Brain imaging system and methods for direct prosthesis control
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a prosthesis, the method comprising:
- receiving an IR brain activity signal that corresponds with at least a portion of the motor cortex at one or more IR photodiodes;
wherein the IR photodiodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the first portion of the brain;
receiving an EEG brain activity signal that corresponds with at least a portion of the motor cortex at one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes;
wherein the Electroencephalograph electrodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the second portion of the brain; and
wherein the said first portion of the brain is different from the said second portion of the brain;
mapping the IR brain activity signal and the EEG brain activity signal to an output signal that corresponds with a muscle group using a computer-based neural network that is trained to map the IR brain activity signal and the EEG brain activity signal to an output signal; and
coupling the output signal with the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis is configured to respond to the output signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling a prosthesis using a brain imager that images a localized portion of the brain are provided according to one embodiment of the invention. For example, the brain imager can provide motor cortex activation data using near infrared imaging techniques and EEG techniques among others. EEG and near infrared signals can be correlated with brain activity related to limbic control and may be provided to a neural network, for example, a fuzzy neural network that maps brain activity data to limbic control data. The limbic control data may then be used to control a prosthetic limb. Other embodiments of the invention include fiber optics that provide light to and receive light from the surface of the scalp through hair.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a prosthesis, the method comprising:
-
receiving an IR brain activity signal that corresponds with at least a portion of the motor cortex at one or more IR photodiodes; wherein the IR photodiodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the first portion of the brain; receiving an EEG brain activity signal that corresponds with at least a portion of the motor cortex at one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes; wherein the Electroencephalograph electrodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the second portion of the brain; and wherein the said first portion of the brain is different from the said second portion of the brain; mapping the IR brain activity signal and the EEG brain activity signal to an output signal that corresponds with a muscle group using a computer-based neural network that is trained to map the IR brain activity signal and the EEG brain activity signal to an output signal; and coupling the output signal with the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis is configured to respond to the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A prosthesis control system, comprising:
-
one or more light sources configured to irradiate light into a first portion of the brain; one or more IR photo diodes configured to detect a portion of the light transmitted into the first portion of the brain, wherein the detected light travels at least from the one or more light sources through a plurality of sub-portions of the brain and is detected at the plurality of IR photodiodes; and wherein the IR photodiodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the first portion of the brain; one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes configured to detect action potentials from neurons within a second portion of the brain; and wherein the Electroencephalograph electrodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the second portion of the brain; and wherein the said first portion of the brain is different from the said second portion of the brain; and a controller coupled with the one or more IR photodiodes, the one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes, and the prosthesis; wherein the controller is configured to receive a plurality of inputs from the plurality of IR photo diodes and the one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes; wherein the controller is configured to; determine the brain activity at a plurality of sub-portions of the first portion of the brain from the plurality of inputs from the plurality of IR photodiodes; determine the brain activity at a plurality of sub-portions of the second portion of the brain from the plurality of inputs from the Electroencephalograph electrodes; and determine a plurality of limbic control signals by mapping the brain activity within the first portion and the second portion of the brain with an output signal that corresponds with a muscle group. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for training a prosthesis system, wherein the prosthesis system comprises a neural network, an IR imaging system, an EEG system, and a prosthesis, the training utilizing a muscle activity detector, the method comprising:
-
detecting IR brain activity with the IR imaging system having one or more IR photodiodes; wherein the IR photodiodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the first portion of the brain; detecting EEG brain activity with the EEG system having one or more Electroencephalograph electrodes; wherein the Electroencephalograph electrodes transmit a plurality of inputs that correspond with the second portion of the brain; and wherein the said first portion of the brain is different from the said second portion of the brain; receiving muscular response data from the muscle activity detector; wherein the muscular response data is correlated with the IR and EEG brain activity using the neural network; and training the neural network to produce the muscular response data from the brain activity data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification