Neural interface system and method for neural control of multiple devices

Abstract

A system and method for a neural interface system with a unique identification code includes a sensor including a plurality of electrodes to detect multicellular signals, an processing unit to process the signals from the sensor into a suitable control signal for a controllable device such as a computer or prosthetic limb. The unique identification code is embedded in one or more discrete components of the system. Internal and external system checks for compatibility and methods of ensuring safe and effective performance of a system with detachable components are also disclosed.

1 - 167 . (canceled)  
     
     
         168 . A system for collecting multicellular signals from a central nervous system of a patient and for transmitting processed signals to a plurality of controlled devices, the system comprising: 
 a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to detect the multicellular signals; and    a processing unit configured to receive the multicellular signals from the sensor, process the multicellular signals to produce processed signals, and transmit the processed signals to the plurality of controlled devices;    wherein the plurality of controlled devices comprises a first controlled device configured to receive the processed signals and a second controlled device configured to receive the processed signals.    
     
     
         169 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the controlled device comprises at least one of: a computer, a computer display, a mouse, a cursor, a joystick, a Functional Electrical Stimulator device or system, an artificial or prosthetic limb, a robot or robotic device, a computer controlled device, a teleoperated device, a vehicle, a remote control device, a medical therapeutic and diagnostic equipment, a communication device, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         170 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein both the first and second controlled devices are medical therapeutic devices.  
     
     
         171 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein at least one of the first and second controlled devices is configured to perform a therapy to treat a neurological disorder.  
     
     
         172 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein at least one of the first and second controlled devices is controlled by processed signals produced under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         173 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein at least one of the first and second controlled devices is controlled by processed signals not produced under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         174 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the first controlled device is controlled by processed signals produced under voluntary control of the patient, and the second controlled device is controlled by processed signals not produced under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         175 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein both the first and second controlled devices are joysticks.  
     
     
         176 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein both the first and second controlled devices are computers.  
     
     
         177 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the first controlled device is a robot, and the second controlled device is not a robot.  
     
     
         178 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the first controlled device is a medical therapeutic or diagnostic device, and the second controlled device is not a medical device.  
     
     
         179 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the first controlled device and the second controlled device are included in a single discrete component.  
     
     
         180 . The system of  claim 179 , wherein the single discrete component is implanted within the body of the patient.  
     
     
         181 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the system comprises multiple discrete components, the multiple discrete components comprising a first discrete component and a second discrete component.  
     
     
         182 . The system of  claim 181 , wherein the first controlled device is included in the first discrete component, and the second controlled device is included in the second discrete component.  
     
     
         183 . The system of  claim 181 , wherein the first discrete component is implanted within the body of the patient, and the second discrete component is placed external to the patient.  
     
     
         184 . The system of  claim 181 , further comprising a unique electronic identifier embedded in one or more information transmissions between the first discrete component and the second discrete component.  
     
     
         185 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier includes one or more of: patient information, system information, implant information, number of sensor components or electrodes implanted, implant location, software revisions of one or more discrete components, clinician information, date of implant, date of calibration, manufacturing codes, and hospital information.  
     
     
         186 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is linked to one or more of: patient information, system information, implant information, number of sensor components or electrodes implanted, implant location, software revisions of one or more discrete components, clinician information, date of implant, date of calibration, manufacturing codes, and hospital information.  
     
     
         187 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is stored in at least one of the following: at least one of the first and second discrete components, the sensor, and the processing unit.  
     
     
         188 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is stored in at least one of the first and second discrete components that is partially implanted within the body of the patient and partially external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         189 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is programmable.  
     
     
         190 . The system of  claim 189 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is programmable one or more times.  
     
     
         191 . The system of  claim 189 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is programmable by an operator.  
     
     
         192 . The system of  claim 191 , wherein the operator comprises one or more of: 
 a clinician, a technician, a caregiver, and a patient.    
     
     
         193 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier comprises a hardwired connection to one or more discrete components.  
     
     
         194 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is embedded in a transcutaneous connector implanted in the patient.  
     
     
         195 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is embedded in a wireless communication between two or more discrete components of the system.  
     
     
         196 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is embedded in a wireless communication from one or more discrete components to a separate device external to the system.  
     
     
         197 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is linked to a previously recorded neural signature of the patient.  
     
     
         198 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the previously recorded neural signature includes a characterization of the patient's multicellular signals.  
     
     
         199 . The system of  claim 198 , wherein the multicellular signals comprise one or more of neuron spikes, electrocorticogram signals, local field potential signals, electroencephalogram signals, and other physiologic electrical activity.  
     
     
         200 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the previously recorded neural signature is based on one or more of: channels that have spike activity, autocorrelation shapes on each channel, firing rates on each channel, and correlation patterns between channels.  
     
     
         201 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the previously recorded neural signature is compared to current multicellular signals utilizing one or more of: a linear filter, a maximum likelihood estimator, or a neural network.  
     
     
         202 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein the system enters an alarm state when the current multicellular signals do not adequately match the previously recorded neural signature.  
     
     
         203 . The system of  claim 202 , wherein the alarm state includes displaying an alarm condition on one or more of the discrete components.  
     
     
         204 . The system of  claim 202 , wherein the alarm state produces one or more of: an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm.  
     
     
         205 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier is changeable over time.  
     
     
         206 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the unique electronic identifier corresponds to a state of the system.  
     
     
         207 . The system of  claim 206 , wherein the state of the system comprises one or more of: processed signal stability, processed signal performance, and processed signal requirements.  
     
     
         208 . The system of  claim 206 , wherein the state of the system comprises one or more of: software revision, hardware revision, controlled device compatibility list, patient permissions list, and calibration status.  
     
     
         209 . The system of  claim 168 , further comprising a first calibration routine for calibrating the system with the first controlled device, and a second calibration routine for calibrating the system with the second controlled device.  
     
     
         210 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor and at least a portion of the processing unit are implanted in the body of the patient.  
     
     
         211 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the first controlled device is implanted in the body of the patient.  
     
     
         212 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor and processing unit are connected with one or more physical cables, the cables comprise at least one of electrically conductive wire and optical fiber.  
     
     
         213 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein at least one of the sensor and the processing unit comprises a wireless transmission mechanism.  
     
     
         214 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the system comprises multiple discrete components, at least one of the multiple discrete components is implanted within the body of the patient, and at least one of the multiple discrete components is positioned external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         215 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein a unique electronic identifier is embedded in at least one of the discrete components implanted within the body of the patient.  
     
     
         216 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein a unique electronic identifier is embedded in at least one of the discrete components positioned external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         217 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein at least one of the discrete components positioned external to the body of the patient is detachable from another discrete component.  
     
     
         218 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein a unique electronic identifier is embedded in all of the discrete components positioned external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         219 . The system of  claim 218 , wherein all of the discrete components positioned external to the body of the patient are detachable from the patient.  
     
     
         220 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein the processing unit is external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         221 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein a first portion of the processing unit is external to the body of the patient, and a second portion of the processing unit is implanted within the body of the patient.  
     
     
         222 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein one or more of the discrete components comprises a calibration module.  
     
     
         223 . The system of  claim 222 , wherein the calibration module comprises multiple calibration routines, and at least one of the calibration routines is linked with the system by a unique electronic identifier.  
     
     
         224 . The system of  claim 214 , wherein the controlled device is included in a discrete component external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         225 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the patient is a human being.  
     
     
         226 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the multicellular signals emanate directly from the central nervous system.  
     
     
         227 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the multicellular signals comprise one or more of neuron spikes, electrocorticogram signals, local field potential signals, and electroencephalogram signals.  
     
     
         228 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor comprises a multi-electrode array.  
     
     
         229 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor comprises multiple wires or wire bundle electrodes.  
     
     
         230 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor comprises electrodes incorporated in a subdural grid.  
     
     
         231 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor comprises two or more discrete components, and each of the discrete components comprises one or more electrodes.  
     
     
         232 . The system of  claim 231 , wherein the discrete components of the sensor comprise two or more of the following components: multi-electrode array, multiple wires or wire bundles, subdural grids, and scalp electrodes.  
     
     
         233 . The system of  claim 231 , wherein the electrodes of the discrete components of the sensor are placed in the brain.  
     
     
         234 . The system of  claim 231 , wherein at least one of the electrodes is placed in the brain, and at least one of the sensors is placed at an extracranial location.  
     
     
         235 . The system of  claim 231 , wherein at least one of the discrete components of the sensor has a maximum of one electrode.  
     
     
         236 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the electrodes of the sensor are implanted near the central nervous system.  
     
     
         237 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the sensor electrodes are implanted within the brain.  
     
     
         238 . The system of  claim 237 , wherein the electrodes of the sensor are implanted within the motor cortex portion of the brain.  
     
     
         239 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the electrodes of the sensor are placed at an extracranial site or above the patient's scalp.  
     
     
         240 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the electrodes of the sensor are configured to detect multicellular signals from clusters of neurons and provide signals midway between single neuron and electroencephalogram recordings.  
     
     
         241 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein each electrode is capable of recording a plurality of neurons.  
     
     
         242 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit conducts adaptive processing of the multicellular signals so that the system responds to changes in the multicellular signals.  
     
     
         243 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit includes two or more discrete components.  
     
     
         244 . The system of  claim 243 , wherein at least one of the discrete components of the processing unit is implanted within the patient.  
     
     
         245 . The system of  claim 244 , wherein at least one of the discrete components of the processing unit is positioned external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         246 . The system of  claim 243 , wherein at least one of the discrete components of the processing unit is positioned external to the skull.  
     
     
         247 . The system of  claim 246 , wherein at least one of the discrete components of the processing unit is positioned external to the body of the patient.  
     
     
         248 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein an at least one discrete component of the processing unit is configured to receive or send signals via a physical cable.  
     
     
         249 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein an at least one discrete component of the processing unit is configured to receive or send signals via a wireless communication mechanism.  
     
     
         250 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein the wireless communication passes through the skull of the patient.  
     
     
         251 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit comprises an integrated neuron spike sorting function.  
     
     
         252 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit comprises an element to amplify the multicellular signals.  
     
     
         253 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit utilizes neural net software routines to map neural signals into desired controlled device control.  
     
     
         254 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit utilizes one or more neural signals that is under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         255 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processing unit utilizes two or more neural signals that are mathematically combined to create the processed signals.  
     
     
         256 . The system of  claim 168 , wherein the processed signals are used in a calibration routine for producing calibration output parameters.  
     
     
         257 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration routine comprises selection and deselection of specific neural signals over time.  
     
     
         258 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration routine comprises setting one or more of the following calibration output parameters: electrode selection, neural signal selection, neuron spike selection, electrocorticogram signal selection, local field potential signal selection, electroencephalogram signal selection, sampling rate by signal, sampling rate by group of signals, amplification by signal, amplification by group of signals, filter parameters by signal, and filter parameters by group of signals.  
     
     
         259 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration output parameters are stored in memory and linked with a unique electronic identifier.  
     
     
         260 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration routine is performed on a periodic basis.  
     
     
         261 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration routine selects a subset of the multicellular signals received from the sensor to be processed by the processing unit.  
     
     
         262 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein the calibration routine utilizes one or more calibration input parameters to determine the calibration output parameters.  
     
     
         263 . The system of  claim 262 , wherein the calibration input parameters comprise system performance criteria or controlled device performance criteria.  
     
     
         264 . The system of  claim 262 , wherein the calibration input parameters are stored in memory and linked with a unique electronic identifier.  
     
     
         265 . The system of  claim 262 , wherein the calibration input parameters comprise properties associated with the multicellular signals, the properties comprising one or more of the following: signal to noise ratio, frequency of signal, amplitude of signal, neuron firing rate, average neuron firing rate, standard deviation in neuron firing rate, modulation of neuron firing rate, and modulation of other signal parameters.  
     
     
         266 . The system of  claim 262 , wherein the calibration input parameters comprise one or more of: system performance criteria, controlled device electrical time constants, controlled device mechanical time constants, other controlled device criteria, types of electrodes, number of electrodes, patient activity during calibration, target number of signals required, patient disease state, patient condition, patient age, and other patient parameters.  
     
     
         267 . The system of  claim 168 , further comprising an information transfer cable between the first controlled device and the second controlled device.  
     
     
         268 . The system of  claim 168 , further comprising a library of system specific values that are linked to the first or second controlled device.  
     
     
         269 . The system of  claim 268 , wherein the library of system specific values is stored in a component other than the sensor, the processing unit, and the first and second controlled devices.  
     
     
         270 . The system of  claim 269 , wherein the library of system specific values are stored in a computer network based platform.  
     
     
         271 . The system of  claim 270 , wherein the computer network based platform comprises one or more of: a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet.  
     
     
         272 . The system of  claim 268 , wherein the library of system specific values is stored in one or more of: the sensor, the processing unit, and the first and second controlled devices.  
     
     
         273 . The system of  claim 268 , wherein the library of system specific values includes a list of controlled devices compatible with the system.  
     
     
         274 . The system of  claim 168 , further comprising an alarm transducer.  
     
     
         275 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein the alarm transducer comprises one or more of: an audio transducer, a visual transducer, an olfactory transducer, and a tactile transducer.  
     
     
         276 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein the system comprises multiple discrete components, and the alarm transducer is activated when a unique electronic identifier contained in the one of the discrete components is not compatible with a unique electronic identifier contained in the other of the discrete components.  
     
     
         277 . The system of  claim 168 , further comprising a memory storage module for storing information about the first or second controlled device.  
     
     
         278 . The system of  claim 277 , further comprising an additional memory storage module for storing controlled device information.  
     
     
         279 . The system of  claim 277 , wherein system information is stored in the memory storage module and linked with the first or second controlled device.  
     
     
         280 . A method of controlling multiple devices, comprising: 
 providing the system of  claim 168;  and    controlling the first and second controlled devices with the processed signals.    
     
     
         281 . The method of  claim 280 , wherein the system includes a unique electronic identifier, and the identifier is transmitted with the processed signals.  
     
     
         282 . The method of  claim 280 , wherein the first controlled device and the second controlled device are controlled independently.  
     
     
         283 . The method of  claim 282 , wherein the first controlled device and the second controlled device are configured to receive the processed signals simultaneously.  
     
     
         284 . The method of  claim 280 , wherein the first controlled device and the second controlled device are controlled simultaneously.  
     
     
         285 . The method of  claim 280 , wherein the first controlled device is a medical device.  
     
     
         286 . The method of  claim 285 , wherein the first controlled device is under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         287 . The method of  claim 286 , wherein the second controlled device is a medical device.  
     
     
         288 . The method of  claim 287 , wherein the second controlled device is not under voluntary control of the patient.  
     
     
         289 . The method of  claim 280 , wherein the sensor comprises two or more discrete components, and each of the discrete components comprises one or more electrodes.  
     
     
         290 . The method of  claim 289 , wherein at least one discrete component of the sensor comprises at least one electrode disposed in or on the patient's brain.  
     
     
         291 . The method of  claim 290 , wherein at least one discrete component of the sensor comprises at least one electrode not disposed in or on the patient's brain.  
     
     
         292 . A system comprising: 
 a first sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting first multicellular signals from a first patient;    a second sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting second multicellular signals from a second patient;    a processing unit configured to receive the first multicellular signals from the first sensor and the second multicellular signals from the second sensor and process the first multicellular signals of the first patient and the second multicellular signals of the second patient to produce processed signals derived from the first and second multicellular signals, the processing unit being configured to transmit the processed signals to a controlled device; and    the controlled device for receiving the processed signals.    
     
     
         293 . The system of  claim 292 , further comprising a first calibration routine for calibrating the system with the first patient and a second calibration routine for calibrating the system with the second patient.  
     
     
         294 . The system of  claim 292 , further comprising a unique electronic identifier which is embedded in one or more transmissions of electronic information between two or more of: the first sensor, the second sensor, the processing unit, and the controlled device.  
     
     
         295 . The system of  claim 292 , wherein the processing unit includes a first portion communicating with the first sensor and a second portion communicating with the second sensor.  
     
     
         296 . The system of  claim 295 , wherein the processing unit includes a third portion which communicates with both the first portion and the second portion.  
     
     
         297 . The system of  claim 295 , wherein the controlled device communicates with both the first portion and the second portion.  
     
     
         298 . The system of  claim 292 , wherein the processing unit conducts adaptive processing of the multicellular signals so that the system responds to changes in the first and second multicellular signals.