Hybrid system for treating mental and emotional disorders with responsive brain stimulation

Abstract

A closed-loop brain computer interface (BCI) system for treating mental or emotional disorders with responsive brain stimulation is disclosed. The system includes an implanted module including a processor configured to process neural data acquired from one or more electrodes in communication with one or more brain regions of a patient. The implanted module is configured to deliver stimulation to electrodes in contact with the brain regions. An interface is in wireless communication with the implanted module and configured to receive the neural data from the implanted module. A controller processes the patient's brain and body signals to provide patient intentional control over the stimulation applied to the one or more electrodes and to control the stimulation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closed-loop brain computer interface (BCI) system for treating a patient suspected of having a mental or emotional disorder with on-demand responsive brain stimulation, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to process neural data acquired from at least one brain region of the patient suspected of having a mental or emotional disorder, the processor configured to control delivery of stimulation to the at least one brain region; and   a controller to control the stimulation based on intentional control feedback from the patient to provide therapy for the mental or emotional disorder, wherein the intentional control feedback causes the controller to alter the applied stimulation if desired by the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the neural data includes at least one of spike, local field potential, or electrocorticography data acquired from the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an implanted module configured to effectuate delivery of the stimulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the implanted module includes a controlling hub and a plurality of satellite modules coupled to the controlling hub. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising an interface in communication with the implanted module and wherein the interface is a head or body mounted interface positioned between the controlling hub and a base station to provide wireless communication therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the base station includes a hand held or wearable patient controller configured for at least one of self-reporting, triggering recordings, or monitoring at least one of heart rate or skin conductance. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of satellite modules include a unique ID to enable the controlling hub to interrogate the plurality of satellite modules and configure the controlling hub based upon returned information. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-invasive stimulation system configured to deliver the stimulation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the non-invasive stimulation system is configured to perform at least one of transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct- or alternative-current stimulation, transcranial focused ultrasound, infrared modulation, or optical through-skull modulation to deliver the stimulation. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one implanted module including at least one electrode configured to deliver the stimulation to the at least one brain region. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the neural data comprises brain and body signals that are acquired by the implanted module. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the controller processes the patient's brain and body signals to provide the patient intentional control over the stimulation applied to the at least one electrode based on the intentional control feedback from the patient to provide therapy for the mental or emotional disorder. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute emotional decoding algorithms to merge the neural data to estimate a psychiatric state of the patient, deliver therapeutic stimulation, or provide the patient intentional control of the stimulation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute at least one of a training or calibration protocol to help the patient learn to use the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the neural data comprises brain and body signals that are acquired by an implanted module and wherein the controller processes the brain and body signals to provide the patient intentional control over the stimulation. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a patient suspected of having a mental or emotional disorder with on-demand responsive brain stimulation using a closed-loop brain computer interface (BCI), the method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring neural data from at least one brain region of the patient suspected of having a mental or emotional disorder;   processing the neural data using a processor;   providing the patient intentional control as initiated by the patient over stimulation delivered to the patient to provide therapy for the mental or emotional disorder, wherein the intentional control comprises the patient being permitted to alter neural data if an alteration of the stimulation is selected by the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neural data includes brain and body signals acquired as at least one of spike, local field potential, electrocorticography, or bio-magnetic data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein acquiring the neural data includes non-invasively acquiring data from at least one scalp electrode disposed on the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising an implanted module including a controlling hub and a plurality of satellite modules coupled to the controlling hub. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising an interface positioned between the controlling hub and a base station to provide wireless communication therebetween. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the base station includes a hand-held patient controller configured for at least one of self-reporting, triggering recordings, or monitoring at least one of heart rate or skin conductance. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing a unique ID for each of the plurality of satellite modules to enable the controlling hub to interrogate the plurality of satellite modules and configure the controlling hub based upon returned information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of monitoring, using at least one sensor a set of health parameters related to the BCI. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein monitoring the set of health parameters includes monitoring at least one of electrode impedance, temperature, humidity, supply voltage, or a lead line integrity of the implanted module. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of applying stimulation therapies through at least one electrode disposed in the patient using at least one current pulse generator coupled to the controlling hub. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neural data comprises brain and body signals that are processed to provide the patient intentional control over the stimulation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the processor receives indications of the patient intentional control and adjusts the stimulation based on the patient intentional control to provide the therapy for the mental or emotional disorder. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stimulation is delivered non-invasively. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the stimulation includes at least one of transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct- or alternative-current stimulation, transcranial focused ultrasound, infrared modulation, or optical through-skull modulation to deliver the stimulation.