Correlating brain signal to intentional and unintentional changes in brain state

• US 9,820,663 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neurovigil, Inc
• Original Assignee: Neurovigil, Inc
• Inventors: Low, Philip Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US15/181,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/245 specially adapted for magnetoencephalographic [MEG] signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• 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 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods of analysis to extract and assess brain data collected from subject animals, including humans, to detect intentional and unintentional brain activity and other unexpected signals are disclosed. These signals are correlated to higher cognitive brain functions or unintended, potentially adverse events, such as a stroke or seizure, and to translation of those signals into defined trigger events or tasks.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an intentional brain signal from a subject comprising:

(a) a sensor for detecting data indicative of brain activity of the subject;

(b) a computer memory module containing instructions configured to be executed by a computer processor, wherein the instructions comprise;

(i) obtaining the data indicative of brain activity from the sensor;

(ii) analyzing the obtained data indicative of brain activity, wherein analyzing comprises computing a spectrogram of the data, normalizing the spectrogram of the data at least once, time over frequency, and normalizing the spectrogram of the data at least once, frequency over time; and

(iii) correlating the analyzed data to an intentional higher cognitive function from the subject; and

(c) a computer processor module configured to execute the instructions in the memory module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is obtained non-invasively by applying the sensor to the subject.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a dry sensor or a wet sensor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the data is obtained from at least a single channel of EEG, EMG, EOG, MEG, ECoG, iEEG, fMRI, LFP, or a peripheral channel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the data is obtained from at least a single channel of EEG.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the data is obtained from a multi-channel detector comprising at least a single channel EEG, EMG, EOG, MEG, ECoG, iEEG, fMRI, LFP or a peripheral channel.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the data is received wirelessly from the sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing further comprises

performing a principal and/or independent component analysis of the normalized spectrogram.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises performing a temporal fragmentation analysis.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises performing a preferred frequency analysis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the preferred frequency analysis is performed on the spectrogram.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises performing a spectral fragmentation analysis.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise translating the analyzed data to effect a task associated with the higher cognitive function after the correlating.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the task is selected from the group consisting of simulating, speech on a display, simulating speech with a voice synthesizer and movement of an artificial prosthesis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the higher cognitive function is selected from the group consisting of intent, speech, memory recall, planned motion, thought and imagination.

16. A system for detecting a brain signal from a subject correlated with at least one unintended event comprising:

(a) a sensor for detecting data indicative of brain activity of the subject;

(b) a computer memory module containing instructions configured to be executed by a computer processor, wherein the instructions comprise;

(i) obtaining the data indicative of brain activity from the sensor;

(ii) analyzing the obtained data indicative of brain activity, wherein analyzing comprises computing a spectrogram of the data, normalizing the spectrogram of the data at least once, time over frequency, and normalizing the spectrogram of the data at least once, frequency over time; and

(iii) correlating the analyzed data to at least one unintended event; and

(c) a computer processor module configured to execute the instructions in the memory module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the unintended event is selected from the group consisting of a high fragmentation event, a change in fragmentation of an event, a surprise, a tremor, a spasm, an injury, an epileptic seizure, a migraine, a stroke, a heart attack and an infarction.