Mobile in vivo infra red data collection and diagnoses comparison system

• US 8,600,483 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Mintz, Frederick W., Moynihan, Philip I., Gunapala, Sarath D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENG, BO JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/214,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 600/473
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats

Abstract

Described is a mobile in vivo infrared brain scan and analysis system. The system includes a data collection subsystem and a data analysis subsystem. The data collection subsystem is a helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes. Each of the IR thermometer probes includes an IR photodetector capable of detecting IR radiation generated by evoked potentials within a user'"'"'s skull. The helmet is formed to collect brain data that is reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject and transmit the brain data to the data analysis subsystem. The data analysis subsystem is configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons. The data analysis subsystem is also configured to compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, and notify a user of any detected anomaly in the brain data.

Claims

1. A mobile in vivo infrared brain scan system, comprising:

a helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) probes, each of the IR probes having an quantum well IR photodetector capable of detecting IR radiation generated by evoked potentials within a user'"'"'s skull, whereby while wearing the helmet, a user can collect in vivo brain data;

a plurality of mounting cap assemblies attached with the helmet, such that each of the IR probes is affixed with the helmet using a corresponding mounting cap assembly, each mounting cap assembly housing a pressure-apparatus that is in contact with an IR probe and that is formed to force the IR probe away from the mounting cap assembly and toward a user'"'"'s scalp; and

further comprising;

a cold finger attached with the quantum well IR photodetector and a cold source passing through the mounting cap assembly and attached with the cold finger to cool the cold finger and thereby cool the quantum well IR photodetector; and

a cold filter attached with the IR probe such that a space of evacuated volume exists between the quantum well IR photodetector and the cold filter.

2. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the helmet further comprises shock absorbing pads and a chin strap to stabilize the helmet while worn by a user.

3. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the IR probe further includes an optical window in alignment with the quantum well IR photodetector for passing IR radiation to the quantum well IR photodetector, wherein the optical window is capable of transmitting IR radiation.

4. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the IR probe is configured to acquire the brain data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter, and wherein the helmet further comprises an antenna, with the Signal Processor and Transmitter being operable for converting the brain data into an analog signal and transmitting the brain data wirelessly using the antenna.

5. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and is formed to wirelessly transmit the brain data as an RF signal to a data analysis subsystem.

6. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a data analysis subsystem, the data analysis subsystem being configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) probes, the brain data being reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject, and wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons.

7. The brain scan system system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to:

compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, the anomaly being indicative of an abnormal brain function; and

notify a user of any anomaly that is detected in the brain data.

8. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the data analysis subsystem further comprises:

a receiver system, the receiver system being configured to receive the transmitted brain data as transmitted by the Signal Processor and Transmitter;

a data processing system, the data processing system having a relational database management system (RDBMS) controller for connecting with and operating an RDBMS, the RDBMS having the library of brain data, and further being configured to receive the brain data from the receiver system and compare the brain data to the RDBMS to detect an anomaly in the brain data.

9. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the anomaly detected in the brain data with an RDBMS to generate a diagnosis of the anomaly.

10. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the three-dimensional image with a RDBMS having a library of three-dimensional images to detect the anomaly in the brain data.

11. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IR probe further includes an optical window in alignment with the quantum well IR photodetector for passing IR radiation to the quantum well IR photodetector, wherein the optical window is capable of transmitting IR radiation.

12. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the IR probe is configured to acquire the brain data and send it along signal wires to a Signal Processor and Transmitter, and wherein the helmet further comprises an antenna, with the Signal Processor and Transmitter being operable for converting the brain data into an analog signal and transmitting the brain data wirelessly using the antenna.

13. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the Signal Processor and Transmitter includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and is formed to wirelessly transmit the brain data as an RF signal to a data analysis subsystem.

14. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data analysis subsystem, the data analysis subsystem being configured to receive the brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) probes, the brain data being reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject, and wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons.

15. The brain scan system system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to:

compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, the anomaly being indicative of an abnormal brain function; and

notify a user of the anomaly that is detected in the brain data.

16. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the data analysis subsystem further comprises:

a receiver system, the receiver system being configured to receive the transmitted brain data from the helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) probes;

a data processing system, the data processing system having a relational database management system (RDBMS) controller for connecting with and operating an RDBMS having a library of brain data, and further being configured to receive the brain data from the receiver system and compare the brain data to the RDBMS to detect an anomaly in the brain data.

17. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the anomaly that is detected in the brain data with an RDBMS to generate a diagnosis of the anomaly.

18. The brain scan system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the data analysis subsystem is further configured to compare the three-dimensional image with a RDBMS having a library of three-dimensional images to detect the anomaly in the brain data.