multicellular signals, and wherein the processed signal is generated using one or more calibration output parameters;

transmitting the processed signal from the interface to a controlled device;

receiving the processed signal on the controlled device, and

entering into a lockout condition wherein the patient is prevented from controlling the controlled device prior to successfully completing the calibrating of the neural interface system and wherein a repeat calibration is required before the processed signals are transmitted to the controlled device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the patient imagines an emotion.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the patient imagines a thought of being hot or cold.

9. A method of calibrating a neural interface system, comprising:

using audio cues, visual cues, olfactory cues and tactile cues to trigger a patient'"'"'s imagination;

detecting a set of multicellular signals emanating from a central nervous system of a patient using a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for chronic detection of the set of multicellular signals;

receiving the set of multicellular signals from the sensor on an interface and processing the set of multicellular signals to generate a processed signal, wherein the processing includes excluding a multicellular signal from the set of multicellular signals, and wherein the processed signal is generated using one or more calibration output parameters;

transmitting the processed signal from the interface to a controlled device;

receiving the processed signal on the controlled device, and

entering into a lockout condition wherein the patient is prevented from controlling the controlled device prior to successfully completing the calibrating of the neural interface system and wherein a repeat calibration is required before the processed signals are transmitted to the controlled device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein calibrating comprises:

setting a preliminary set of calibration output parameters;

using the preliminary set of calibration output parameters to generate the processed signal;

measuring the performance of the controlled device; and

modifying the calibration output parameters.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising using one or more calibration input parameters to determine the calibration output parameters.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising categorizing the set of multicellular signals into three or more classifications for further processing into the processed signal for transmission to the controlled device.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting the set of multicellular signals is performed by a sensor having a two dimensional array of multiple protruding electrodes.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the calibration output parameters are set within preset limits.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising using one or more calibration input parameters to determine the calibration output parameters.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising categorizing the set of multicellular signals into three or more classifications for further processing into the processed signal for transmission to the controlled device.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing the calibration output parameters in memory.

18. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying signals received from the sensor on a display monitor.