Neural bridge devices and methods for restoring and modulating neural activity
a neural bridge and neural activity technology, applied in the field of neural bridge devices and methods for restoring and modulating neural activity, can solve the problems of affecting the treatment of severing partial or complete neural conductive pathways, and generally costing over four billion dollars to care for people with spinal cord injuries
Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-03
ZDRAVKOVIC BOJAN
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Benefits of technology
[0004]Some nerve cells have all theirs parts located in a single place such as the brain. Other cells have their axons running substantial distances. For instance, the axon may run from the brain along the entire length of a spinal cord. The axon is primarily responsible for conducting signals from one nerve cell to another or for conducting stimulus to and from other organs. Further, the nerve cells whose axons run from and to the brain along the spinal cord interact with other nerve cells, including peripheral nerves, whose cell bodies are primarily located in the so called spinal roots or dorsal ganglia. The nervous system also makes sure that organs and tissues, such as muscles, function properly.
[0044]According to some embodiments of the invention, the device, a neural bridge, for connecting endings of nerve cells and conducting neural signals comprises at least one neural bridge device inserted into a primary end of a severed nerve and at least one neural bridge device inserted into a secondary end of a severed nerve. In still other aspects of the invention, there is at least one microtube connecting at least one microfluid channel of the first neural bridge device with at least one microfluid channel of the second neural bridge device and facilitating movement of cell material from a primary end of a severed nerve to the other. Each neural bridge device has at least one rotating mechanism positioned within the cavity of the housing, wherein the rotating mechanism rotates along longitudinal axis of its neural bridge housing. The device further comprises various MEMS device for sensing and modulating neural signals and responses.
Problems solved by technology
Unfortunately, many diseases and injuries may lead to partial or complete severance of the neural conductive pathways, i.e. axons.
For instance, one such injury is a spinal cord injury which could result when a person experiences a catastrophic fall, such as being thrown from a horse or being in a severe car accident.
It is estimated that it generally costs over four billion dollars to care for people with spinal cord injuries.
While the proposed solutions may provide for a way to hold ends of a severed nerve, they do not overcome a pivotal problem of supporting the propagation of action potential from a primary end to another.
Recovery from peripheral nerve and nerve plexus injuries is usually slow and incomplete because the regenerating motor axons often head erroneously toward sensory receptors rather than muscle fibers and because the target muscles atrophy while waiting for the slow process of reinnervation.
Research has suggested that electrical stimulation with different waveforms and temporal patterns at different times during the regeneration process might improve the clinical outcome through various mechanisms, but a practical means to deliver such stimulation has been lacking.
These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and / or less targeted stimulation.
However, implant systems have certain disadvantages.
One disadvantage is an implant imposes a substantial outside structure over a nerve.
Another disadvantage is that such implant is unable to fully function autonomously because of its inability to convert the electrochemical energy of an action potential into an electrical power.
Still other disadvantage is that such a system lacks the functionality to read the nerve cell own action potentials and to produce or modulate the action potentials based on these readings without reserving to any external communications.
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[0053]The present invention is capable of many different embodiments, and modifications in various respects, all without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be considered as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
[0054]The present invention may be employed for the treatment of various medical conditions in which the continuity of nerve cells, for example the axon part of a cell, is destroyed due to a disease or an injury. One example of such an injury may be a spinal cord injury. In this implementation, the device may be implanted into a place of an injury by connecting the first end of the device to a primary end of a severed axon and connecting the second end of the device to a secondary end of the severed axon. In this respect, the device serves as a bridge between two severed ends. The device may use the cell's condition of active potential on a primary end of the device, generate electrical power, and use this electrica...
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The neural bridge devices may be implanted between the endings of severed or damaged nerve cells. The operation of these devices may facilitate restoring conductivity of neural signals or responses within severed or damaged nerve cells. The neural bridge device may also facilitate restoring the movement of cell material between the endings of severed or damaged nerve cells. Some neural bridge devices may carry MEMS devices and may be employed for modifying various neural signals or responses, wherein the devices adjust neural responses in accordance with the desired signals received from other similar devices or communicated to them by other types of devices.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This application is a divisional application of, and claims priority to, application Ser. No. 10 / 840,903 filed May 8, 2004 and subjected to a restriction requirement (mailed Aug. 30, 2006 in the parent application).[0002]The present invention relates to several art areas. In one aspect, the invention relates to the recent achievements in building small-scale, micro and nano-size, electromechanical apparatuses and computing components. According to another aspect, the main application of the invention is to facilitate restoring the functionality of an impaired human nervous system. In still other aspect, the invention may modulate the activity of the nervous system. The evolving area of micro-electromechanical systems (“MEMS”) makes it possible to assemble complex functioning mechanical devices on a level which may not even be recognized by unaided human eye. The dominant portion of new developments in the area of MEMS is geared toward the computer in...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): A61N1/02A61N1/05A61N1/10
CPCA61N1/0551
InventorZDRAVKOVIC, BOJAN
OwnerZDRAVKOVIC BOJAN