Transcranial examination of the brain

• US 6,785,568 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Non-Invasive Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Non-Invasive Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Chance, Britton
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/184,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/324, 600/340, 600/473, 600/476
• US Class Current: 600/340
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms

Abstract

A cognition spectrophotometer system for transcranial brain examination using electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength includes an optical unit, a stimulation module, a remote communication unit, and a processor. The optical unit includes a light source adapted to introduce transcranially from an input port, placed at a input location on the exterior of the head, electromagnetic radiation of the wavelength into the brain, and a light detector adapted to detect, at a detection port placed at a detection location on the exterior of the head, radiation that has migrated in the brain. The stimulation module is constructed and arranged to cause stimulation of a brain activity while introducing the radiation at the input port. The remote communication unit includes a transmitter and a receiver. The processor adapted to process signals of the detected radiation that has migrated in the brain to create processed data and determine a characteristic of the brain activity by correlating the processed data to the caused stimulation of the brain activity, wherein the processor is constructed to provide the processed data reflecting a difference between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue.

Claims

1. A cognition spectrophotometer system for transcranial brain examination using electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength, comprising:

an optical unit constructed to be worn by a user, said unit including a light source adapted to introduce transcranially from an input port, placed at a input location on the exterior of the head, electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain; and

a light detector adapted to detect, at a detection port placed at a detection location on the exterior of the head, radiation that has migrated in the brain;

a stimulation module constructed and arranged to cause stimulation of a brain activity while introducing said radiation at said input port;

a remote communication unit including a transmitter and a receiver; and

a processor adapted to process signals of said detected radiation that has migrated in the brain to create processed data and determine a characteristic of said brain activity by correlating said processed data to said caused stimulation of said brain activity, wherein said processor is constructed to provide said processed data reflecting a difference between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue.

2. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

3. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said light detector is a diode detector.

4. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause acoustic stimulation.

5. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause sensorimotor stimulation.

6. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to display information.

7. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to emit sound.

8. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 further comprising

a second light source adapted to introduce electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain at a second input port placed at a second input location on the exterior of the head, and

a second detector adapted to detect, at a second detection port placed at a second detection location on the exterior of the head, radiation of said wavelength that has migrated in the brain from said second input port to said second detection port, wherein said processor is further adapted to process signals of said detected radiation that has migrated in the brain from said second input port to said second detection port to create second processed data, said processor being further adapted to determine said characteristic of said brain activity by correlating both first mentioned and said second processed data with said caused stimulation of the brain.

9. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 adapted to introduce simultaneously said radiation at said first and second input ports and detect at said first and second detection ports.

10. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 constructed to introduce said radiation first at said first input port and detect at said first detection port, and subsequently introduce said radiation at said second input port and detect at said second detection port.

11. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said processor is further adapted to compare electromagnetic radiation detected at said first and second detection ports to create processed data representing a differential signal.

12. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said first input port and said first detection port are separated by a first predetermined distance, said second input port and said second detection port are separated by a second predetermined distance.

13. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said first and second predetermined distances are substantially equal.

14. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said first input port and said first detection port are adapted to be located on one temporal bone, separated by a predetermined distance, in order to localize migration of said radiation in a selected region of the respective hemisphere of the brain, and said second input port and said second detection port are adapted to be located on the other temporal bone, separated by a predetermined distance, in order to localize migration of said radiation in a selected region of the other hemisphere of the brain.

15. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said first input port and said first detection port are adapted to be located on the frontal bone, separated by a predetermined distance, and said second input port and said second detection port are adapted to be located on the frontal bone, separated by said predetermined distance.

16. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 8 wherein said processor is adapted to perform Fourier transformation to obtain said processed data.

17. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 further comprising a second light source adapted to introduce electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain at a second input port placed at a second input location on the exterior of the head.

18. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 17 wherein said input locations are symmetrically positioned with respect to said detection location.

19. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 17 wherein said detection location is located in the middle between said two input locations.

20. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 further comprising a second detector associated with a second detection port placed at a second detection location on the exterior of the head, said second detector being adapted to detect radiation of said wavelength that has migrated in the brain.

21. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 20 wherein said detection locations are symmetrically positioned with respect to said input location.

22. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication unit is constructed to receive said processed data.

23. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication unit is constructed to display said processed data.

24. A cognition spectrophotometer system for transcranial brain examination using electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength, comprising:

an optical unit constructed to be worn by a user, said unit including a light source adapted to introduce transcranially from an input port placed at a input location on the exterior of the head, electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain; and

a light detector adapted to detect, at a detection port placed at a detection location on the exterior of the head, radiation that has migrated in the brain;

a stimulation module constructed and arranged to cause stimulation of a brain activity while introducing said radiation at said input port;

a remote communication unit including a transmitter and a receiver; and

a processor adapted to process signals of said detected radiation that has migrated in the brain to create processed data and determine a characteristic of said brain activity by correlating said processed data to said caused stimulation of said brain activity, wherein said processor is constructed to provide said processed data corresponding to blood volume.

25. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

26. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said light detector is a diode detector.

27. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause acoustic stimulation.

28. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause sensorimotor stimulation.

29. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to display information.

30. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to emit sound.

31. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 wherein said processor is constructed to provide said processed data reflecting a difference between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue.

32. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 24 further comprising a second light source adapted to introduce electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain at a second input port placed at a second input location on the exterior of the head.

33. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 32 wherein said input locations are symmetrically positioned with respect to said detection location.

34. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 32 wherein said detection location is located in the middle between said two input locations.

35. A cognition spectrophotometer system for transcranial brain examination using electromagnetic radiation of a visible or infrared wavelength, comprising:

an optical unit constructed to be worn by a user, said unit including a light source adapted to introduce transcranially from an input port placed at a input location on the exterior of the head, electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain; and

a light detector adapted to detect, at a detection port placed at a detection location on the exterior of the head, radiation that has migrated in the brain;

a stimulation module constructed and arranged to cause stimulation of a brain activity while introducing said radiation at said input port;

a remote communication unit including a transmitter and a receiver; and

a processor adapted to process signals of said detected radiation that has migrated in the brain to create processed data and determine a characteristic of said brain activity by correlating said processed data to said caused stimulation of said brain activity, wherein said processor is constructed to provide said processed data corresponding to tissue oxygenation.

36. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

37. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said light detector is a diode detector.

38. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause acoustic stimulation.

40. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to display information.

41. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said stimulation module is constructed to emit sound.

42. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 wherein said processor is constructed to provide said processed data reflecting a difference between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue.

43. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 35 further comprising a second light source adapted to introduce electromagnetic radiation of said wavelength into the brain at a second input port placed at a second input location on the exterior of the head.

44. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 43 wherein said input locations are symmetrically positioned with respect to said detection location.

45. The cognition spectrophotometer system of claim 43 wherein said detection location is located in the middle between said two input locations.

39. The cognition spectrophotometer system of 35 claim wherein said stimulation module is adapted to cause sensorimotor stimulation.