Method and system for combining physiological and machine information to enhance function

Abstract

The present invention relates generally and specifically to combining biological sensors with external machines using machine learning to form computerized representations that can control effectors to deliver therapy or enhance performance.

1 . A method for interacting with a body of a patient, the method comprising:
 detecting bodily signals associated with one or more bodily functions at one or more sensors associated with the body of the patient;   processing the bodily signals to create one or more sensed signatures of the one or more bodily functions;   using signal processing algorithms to tailor the one or more sensed signatures to a given bodily function in the patient using an enciphered functional network, and based on the one or more sensed signatures as tailored determine one or more effector responses needed in response to controlling a bodily task associated with the given bodily function of the patient, wherein the enciphered functional network indicates a relationship of signatures, effectors, and associated effector responses for each of the one or more bodily functions;   delivering, via the enciphered functional network, one or more effector signals using one or more effectors, the one or more effector signals based on the one or more effector responses as determined; and   controlling the bodily task, wherein the bodily task comprises a piece of work, action, or movement of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily signals are associated with a biological function and include one of central or peripheral nervous system signals, autonomic nervous system signals, muscular activity signals, non-neurologic physiological signals, galvanic skin signals, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily task is a biological function. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily task is control of activity of a machine external to the body. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily task is control of activity of a machine on or inside the body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily task is a combination of an external machine and a biological function. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enciphered functional network is represented by symbolic code. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the symbolic code is a cypher. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more effectors direct one or more of a mechanical, an electrical, and a computational device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting and the delivering comprise different regions of the body of the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting and the delivering comprise identical regions of the body of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises treating a biological disease or a biological condition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises enhancing performance of the bodily task directly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises enhancing performance of the bodily task using an external machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the given bodily function is selected from the group consisting of alertness, biological disease, breathing, cardiac muscular movement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cognition, driving, memory, mental alertness, mental performance, mood, overall mental performance, patient moving a combined natural/cybernetic limb, physically moving an object, purposeful communication using movement, reading with glasses, response to heart failure, response to obesity, sense of hearing, sense of smell, sense of touch, sense of vision, sensory-motor activities, skeletal muscular movement, sleep, sleep apnea, sleep control, sleep disordered breathing, sleep-breathing conditions, using remote control unit, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) solid physical sensors selected from the group consisting of FINE, ECG-electrical sensors, EEG-electrical sensors, and one or more combinations thereof;   (ii) non-solid physical sensors selected from the group consisting of electrostatic creams, sensors for bioimpedance, piezoelectric film sensors, printed circuit sensors, photosensitive film, thermosensitive film, and one or more combinations thereof;   (iii) external-oriented sensors selected from the group consisting of video sensors, infrared sensors, temperature sensors, gas sensors, and one or more combinations thereof; and   (iv) one or more combinations thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of a photosensitive sensor, a galvanometer, a pressure detector, a thermal detector, a chemical detector, and a biological sensor that senses at least one selected from the groups consisting of transcutaneous or invasive nerve activity (neural electrical activity), muscle electrical activity (myopotentials), mechanical activity (mechanoreceptor), skin resistance, body temperature, body pH, skin pH, mouth pH, gastrointestinal pH, genitourinary tract pH, enzymatic profile, DNA profile, heart rate, and ventilating (breathing) rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an external sensor that senses biological signals from a nervous system of the patient, from another individual's nervous system, or from a database of signals. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an external sensor that provides information selected from the group consisting of pressure, physical movement, temperature, chemical, sound within the normal human physiological range, sound outside the normal human physiological range, sound within the physiological range of animals, electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum, electromagnetic radiation in the invisible spectrum, gamma radiation, X-rays, radiowaves, toxins, carbon monoxide, excessive carbon dioxide, radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, biotoxins, toxins of  E. coli , and anthrax. 
     
     
         20 . A system to interact with a body of a patient, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 detecting bodily signals associated with one or more bodily functions at one or more sensors associated with the body of the patient; 
 processing the bodily signals to create one or more sensed signatures of the one or more bodily functions; 
 using signal processing algorithms to tailor the one or more sensed signatures to a given body function of the patient using an enciphered functional network, and based on the one or more sensed signatures as tailored determine one or more effector responses needed in response to controlling a bodily task associated with the given bodily function of the patient, wherein the enciphered functional network indicates a relationship of signatures, effectors, and associated effector responses for each of the one or more bodily functions; 
 delivering, via the enciphered functional network, one or more effector signals using one or more effectors, the one or more effector signals based on the one or more effector responses as determined; and 
 controlling the bodily task, wherein the bodily task comprises a piece of work, action, or movement of the body. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the given bodily function is selected from the group consisting of alertness, biological disease, breathing, cardiac muscular movement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cognition, driving, memory, mental alertness, mental performance, mood, overall mental performance, patient moving a combined natural/cybernetic limb, physically moving an object, purposeful communication using movement, reading with glasses, response to heart failure, response to obesity, sense of hearing, sense of smell, sense of touch, sense of vision, sensory-motor activities, skeletal muscular movement, sleep, sleep apnea, sleep control, sleep disordered breathing, sleep-breathing conditions, using remote control unit, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) solid physical sensors selected from the group consisting of FINE, ECG-electrical sensors, EEG-electrical sensors, and one or more combinations thereof;   (ii) non-solid physical sensors selected from the group consisting of electrostatic creams, sensors for bioimpedance, piezoelectric film sensors, printed circuit sensors, photosensitive film, thermosensitive film, and one or more one or more combinations thereof;   (iii) external-oriented sensors selected from the group consisting of video sensors, infrared sensors, temperature sensors, gas sensors, and one or more combinations thereof; and   (iv) one or more combinations thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of a photosensitive sensor, a galvanometer, a pressure detector, a thermal detector, a chemical detector, and a biological sensors that senses at least one selected from the group consisting of transcutaneous or invasive nerve activity (neural electrical activity), muscle electrical activity (myopotentials), mechanical activity (mechanoreceptor), skin resistance, body temperature, body pH, skin pH, mouth pH, gastrointestinal pH, genitourinary tract pH, enzymatic profile, DNA profile, heart rate, and ventilating (breathing) rate. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an external sensor that senses biological signals from a nervous system of the patient, from another individual's nervous system, or from a database of signals. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an external sensor that provides information selected from the group consisting of pressure, physical movement, temperature, chemical, sound within the normal human physiological range, sound outside the normal human physiological range, sound within the physiological range of animals, electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum, electromagnetic radiation in the invisible spectrum, gamma radiation, X-rays, radiowaves, toxins, carbon monoxide, excessive carbon dioxide, radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, biotoxins, toxins of  E. coli , and anthrax. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics-processing unit (GPU), and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the bodily signals are associated with a biological function and selected from the group consisting of central or peripheral nervous system signals, autonomic nervous system signals, muscular activity signals, non-neurologic physiological signals, galvanic skin signals, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the bodily task is selected from the group consisting of a biological function, control of activity of a machine external to the body, control of activity of a machine on or inside the body, a combination of an external machine and biological function, and one or more combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the enciphered functional network is represented by symbolic code. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the symbolic code is a cypher.