Implantable electrocorticogram brain-computer interface system for restoring extremity movement

US11278226B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Regents of the University of California · US
• University of Southern California · US

Inventors

• Payam Heydari · Irvine, US
• Zoran Nenadic · Irvine, US
• An H. Do · Orange, US
• Charles Liu · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 5, 2019
• Grant date: Mar 22, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/0534
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A fully-implantable brain-computer interface cyber-physical system capable of acquiring and analyzing electrocorticogram (“ECoG”) signals, recorded directly from the subdural space of the brain, to enable direct brain control of a prosthetic (e.g., a robotic gait exoskeleton or a functional electrical stimulation (“FES”) system) is disclosed. The present system comprises a plurality of electrodes, for acquiring the ECoG signals, and a digital signal processor (“DSP”) for deriving a plurality of real-time commands from the ECoG signals. These real-time commands may then be wirelessly transmitted to the prosthetic for execution. Further, to avoid wireless data transmission of the ECoG signals from the plurality of electrodes to the DSP, which would expose the brain, skull, and scalp tissue to potentially harmful radio frequencies, a subcutaneous tunneling cable operatively couples the plurality of electrodes and the DSP.